Tiffany, Gwendolyn and Cheri’s stories show that the millions of low-income mothers just like them have huge barriers to overcome. But there is hope.  With strong public policy and social change, we can begin to address and reverse the long-term effects of hunger and poverty.  Below are our recommendations.

Support WIC and keep it funded for the health and nutrition and health benefits.  WIC was created in 1972 and permanently authorized in 1974 to enhance the nutritional status of low-income mothers and their children.  More than half of all U.S. infants and a quarter of all U.S. children ages one to five receive WIC benefit which accounts for a mere seven percent of U.S. Food and Nutrition Program expenditures. The program is a proven success in improving birth outcomes, diet and diet-related outcomes, among other improved outcomes translating into cost savings on health care. However there is still room for improvement such as increased support for breastfeeding, expanded nutrition education and improved coordination of medical service referrals for mothers who may be depressed, have health issues, or need domestic violence support.

Support federal nutrition programs targeting children.  In addition to WIC,  there are several nutrition assistance programs specifically designed to provide children with access to healthy food.   For mothers, these programs make it possible to afford healthy food at home, access quality child care, and ensure their children are well nourished, healthy and ready for life-long learning.  You can learn more about Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps), Farmers Market Nutrition Program, School Meals,  Summer Food Service Program, and Child and Adult Care Feeding Program on the USDA website.

Support social policies that improve economic security while taking into account the responsibilities and challenges of motherhood.  Job security for mothers, especially single mothers is at risk when they are the primary caretaker of their children.   Policy  improvement at could include higher minimum wage, paid sick leave/dependent care, flexible work schedules, affordable child care,  paid maternity leave, and expanding the benefits under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

Support programs that provide nutrition intervention and support for low-income mothers.  After-school enrichment programs, nutrition education classes for children and parents, and other early intervention programs can provide mothers with the knowledge and social support they need to make better decisions for their families.

Reform social service programs and policy to support coordinated care.   Studies have shown that WIC, while primarily a nutrition program, has helped to screen and reference women who may need domestic violence assistance. This study calls for a national task force that includes representation from the USDA, Department of Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban development, and Labor to address food insecurity among children.  By support an umbrella approach to screening low-income women for other services, we can begin to support the household instead of simply treating the symptoms.

What would you change?
What policies or reforms have we left out?  What is your vision of a well-nourished and cared for single mother household?

by Wendy Heiges, Senior Director of Advocacy and Public Policy

This afternoon, Congress voted to provide funding for Medicaid and save the jobs of public school teachers, government employees and emergency workers.  At the same time, Congress voted against the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps).

Congress used nearly $12 billion in future SNAP benefits to pay for the legislation – a huge blow to 40 million low-income people throughout the country who depend on SNAP to meet their nutritional requirements.

It’s a huge blow to Texas, a state in which one in five households report not having enough money to buy the food they needed at some point last year.

It’s a huge blow to the Capital Area Food Bank which provides emergency food assistance to about 48,000 people in Central Texas each week.

I understand that Congress had to make difficult choices.  Anemic state budgets are hurting social services and programs.  We need more public school teachers, not fewer.

People at risk of hunger make difficult choices too.  Try choosing between food and utilities, food and medicine, food and mortgage.  These choices are truly agonizing.

Is the genie out of the bottle?  Let’s hope not.  We have to make sure the SNAP benefits are not used to offset the costs of reauthorizing critical federal nutrition programs for low-income children.  The House must not consider the Senate Child Nutrition Reauthorization bill taking a further $2.4 billion of funding away from low-income people at risk of hunger to feed their low-income children at risk of hunger.

In this case, the genie must stay in a bottle placed in a safe within an impermeable vault – locked, and with no key.

Thanks to the community’s support this summer, we’ve made an impact in lives of thousands of Central Texas children who are more at risk of hunger during the summer months than any other time of year.

Look what we’ve accomplished together:

• In July 2010 we distributed the largest amount of meals in CAFB’s history. In total, 2.2 million meals were distributed to families in need.
• More than 5,600 Central Texas families received healthy food and nutrition education through CAFB’s Summer Family Nutrition Program (SFNP). This program is the first of its kind at CAFB. We provided more than 280,000 pounds of food through this program in June and July. See how it works.
• An average of almost 600 meals a day were served to children at risk of hunger in June and July. We opened Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) sites in neighborhoods where most children receive free or reduced-price lunches during the school year. Learn more about the program.
• CAFB gathered signatures from nearly 150 organizations statewide for a letter encouraging Congressman Lloyd Doggett and Congressional leaders to fully fund and pass Child Nutrition Reauthorization (CNR). This important legislation is critical to ending child hunger. Congressman Doggett visited one of our SFSP sites Tuesday to learn more about CNR’s impact.

