NM State Legislature Urged to Address Hunger During Special Session

Special Session & FY21 Emergency Relief & Recovery Funding Priorities

The Food, Hunger, Water and Agriculture Policy Work Group recently sent a letter to each member of the New Mexico House and Senate ahead of the special session, which has been scheduled for Thursday, June 18. Legislators will attempt to adjust the state budget to account for the negative financial impact caused by the outbreak of COVID-19. By some estimates, the financial crisis caused a $2.4 billion drop in state revenues.

Work group at 2020 legislative session

The work group, coordinated by New Mexico First, seeks to preserve funding for crucial feeding programs for school kids, seniors, agriculture, food banks and working families. (The members of the work group, which includes the Interfaith Hunger Coalition, are listed at the bottom of this post)

The work group started efforts to address hunger in New Mexico last summer, months before the pandemic occurred. We attained some modest gains during the 2020 regular session of the State Legislature, including a  measure to eliminate co-pays for almost 12,500 students at 185% of the federal poverty level. When the pandemic-related emergency occurred the work group convened quickly to create a plan of action.

'Critical Needs'
"We are urgently requesting that you prioritize policy and funding solutions create access to healthy food and water while strengthening our State's food system,  Addressing the root causes of insecurity, protecting and investing in the emergency food and water relief efforts, and bolstering local agriculture and food systems are critical needs.

Below are snapshots of a consensus-backed blueprint, compiled in consultation with the Legislative Hunger Caucus. 

*Maintain and expand investment to $500K in ALTSD to Support the Purchase of NM Grown Fruits and Vegetables for Senior Meals Programs.

The Food, Hunger, Water and Agriculture Policy Workgroup is comprised of a group of bipartisan policy makers, agricultural producers, the emergency food sector, faith leaders, researchers/academics, and public policy advocates.

The participating groups are Agri Cultura Cooperative Network, Center for Health Innovation, Delicious New Mexico, Farm to Table, Indigenous Life Ways, Interfaith Hunger Coalition, McKinley Collaborative for Health Equity, National Young Farmers Coalition, New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts, New Mexico Association of Food Banks, New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty, New Mexico Farmers' Marketing Association, New Mexico First, New Mexico Food and Agriculture Policy Council, New Mexico Social Justice and Equity Institute, New Mexico Voices for Children, South Valley Economic Development Center, The Montibon Company, Think New Mexico, Village of Los Ranchos de Albuquerque

Where You Can Find Grab and Go Meals this Summer

Beginning June 1, 2020, the Summer Grab and Go meals will be offered throughout the city of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County in partnership with Albuquerque Public Schools (APS).  At each site the schedule is Monday through Friday, 11:30 am to 1:00 pm  This web page has links to listings for all three programs. 

 

If you live outside of the Albuquerque area, the New Mexico Summer Food Service Program  site offers information from the Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) as well as the Public Education Department (PED). 

Meals are available to all children regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability.  No application or registration is required for children to participate.

 

For more information, contact 

Emiliano Perea emiliano.perea@state.nm.us

(505) 841-4856 or (800) 328-2665

An Offering of Letters Workshop

Saturday, March 14, 2020 9:30-Noon All Saints Lutheran Church 4800 All Saints Rd NW, NE. Albuquerque (map) Lupe Conchas, Bread for the World's Southwest Regional Organizer, will provide an overview of this year's letter-writing campaign and answer all relevant questions. He will tell us how you can get more resources and information via regional webinars. He will also give us information about Bread for the World's Advocacy Summit and Lobby Day in Washington on June 8-10. Thank you to Lucretia Tippit, Judy Messal and the team at All Saints Lutheran Church for hosting the event. For more information contact breadnm@gmail.com The Campaign Last year, Bread focused our annual Offering of Letters campaign on global nutrition so mothers and children could get the foods they need to lead healthy and fulfilling lives. Because of your advocacy, both the House and Senate introduced its own versions of a Global Nutrition Resolution. In 2020, we will again promote nutrition. In addition to continuing our advocacy work around global nutrition, we will also turn our attention to those experiencing hunger in the United States. Read More   Get Toolkit    Powerpoint Presentation Join Us! These churches have set a date to hold an Offering of Letters this year: Albuquerque Mennonite Church, Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Catholic Community,  All Saints Lutheran Church, St. Paul Lutheran Church,  St. Andrew Presbyterian Church. Other congregations that have written letters in recent years and/or are committed to writing letters in 2020 are Central United Methodist Church, First Presbyterian Church (Albuquerque). First Presbyterian Church (Santa Fe), Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, La Mesa Presbyterian Church, Peace Lutheran Church (Las Cruces), Smith Memorial Presbyterian Church (Truchas), St. John XXIII Catholic Community, St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, St. Therese Little Flower Catholic Church, St. Timothy's Lutheran Church.

