ADVOCATE TO END HUNGER
In addition to providing more than 35 million pounds of food to nearly 300 food banks, meal programs and shelters each year, Food Lifeline advocates to support public nutrition and food programs, to reduce poverty and to end hunger. To reach these goals, we engage passionate volunteers, concerned communities and elected leaders from our local, state and federal governments.
QUICK LINKS
News From the World of Advocacy
SAVE THE DATE! HUNGER ACTION DAY IS FEBRUARY 3, 2012
Join Food Lifeline and our organizing coalition partner, the Anti-Hunger Nutrition Coalition (AHNC), to advocate ending hunger in Washington State! On February 3, nonprofits, service organizations, families and dedicated volunteers will gather in Olympia to show our legislators the real face of hunger, to explain the growing need and to oppose additional cuts to essential food and nutrition programs.
Orientation for the day will be held at United Churches at 110 111th Ave. SE in Olympia. Please arrive at 9 a.m. to get checked in.
REGISTER TODAY online through the AHNC, or call 253-394-2787.
For additional information or questions, please visit www.wsahnc.org or ahnc@wsahnc.org
WE NEED YOUR VOICE!
By becoming involved, you can educate our communities and lawmakers about the real face of hunger and the continued growing need. By speaking up and advocating on these important issues, you can urge decision makers to prioritize hunger relief and ensure that programs and policies are geared toward feeding hungry people.
GET INVOLVED:
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Educate Yourself: 2011 State Legislative Session hunger relief program results
- Become an A-Team Volunteer to be trained as a community advocate, represent Food Lifeline at fairs and other local events, mobilize your friends, and learn when and how to take action. If you are interested being more engaged with all levels of Food Lifeline’s policy and advocacy work, email our Grassroots Advocacy Coordinator or check out our flyer (916K .pdf file) to learn more.
- Receive Action Alerts: Sign up to receive Delivery Time!, Food Lifeline’s emails letting you know about when, where and how you can take action. Email us to find out more.
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Take Action Now! Act now to help end hunger in our state. Follow the link to sign and send letters to your legislators about the most current and important issues concerning hunger relief and nutrition programs.
- Share your story! "My single mom provided a loving home. She worked hard and did her best to ensurewe had what we needed. That’s why when her hard work wasn’t enough to always put food on the table, she humbly supplemented with food stamps, food banks, and the free lunch program at my school." Read more and learn how you can share your story.
- Your legislators always want to hear from you. Call their office anytime and voice your concerns. Find your legislator.
- Become a fan on Facebook. Find out up-to-the minute information on Food Lifeline’s work in the community, check out pictures from our advocacy efforts, and spread the word to your friends.
LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES & POLICY ISSUES:
2012 State Legislative Issues
The regular session of the 2012 state legislature will be filled with challenging and painful decisions as the state continues to try to close a nearly $2 billion budget deficit. Anti-hunger programs continue to be at risk, including the State Food Assistance Program (SAP), the Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP), school nutrition programs, and the WIC Farmer’s Market Program (FMNP). Now more than ever we need these critical programs by:
- Preserving the State Food Assistance Program (SAP) The Department of Social and Health Service’s (DSHS) SAP provides food stamp look-alike benefits to 13,754 legal immigrants who are not eligible for federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Read more...
- Increasing Funding for the Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP) The Washington State Department of Agriculture’s EFAP helps keep the lights on and the shelves stocked at 330 state food banks and distribution centers and to 31 tribes. Read more...
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Maintaining Funding for School Nutrition Programs School nutrition programs provide healthy meals and snacks to students when nearly one in four Washington families struggle to provide food for their children. Read more...
- Protecting the WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) The Women Infant and Children’s (WIC) FMNP, and the companion Senior’s FMNP, provides vouchers for 76,000 low-income women, children and seniors to access fresh, healthy produce. Read more...
- Adopting a Balanced Approach to Resolving Budget Deficits Balance the cuts to vital programs now and save services in the future by adopting new sources for revenue and by reviewing and reforming our current tax exemptions and expenditures.
2012 Federal Legislative Issues
As Congress attempts to resolve our nation’s long-term financial challenges, Food Lifeline joins our national parent organization, Feeding America, in urging our legislators to protect nutrition assistance and other safety net programs by:
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Protecting Nutrition Assistance Programs from funding cuts and harmful policy changes as part of a smart and effective deficit reduction plan that does not balance the budget on the backs of our most vulnerable.