Whether you volunteered, gave a special gift, contacted your elected officials, or simply read our blog and shared what you learned, you helped thousands of Central Texas children have a “Happy, Healthy Summer” and a great start to the upcoming school year. Thank you.

by Emily Eckelkamp, Nutrition Educator

The Boys & Girls Club of Bastrop, a Partner Agency of the Capital Area Food Bank, has faced many ups and downs in the past year. In August 2009, the club was forced to close due to financial reasons. With the help of Whitney Goble, the club re-opened in April of 2010, beginning with only seven students enrolled. By the time our CHOICES Nutrition Education Program arrived in early May, the club had grown to more than 50 students.

For four weeks, fellow Nutrition Educator Anadeli De Jesus and I taught more than 40 students the program’s Power of Choice series, which educates children about basic nutrition, how to make healthy eating and fitness choices, and how to make healthy snacks. Although we could only teach 10 students at a time due to limited space, the children remained enthusiastic and open-minded.

Many of the Bastrop children attend the Boys & Girls Club every afternoon, and are excited to see special events and classes, such as our Nutrition Education Class. As one six-year-old girl put it: “I wish every day was nutrition day!”

It was obvious throughout the series the students of Bastrop enjoyed talking about nutrition — something they hadn’t learned much about previously. Topics covered in our Power of Choice series include the MyPyramid for Kids, making healthy choices, and learning how to read a food label. Even with all of these engaging topics, the snack was always the favorite part! See pictures below of the students enjoying their nutritious snacks they made themselves.

For information on volunteering or hosting a CHOICES Nutrition Education Program class, email Monica Escobar, Nutrition Education Manager, at choices@austinfoodbank.org or call 512-684-2502.

Justine eats her Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich with a smile.

Evette enjoys her Zesty Tomato & Cucumber Cup.

Rysainee  learns about the variety of fruits and vegetables.

First-grade students learn about the MyPyramid for Kids.

The small office building of the Boys & Girls Club of Bastrop where the CHOICES classes were held.

Under a new USDA policy, all children in a household are eligible for free school meals if anyone in the household is receiving assistance under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cash assistance program, or the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR).

In the past, households had to apply separately for these programs. Each child in the household was then matched by case number in order to be approved for free meals.  The new policy should help reduce paperwork and redundancies in administration, provide more resources for meal programs, and increase enrollment of qualified applicants.

For more information, visit the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities report.

CAFB’s work is well-known in a major city like Austin, but did you know we also serve rural communities throughout Central Texas? More than 50 Partner Agencies (and more to come!) support the Summer Family Nutrition program, and bring us closer to reaching the estimated 114,000 eligible families in our 21-county service territory. Poor children in rural communities face additional educational, social and economic challenges in comparison to their urban counterparts because of the isolation and limited access to services. A culture of self-reliance, often characterized by families choosing to live in rural areas, also make them less likely to seek and access the government programs designed to lift families out of poverty and promote good nutrition.

A great study by The Carsey Institute at the University of New Hampshire, “The Forgotten Fifth: Child Poverty in Rural America” provides the facts:

• Historically, poverty rates are higher in rural areas than in urban areas. Child poverty is no different.
• Rural children have higher poverty rates than urban children.
• Since 1990, the gap between rural and urban child poverty is growing.
• Rural children are more likely to experience deep poverty.
• Rural children are in poverty for longer spells.
• Poor rural children are more likely to live in areas of concentrated poverty (at the county level).

Tiffany Conner, SFNP Program Coordinator and Brandon Pettet, Agency Relations Representative chronicled their experience in rural Temple, Texas, a small city with an estimated 58,000 residents.

Brandon:

We left Austin at 6:30 a.m. and made it up [to Love of Christ Ministry] before 8 a.m.  I’ve been to several pantries, but this was a unique visit for me for two reasons: the different types of assistance  available to the clients, and the volunteers who assist with making it all come together.