Reps. Haaland, Torres Small Cosponsor Global Nutrition Resolution

Recognizing the importance of sustained United States leadership to accelerating global progress against maternal and child malnutrition and supporting United States Agency for International Development's commitment to global nutrition through its multi-sectoral nutrition strategy.   Summary of House Resolution 189 and Senate Resolution 260

As of mid-July, Bread for the World members in New Mexico had written 29 letters to Rep. Xochitl Torres Small and 254 to Rep. Deb Haaland urging our congressional representatives to support efforts to boost our country commitments to global child and maternal nutrition. This ask is part of Bread for the World's 2019 Offering of Letters. Better Nutrition, Better Tomorrow.

Collage of Lobby Day Visits

The letters from constituents might have played a part in the decision of Reps. Haaland and Torres Small to cosponsor House Resolution 189. Our two members of Congress were among the broadly bipartisan group of 94 House cosponsors. 

Of course, our Lobby Day visits to the Washington offices of the congresswomen might have helped, along with follow-up from Bread government relations staff.

We have also been in touch with Rep. Rep Ben Ray Lujan, who promised me during a conversation in Albuquerque that he would consider cosponsoring the initiative. This conversation came during the August congressional recess, and hopefully he will add his name when Congress returns in September.

On Lobby Day, I also visited the offices of Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich. We also requested that they sign on to the Senate version of the resolution. As of mid-August the two senators were not yet among the bipartisan group of 35 Senate cosponsors of SRes260. We are hopefully that they will add their names to the list.

Kids Cook! Develops WebApp to Promote Healthy Lifestyle

The Monthly meeting of the Interfaith Hunger Coalition on Tuesday, January 29, will feature a presentation from Kids Cook! and the healthy lifestyle WebAPP Fūdrr that the organization has created with  the support of the Presbyterian Center for Community Health.

Join us at First Presbyterian Church, I-25 and Martin Luther King, 12:00 Noon, on Tuesday, January 29, to learn more about how this new  n-line community resource is helping promote increased access to fresh produce for families in need.    

Leora Jaeger-Seigel and Mary Meyer will tell us how the WebApp works for schools and school children and for families in the Albuquerque area.

Fūdrr users--individuals and families--earn points/pennies that are redeemable for produce at local retailers, or can be donated to a low-income school, food pantry, or social service agency. The new version of this bilingual WebApp is planned for launch soon.  Check Out the  Fūdrr Facebook page
and Twitter account.  And here is the Kids Cook! Facebook page.

Users earn points when they:

• Respond to fūdrr active living and healthy eating challenges and quizzes.
• Post videos and photos of their healthy eating and active living experiences.
• Learn about the benefits of healthy eating, active living, and dollar wise food choices.
• Engage with friends, family members or health care providers on fūdrr.

Three Sisters Kitchen Now Open for Business

 Three Sisters Kitchen is an ambitious project to create a space for people to come together to cook, eat, test new recipes, develop new food businesses, teach and learn from each other. It is one part café, one part test kitchen, one part dining room and one part classroom. And, though many have come through with support, input and funding for Three Sisters, Anzia Bennett is now largely running the whole operation herself...Just about everyone who hears about the kitchen wants to get involved somehow. from Article in Weekly Alibi

The day finally arrived. After months of preparation, Three Sisters Kitchen is finally opened its doors wide open. There was poetry, music, demonstrations, tours, speeches and general celebration. "Join us for delicious food from the Street Food Institute, music from Sin Limite, kids activities led by Kids Cook!, and tours of our  [facilities]," said an invitation by the board, staff and volunteers of Three Sisters.