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Adopting a Balanced Approach to Controlling Our Nation’s Financial Future that supports programs that are needed and effective, safeguards programs that protect low-income families, ensures adequate revenues, and eliminates unnecessary or inefficient spending.
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Protecting the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) which help food banks provide nutritious food to low-income Americans in need of short-term hunger relief in partnership with local pantries, soup kitchens and emergency shelters by providing $260 million for TEFAP food commodities in FY 2012, and providing $48 million for TEFAP storage and distribution grants to meet the infrastructure and distribution capacity. Redirect USDA funding to increase the availability of food commodities to ensure adequate supplies.
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Expand the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) which leverages government buying power to provide nutritious packages to nearly 604,000 low income people each month, 97% of which are very-low income seniors by providing $176.8 million for current caseloads in existing states and an additional $5 million to allow the program to expand to six additional states.
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Oppose Cuts or Restrictions to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that caps funding, eliminates block grants or redefines work requirements to reduce benefits or restricts participation in a program that is the cornerstone of the nutrition safety net, providing over 44 million low-income participants with monthly benefits via a grocery debit card.
- Reject a Cap on the Charitable Giving Tax Deduction that would limit food banks ability to raise funds and protect the ability of nonprofits to raise vitally needed funds along with necessary comprehensive tax reforms.
NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF ADVOCACY
$4 Billion in Federal SNAP Meals at Risk: The draft Stabenow/Lucas Farm Bill package for deficit reduction proposed $23 billion in ten-year cuts to federal Agriculture Committee programs, including a $4 billion cut in SNAP benefits. SNAP benefits provide debit cards to individuals and family who qualify so that they may purchase food at grocery stores. This reduction would weaken the coordination between SNAP and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and cut $4 billion worth of meals for low-income people. Please look for more information in the coming months as the debate over the Farm Bill and cuts to federal food and nutrition programs heats up after the first of the year.
House Members Stand Up for SNAP: More than 160 House Members have signed onto a letter circulated by Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and James McGovern (D-MA) that calls for protecting SNAP during the upcoming Farm Bill. Please read their letter by clicking here (the letter can be found at executive, pp, federal policy, 2012, McGovern/DeLauro letter). Food Lifeline will be taking action on the SNAP issue as details develop after the start of the 2012 federal legislative session, and we will need the support of our dedicated volunteers and advocacy team to urge Congress to not cut anti-hunger programs.
Meet Food Lifeline’s New Public Policy Manager: We are pleased to announce that Gina Clark has joined the Food Lifeline team as the new Public Policy Manager. Gina brings over 10 years’ experience in public policy, government affairs and advocacy as a policy advisory, consultant and attorney. Gina will be tackling local, state and federal anti-hunger, nutrition and food policy issues and working with coalition partners to ensure vital safety net programs are preserved. When not working on these important issues, Gina likes to spend as much time as possible with her twin daughters, Lily and Ella, and enjoys cycling, hiking, running, and all the Pacific Northwest has to offer. Please feel free to contact Gina at 206-545-6600, ext. 3611, if you have any policy-related questions or concerns, or to learn more about how you can get involved to end hunger in our state.
OUR PARTNERS
At Food Lifeline, we recognize the importance of not going it alone on important public policy and legislative issues. We strive to build strong and lasting relationships with other anti-hunger, social service organizations and governmental agencies to speak with a united voice to end hunger in Washington State. We would like to thank our partners for their hard work, dedication and collaboration as we work to serve our most vulnerable neighbors. Please click on the links below to learn more about our partners.
Non-Governmental Organizations
Northwest Harvest
Children’s Alliance
Solid Ground
Food Research and Action Center (FRAC)
United Way
Faith Action Network
Coalitions
Anti-Hunger Nutrition Coalition
Washington Food Coalition
King County Alliance for Human Services
Seattle Human Services Coalition
Faith Action Network
Governmental Agencies
Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA)
Washington State Department of Health (DOH)
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
CONTACT US
Gina Clark, Public Policy Manager
Phone: 206-545-6600 ext. 3611
Clare Garvey, Grassroots Advocacy Coordinator
Phone: 206-545-6600 ext. 3625