We met coordinators Ron and Sylvia as soon as we arrived.  Ron took us on a tour of the facility. It’s a good-sized building and very well organized.  There are five different churches in the surrounding Temple area that come together in a coordinated effort to maintain a solid volunteer base.  Most of the volunteers I met with have been volunteering for nearly 10 years.  These volunteers were kind and welcoming.  It was amazing to see how busy it was but, at the same time, how easily the clients flowed through building to the different rooms directed by volunteers.

Tiffany:

My first thought upon meeting Ron and Sylvia of Love of Christ was that Bell County residents were receiving much more than food and clothing.  Ron and Sylvia are the type of people who remind you of the aunt or uncle with whom you wiled away youthful, fun-filled summers. It’s instantly apparent that many of the people who are served by their pantry are also like family to Ron and Sylvia.

Brandon:

Initially, clients are directed to the intake room and given numbered yellow sheets which determine their spot in line.  Then, they are sent through the clothing room.  Next, they are sent to a room with produce, bread and pastries and some other non-food items such as car care and toys for children.  Finally, the clients are sent through the main room which houses all the Family Food Boxes as well as frozen goods and the more common staples. The internet was not working, so Tiffany and I were the only two doing intake.  We were lucky enough to have air cards so we were still able to prescreen nearly 60 new households in a little over two hours. It was an extremely successful trip, but there is still a need for assistance in the area.   I look forward to returning next Tuesday to assist them with this great program!

Tiffany:

For me, the day was all about the smiles.  Without exception, every individual I screened for the Summer Family Nutrition Program offered a gracious smile, which is its own reward. How many people can say one of the best parts of their job is the smiles they see on a daily basis?  I’m that lucky.

And then there are the stories.  The granddaughter of one woman I screened and approved for the program shared with me her plans to learn to play the guitar this summer.  Her precocity was detectable from the beginning.  Her grandmother was approved, and as the little girl left,  I waved a final goodbye and said, “I’m going to be looking for your band in a few years, okay?”  Her response was an even brighter, toothier smile. This type of payment can’t be quantified.

If I am taking anything from my experience at Love of Christ in Temple, or with the Capital Area Food Bank thus far, it is that the human face of hunger is not uniform: the face of hunger is male, it is female, it is young, it is old, it is black, it is white, it is unpredictable, but ultimately, it is human.  What CAFB and the Summer Family Nutrition Program are about is much, much larger than providing food for hungry families.  It’s about community and caring, and it’s about providing people with the opportunities to live the lives they deserve and do the things they love.  Everyone deserves such an opportunity.  Thankfully, there are people like Ron and Silvia of Love of Christ who have made it their mission to blunt the force of life’s unexpected blows with food, clothes, and glowing, smiling faces.  It’s my great honor to be enlisted alongside them in the battle.

You can help:

Take the Happy, Healthy Summer Pledge so children facing great challenges in rural communities may receive the nutrition to succeed in school and in life. Learn more.

By Adriana Montez

Sara and her daughters, Abby 10, Melissa, 8, rely heavily on the food pantry, especially during the summer months. “The food here is very important for my family, especially since it is summer,” she explained. “We need more food at home to compensate for the food my kids usually eat when they’re at school. The food pantry helps our groceries stretch a little further.”

Pictured: Abby, 10, Sara, 33, and Melissa 8

Sara Frias, 33, decided to relocate her family from a small town outside of San Marcos to the city due of the social services it offered. “We decided to move here because we needed to live in the housing authority program,” she explained. “We ended up living in a better place, too. I love San Marcos.”

Sara is currently in school at the Le Cordon Bleu receiving her pastry chief degree. She heard about the Hays County Area Food Bank, a CAFB partner, from several friends and neighbors. “I’ve been coming here for about seven years now,” she said.  “My overall experience here is very good. We get meats, breads and sweets—my kids like the sweets.”

We asked Sara if her family has completely run out of food before. “Yes we have,” she admitted. “But we just called the food bank. They gave us an emergency food box. We don’t tend to use that often.”

Sara plans to use the food pantry as a resource for only a couple more years. “In the next couple years, I see myself being self-sufficient and having my own land,” she said. “But I would like to say thank you for all the help in the meantime. I don’t think there is anything better than to help someone feed their family.”