This unique project (at least in Albuquerque) features

• a test/incubator kitchen for food entrepreneurs and young food businesses to experiment, make mistakes, learn, and adjust to create viable products.
• a community classroom offering multi-generational, multi-lingual, community-based culinary, business, nutrition, and health education
• a local foods shop and cafe, providing a year-round market for local food makers to sell their products
• a community cookbook for people to  share recipes that "remind us of home,"

Anzia Bennett,director of the project, spoke about Three Sisters at the bimonthly meeting of the Interfaith Hunger Coalition in January of this year.  At that time, the project was months away from becoming a reality. The day finally  arrived on August 24!

In the photo on the left, Anzia addresses the huge crowd that attended the grand opening, which included Mayor Tim Keller, First Lady Elizabeth Kistin Keller, poet Hakim Bellamy and the musical group Sin Limite. 

Below are photographs taken at the grand opening celebration.

Elizabeth Kistin Keller and Tim Keller

Hakim Bellamy

Sin Límite

Three Sisters board members

The 311 on Children's #SummerMeals in #ABQ, #BernalilloCounty

City of Albuquerque sites are in blue, Bernalillo County in green (see printable listings below)

Photo: NM Alliance for Children

Free meals and summertime recreational info for Summer 2018 is available online now for Albuquerque and Bernalillo County! (See hyperlinks below)

Parents can also call 311 to find the nearest site for free breakfast or lunch, or questions about any summer programs.

 General Guidelines.

1. Participants must be one to 18 years of age to receive a meal.
2. Meals or individual food items cannot be taken from the site.
3. Participants must receive an entire meal, including milk.
4. All meals will be served on a first come, first served basis.

City of Albuquerque
The Food Service Program for Children provides meals in City community centers, parks, schools, apartment complexes, public housing, churches and at non-profit organizations
Most meal sites will start receiving food services June 4, 2018.
You do not have to be registered at any site listed to participate in the breakfast or lunch program.

See the full listing of sites (in pdf format for printing)

Bernalillo County
The Bernalillo County’s Office of Health and Social Services will be providing free and nutritious meals during the summer from May 30 through Aug. 4, 2018   See the full listing of sites (in pdf format for printing).

Summer Activities for Children and Youth
All Albuquerque summer activities at parks, community centers, libraries and museums, and city-sponsored events:

For a great way for you and the kids to cool off:
Swimming pools and spray parks in the City of Albuquerque:
Swimming pools and spray parks on Bernalillo County website:

There is also a website called “Momsblog,” which provides even more information on spray parks and pools 2018 Ultimate Guide to Summer in Albuquerque

Five New Sites Join Double-Up Food Bucks Network in New Mexico

Five new sites have joined  the Double Up Food Bucks network in New Mexico. The program allows participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to stretch out their benefits to purchase produce.

The five outlets are the Dixon Cooperative Market (Dixon), Questa Farmers' Market (Questa),The Fruit Basket (Velarde),Ardovino's Desert Crossing Farmers' Market (Sunland Park) and Cedar Crest Farmers' Market (Cedar Crest). The five new outlets join a network of nearly 80 participating sites.

 New Brochures and Posters
The New Mexico Farmers Marketing Association has designed new brochures and posters for the Double Up Food Bucks program.

The fold-out brochure details how the program works and the outlets offering the program in each of New Mexico's six regions.

Ordering is easy. Visit this site, then select which region you'd like for your brochure and add posters in English or Spanish. Select the quantities you'd like for each, add them your cart, then go through the checkout process. Be sure to order plenty of items to have on hand for your clients.

For more information  contact Double Up Food Bucks Program Manager Sarah Lucero .

