Emily's Response to the 2012 Anti-Hunger Policy Conference in DC

Every year the Greater Chicago Food Depository offers a limited number of scholarships for member agency representatives to attend the National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference in Washington, DC.  To apply next year, look for the scholarship application that is sent out in December.  

We will be featuring three guest bloggers from Food Depository member agencies who will share their experiences at this year’s conference.  The third is Emily Jackson, Foundation President of Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois.

I was fortunate enough to receive a scholarship from the Greater Chicago Food Depository which allowed me to attend the 2012 National Anti Hunger Policy Conference.  The facts and energy I gained from my time in DC surpassed my expectations.  Feeding America, Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), the Food Depository, Representative Jan Schakowsky and so many others are committed to engaging constituents in their efforts to ensure that Congress funds TEFAP, SNAP, CSFP and other nutrition benefit programs through the 2013 Farm Bill. At the conference I discovered that: 

• Every $1 spent on SNAP benefits puts $1.76 back into the local economy.
• The average SNAP recipient receives benefits for only 8 – 10 months.
• That 25% of food commodities distributed through local food pantries comes from the USDA through TEFAP.

Knowing this makes it virtually impossible not spread the word.  Join me and tell your local politicians, friends, and family that while Americans are still vulnerable we need to provide them with the nutrition needed to bounce back. We can work together to maintain these crucial benefit programs and strive to end hunger across the country!

Mary's Notes from the 2012 Anti-Hunger Policy Conference in DC

Every year the Greater Chicago Food Depository offers a limited number of scholarships for member agency representatives to attend the National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference in Washington, DC.  To apply next year, look for the scholarship application that is sent out in December.  

We will be featuring three guest bloggers from Food Depository member agencies who will share their experiences at this year’s conference.  The second is Mary Freeman, coordinator of the St. Francis Xavier Food Pantry in La Grange.

The 2012 Anti-Hunger Policy Conference in Washington, DC was an educational and inspirational experience!    As a local food pantry coordinator in the western suburbs, the conference sessions of experts provided an educational overview of the 2012 Farm Bill legislation and USDA Food and Nutrition programs that affect our local outreach to those in need of food assistance.  I was particularly impressed by the determination of hunger advocates and policymakers to provide nutritious foods, via agricultural commodities and outreach to local farmer markets, to hungry people in every community across the country.  Additionally, I learned a great deal from the various sessions regarding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).  

Some SNAP facts that made an impression on me include:

·         SNAP is intended to be targeted, timely, and temporary, with average assistance lasting 9 months.

·         The program has an impressively low 4% error rate on SNAP payments and continues to be vigilant against fraud. 

·         For every $5 in SNAP benefits spent, $9 is returned to the local economy making this it an attractive partnership to local businesses. 

·         It is a challenge to survive on SNAP benefits with monthly assistance averaging $1.49/person/meal and most benefits running out by day 21 in any month.  

 The face of hunger in America in 2012 is changing!  It knows no political, geographic, religious, gender or socioeconomic boundaries!  A sustained bad economy as evidenced by high unemployment and increasing costs of fuel and food make nutritious food a luxury for many American families.  The best anti-hunger program is a stable job with decent wages which is what our clients at St. Francis Xavier desire more than anything else: a means to provide for themselves and their families.   In the meantime, all entities -- business, charities, and an effective government assistance program -- are needed to assist the 1 in 6 Americans who struggle with food insecurity daily.  The message was clear: we can either pay now or pay later with deteriorating health outcomes. 

It was an honor and privilege to share humbling stories of hunger from pantry clients with our elected representatives, including staff from 3^rd District Congressman Lipinski’s office and US Senator Kirk’s office.  I found these staff to be willing listeners of the need to support and strengthen the Farm Bill as it relates to these food and nutrition programs.  I hope to see that support put into action when the votes are counted. 

Tyler's Trip to Washington, DC for the 2012 Anti-Hunger Policy Conference

Every year the Greater Chicago Food Depository offers a limited number of scholarships for member agency representatives to attend the National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference in Washington, DC.  To apply next year, look for the scholarship application that is sent out in December.  

We will be featuring three guest bloggers from Food Depository member agencies who will share their experiences at this year’s conference.  The first is Tyler Grissom, Associate Director at the Willow Creek Care Center in Hoffman Estates.

I received an e-mail a few weeks ago with an opportunity to go to Washington D.C. for the 2012 National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference.  I had no idea really what I was getting myself into; I have never been to D.C. before and I have never attended an event like this.  The conference ended up far exceeding my expectations and I learned so much.  The thing that probably impacted me more than anything was when we visited the office staff of our Congressional Representatives on our final day.   I really felt comfortable in the meetings and I loved advocating on behalf of our Willow Creek Care Center families.  I told stories of families that I know personally and I could see compassion in the eyes of the office staff as I told them.  As I read one story, a legislative assistant shouted out, “That’s truly amazing! Can I have that story to give to the Senator?”  These interactions taught me the importance of advocacy and that our voices really do matter at a national level.  I really felt like I was heard and that I made a difference by telling the stories of the people we serve day to day at the Care Center.  

Showing back up to work at the Care Center every day has been different for me.  Attending this conference made me feel like I am in this line of work with a lot of other people and together we are making a significant difference in our communities around the country.  My vision for helping end hunger is much larger than it was before and I am now challenging others involved at the Care Center to advocate on behalf of those they serve.  I am telling more and more people these days of how incredibly important their voices are.  I also just recently found out that one of our Congressmen wants to come visit our Willow Creek Care Center because of the stories that were shared on Capitol Hill.  My hope is that he will be deeply impacted by visiting us and that he will be able to bring change at a national level that will eventually affect us in a positive way at a state level.  Our voices and our stories really do matter!