Today, Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell,  Deputy Commissioner Drew Deberry, and CAFB President & CEO, David Davenport, kicked off our Summer Nutrition Program at the Boys and Girls Club in South Austin.  As part of our pledge to make this summer a happy, healthy summer for children in Central Texas, we’re providing healthy lunches and snacks at 22 locations in Travis county, in addition to ongoing summer programs. On today’s menu, the children enjoyed turkey in pita sandwiches, fresh mandarin orange and pineapple fruit cups, cucumber slices, milk and much more as explained by 10-year-old Joseph.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pcip7vtkmlU]

Children in Texas face an uphill battle on the road to success and good health. When one in five Texas families do not have enough money to buy the food that their family needed, healthy choices are not always affordable. As blogger threeninetyeight commented on our recent experiment to understand the cost of making healthy, child friendly choices, “it’s amazing how cheap the unhealthy food is.”

Meanwhile, a record number of families continue to seek nutrition assistance through SNAP (Food Stamps), knowing that Texas is still behind on processing SNAP applications within the 30-day federal guidelines, and there are no plans to fund additional staffing needs as recommended by hunger advocates.

Even more child-friendly, healthy meals will be in reach of Central Texas children just like Joseph when you take the Happy, Healthy Summer Pledge.  Here’s how it works:

PLEDGE your support. Donate now to get us through the increased demand this summer. And donate again in July to help us meet the increased need during these months.

PARTNER with us to stay informed. Make sure you check to receive special reminders and updates about our efforts.

PASS IT ON by asking others to take the pledge.  Add a twibbon to your avatar to help spread the word on Facebook and Twitter.

Send your friends and family a special e-card letting them know you are providing healthy meals for children in need this summer, and that they should too!

Gabriella, 9, recently lost her home to a fire.  She and her dad lived in a shelter while her dad looked for a new  job and home.  She rides the bus to school every morning and says “I don’t eat breakfast because my dad doesn’t have time to make it for me.”

She likes spending the weekend with her half-sister, who is four-years-old. “This weekend we’re going to have a sleepover,” she said. Gabriella’s father, who now works at Goodwill, picks her up after Kids Cafe five days a week and brings her home to their new apartment. “Without Kids Cafe,” Gabriella said, “I would feel hungry.”

Looking for a way to give back this holiday season? Help turn hungry holidays into happy holidays for children just like Gabriella through these simple ways:

• Order special CAFB holiday cards 
• Give through our virtual gift catalog
• Make a one-time donation

We need your help to make sure Central Texas families have the nourishment they need to live healthy, fulfilled lives. Thanks so much for helping turn hungry holidays into happy holidays!

Thank you to our friends, Tyson Foods, Hum. Minds at Work., MediaSauce and Kompolt for joining forces to help raise awareness about childhood hunger in America!

 The Pledge to End Hunger is a critical step in changing people’s thoughts about how we treat our youngest neighbors, and what social conditions are unacceptable. It takes bold leadership to create social change, and we applaud this effort to bring the hunger conversation to the social media landscape.

How it works:

One Click Feeds 140 Kids
By signing an online pledge to share the website with others, volunteer, and/or give financially, you’re helping to bring a 35 lb food donation from Tyson to CAFB. That means every person who joins the movement will help feed 140 children. With 1,000 people taking the pledge, we can make sure the Tyson semi-trailer will arrive in Austin during the SXSW ’09 interactive festival.

Join the Wall of Champions
Help promote this website so we can meet the goal of 1,000 pledges. The national co-captains are Chris Brogan and Beth Kanter. The website includes a list every individual, corporation, and non-profit helping us promote the Hunger Pledge. To become a Champion, all you need to do is:

• Sign the Hunger Pledge
• Write a blog post (if you have one) endorsing the Hunger Pledge 
• Encourage others to join you 
• The website will have a wide variety of social media sharing tools, banners, avatars, and other tools to make it easy for you to share and promote. (Note: The Twitter hashtag is #HungerPledge.)

But wait – there’s more!
If we surpass 1,000 pledges, Tyson has agreed to send up to two more truckloads of food to the states that generate the most pledges. So by helping send a semi-trailer truck to CAFB, you can send a truckload of food to another community, too.

Side Note
For more ways you can help address food insecurity in Texas children, send a letter to your Texas Legislative Representative in support of Senate Bill 944 (SB 944).