Afterschool Suppers, a 'Game Changer'

Afterschool suppers are a game-changer for reducing childhood hunger and drawing children into afterschool enrichment programs.One of the most effective ways to increase participation in afterschool suppers is to ensure that there are more programs that offer afterschool activities to the children who need them, and that those programs provide suppers. Jim Weill, president, Food Research & Action Center.

Cover photo for report

Last month, the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) published the report Afterschool Suppers: A Snapshot of Participation. This is FRAC’s first-ever report on participation data in the Afterschool Nutrition Programs, which play a key role in reducing hunger and supporting quality afterschool enrichment programs.

This excerpt from the introduction to the report offers more background.

"Federally funded afterschool snacks have been available broadly since 1998. However, afterschool suppers are a relatively new option that only became available nationwide through the Healthy, Hunger- Free Kids Act of 2010. Federally funded afterschool suppers can be a game-changer for reducing childhood hunger in low-income communities and supporting the establishment and growth of afterschool enrichment programs. Children from struggling families can receive a healthy late afternoon or evening meal, instead of returning home hungry from their afterschool program, often to empty cupboards.

In October 2016, nearly 1.1 million children received an afterschool supper. Average daily participation grew from about 200,000 children in October 2011.

Reaching more than 1 million children in the sixth year after the national rollout has been an important accomplishment. But much more needs to be done; and yet, as this report shows, the pace of growth slowed in 2016. Through 2015, participation had been growing at a much faster rate; approximately 200,000 additional children were being served each October compared to the year before. In October 2016, however, the increase was one-quarter of what it had been — about 48,000 additional children.

The Data
The report measures the reach of the Afterschool Supper Program, funded through the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), and the Afterschool Snack Programs, funded through CACFP and the federal National School Lunch Program (NSLP).

The findings focus on participation in October 2016 and in comparison to October 2015, nationally and in each state. Based on a variety of metrics, this report examines the impacts of trends and policies on program participation.

See Full Report 

How did FRAC arrive at the figures for school suppers used in the report? Here is the formula:

1. For each state, FRAC calculated the average daily number of children receiving afterschool supper in October for every 100 children receiving free or reduced-price NSLP lunches in the same month. 
2. FRAC then calculated the number of additional children who would be reached if that state achieved a 15-to-100 ratio of afterschool supper participation to free and reduced-price lunch participation. 
3. FRAC then multiplied this unserved population by the afterschool supper reimbursement rate, and multiplied this total by the national average number of NSLP serving days in October. 
4. FRAC assumed each supper is reimbursed at the standard rate for school year 2016–2017: $3.16. Reimbursement estimates do not include the value of commodities, or cash-in-lieu of commodities, which are also provided to sponsors.

Here is data for New Mexico in one category that FRAC measured. There are five other tables, which you can access by viewing the report.

Table 1
Measures average daily participation (ADP) in Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Suppers and Free and Reduced-Price National School Lunch Program (NSLP) for  October 2015 and October 2016

New Mexico
                         Supper ADP     Lunch ADP      Ratio
October 2015    4,365                187, 680            2.3
October 2016    5,551                188,319             2.9

Change in Ratio 0.6
Percent Change in Supper ADP  27.2 %

United States 
                        Supper ADP     Lunch ADP      Ratio
 October 2015  1,047,961        22,022,103         4.8
 October 2016  1,096,361        21,772,369         5.0

Change in Ratio 0.6
Percent Change in Supper ADP  27.2 %

"The number of low-income students who participate in school lunch provides an important baseline for the need for afterschool meals. The CACFP Afterschool Supper Program’s eligibility rules require that at least 50 percent of the students attending the local elementary, middle, or high school are certified for free or reduced- price school meals," said the FRAC report. "This requirement significantly limits the areas that are eligible to participate, resulting in low-income students in every state not having access to afterschool meals. In addition, the eligibility requirement makes it more difficult for states with lower concentrations of poverty within their schools’ enrollment to provide low-income children with afterschool meals,"

The Ideal Farm Bill

Simply growing enough healthy food is not enough to end hunger in the United States. People must also be able to afford to buy these foods. The Farm Bill supports this part of the solution through its funding for federal nutrition programs, particularly the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).  -Bread for the World Institute

As Congress prepares to debate the next five-year piece of legislation that addresses agriculture and nutrition programs, there are some things we would like to see in this measure known as the Farm Bill. Health Affairs has a great piece on how the process works. This link leads you to the article.

Last year, the Bread for the World Institute posted a clear and succinct  article on how the Farm Bill can help end hunger. (Click here to read the piece in pdf). This graphic from Bread for the World complements the article.

Funding Comes Through for New Mexico-Grown Produce for Schools

By Pam Roy

It is with great excitement that we announce that Governor Martinez signed a $6.3 billion budget on Wednesday. The budget will begin in July. Included in the final budget is the NM Grown Fresh Fruits and Vegetables for School Meals totaling $425,000, more than the original legislative request to restore funding to the program (HB 62 and SB 106.) 

Thank you to our sponsors Representative Jimmie Hall and Speaker Egolf, and Senators Howie Morales, Woods and Campos. We also want to thank our originating sponsor, former Senator Dede Feldman for her vision. 

In addition, the goal to create a permanent program within the NM Public Education Department (PED) is about to be realized with support from the NM School Nutrition Association, Farm to Table, the NM Food and Ag Policy Council, CPLC New Mexico, COPE, the NM Public Education Dept., the NM Dept. of Agriculture, and NM Dept. of Health. 

Future plans include expanding the program to include farm to school education related programs and exploring how to add New Mexico’s beef to the school lunch plate. Messages to the Governor and Legislators from across New Mexico and the Navajo Nation were heard!

We want to thank all who supported the priorities of the NM Food and Agriculture Policy Council, NM School Nutrition Association and partner organizations and agencies. We appreciate all who participated in the NM Food and Farms Day and School Nutrition Day at the Legislature – an incredible turnout, organized efforts, and incredible enthusiasm and support. It truly takes us all to create change and support important programs. We look forward to our continued collective work ahead!

(*The author is coordinator of the New Mexico Food and Agriculture Policy Council and executive director of Farm to Table)

'State of the Plate' Reviews Setbacks in Key Food-Related Programs

The executive branch has tremendous power to reshape food policy through political appointments, executive orders, and regulatory reform.

Three days have passed since the President delivered his State of the Union address. In conjunction with the annual  speech, the advocacy and education organization Food Policy Action put together a State of the Plate review to examine how important domestic and international anti-hunger, farming, environmental and nutrition programs fared during the past year.

The report looked at three different broad areas and came to these conclusions:

Access to safe and healthy food is under attack 

Federal actions have lowered school nutrition standards, removed important food safety protections, endangered nutrition assistance programs, and delayed progress on food labeling transparency.

• Rollbacks of nutrition standards in the National School Breakfast and School Lunch Program will allow more sodium, more sugar, and fewer whole grains on kids’ plates.
• The Administration’s proposed budget endangers successful, vital food assistance programs through funding cuts and false stories about SNAP beneficiaries.
• The Administration’s delay in requiring an updated Nutrition Facts label keeps consumers in the dark about critical information on the food they are buying, including added sugar and sodium, chemicals and dyes, and serving recommendations.

Read more

Decades of progress in sustainable farming, fisheries management, and clean water protections are being unraveled

The Administration has enacted sweeping measures to eliminate rules that protect human health and the long-term viability of our soil, water, and oceans

• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reversed a ban on a dangerous pesticide that has lifelong effects of brain development in children despite deep concern from scientists and physicians.
• The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) withdrew a proposed rule to improve standards for humane production of organic eggs, despite protests from organic producers and consumers that this withdrawal severely weakens the integrity of the organic program.
• A Presidential executive order directed the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers to repeal a pollution prevention rule, exposing upstream water sources to toxic contaminants that flow into larger bodies and sources of our drinking water.

 Read More

Standards for workers’ rights and fair competition for farmers have been weakened

Farmers and food workers rely on a level playing field, safe working conditions, and diverse opportunities to survive and prosper, but this Administration has scorned these basic rights for farmers and ignored the vital role that food and farm workers play in our economy

• The USDA sided with the largest meatpacking companies at the expense of small producers by withdrawing rules to enforce fair competition and by eliminating the agency that polices deceptive and anti-competitive practices.
• Immigration crackdowns and divisive rhetoric from the Administration have inspired fear and uncertainty among food and farm workers.
• The EPA is delaying the implementation of a new rule that includes worker protections from pesticide exposure. 

Read More

An Enthusiastic Pitch for Three Sisters Kitchen

Three Sisters Kitchen is an ambitious project to create a space for people to come together to cook, eat, test new recipes, develop new food businesses, teach and learn from each other. It is one part café, one part test kitchen, one part dining room and one part classroom. And, though many have come through with support, input and funding for Three Sisters, Bennett is now largely running the whole operation herself...Just about everyone who hears about the kitchen wants to get involved somehow. from Article in Weekly Alibi

Sarah Haynes, Anzia Bennett

Corn, squash and beans...Three agricultural products that support each other's growth when you plant them together. That concept reflects the mission of Three Sisters Kitchen in Albuquerque.

 
Anzia Bennett, director of the emerging project, was the featured presenter at The Interfaith Hunger Coalition's bimonthly meeting in January. 

Rather than post a recap of her  comments to our group of about 20 people gathered at First Presbyterian Church on January 23, I will include a couple of excerpts and a link to her terrific interview with Robin Babb of the Weekly Alibi.

"As she walks me through the soon-to-be under-construction space at 109 Gold Avenue SW, Bennett’s enthusiasm for the possibilities of Three Sisters is obvious—despite the dozens of times, I suspect, she’s given this same pitch to others. Her unflagging energy, no doubt, has come in handy during the long process of planning and executing the project."

She hopes to have a soft opening for the space sometime in the spring or early summer of this year, but acknowledges that progress has been a lot slower than she wanted. “I wanted to open last year,” she says, “but between planning, permitting and finding funds for all the kitchen equipment and staff …” she winces. It’s not an uncommon predicament for many business owners in Albuquerque, nonprofit or otherwise.

Bennett welcomes financial donations from individuals and foundations to the project, particularly to acquire the expensive kitchen equipment needed for the test kitchen. However,  one thing she really wants is cookbooks (as well as lightly used aprons, dishes, and cooking tools).  If you would like to donate one of these items or host a fundraiser, send an e-mail message to Anzia Bennett (anzia@threesisterskitchen.org).

Roberta Montoya and Joy Dinaro

Bread and Blessings Project
Bennett's presentation was a perfect complement to an earlier mini presentation from Roberta Montoya, who manages the Bread and Blessings project at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in downtown Albuquerque. '

The Interfaith Hunger Coalition has begun a new feature at our monthly meetings, which is to showcase the work of one of our endorsing congregations.

Montoya gave a great history of how the community came together to help create the project, including donations of services and expensive equipment needed to set up a special kitchen for Bread and Blessings. Through the project, the parish and volunteers from various faith communities around Albuquerque offer a restaurant-style meal every Sunday afternoon. While most of the clients are members of the homeless community, low-income working families and individuals are often among those who are served. The main entre is often pasta, but desserts appear to be a favorite. "The clients like sugar," noted Montoya. 

New Mexico in Focus Features Local Nutritionist Patty Keane

On October 20, our friend Patty Keane appeared on KNME-TV show to discuss food insecurity in New Mexico and other nutrition-related issues. Here is a video of her conversing with host Gene Grant., host of New Mexico in Focus. Keane, who is a registered dietician at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, was also featured in the KNME documentary “Big Healthy Life.” Just below the interview is the segment of the documentary where Keane and Alissa Barnes, director of Community initiatives at Roadrunner Food Bank, offer  their perspectives Check their comments at the 5-minute mark.  There are five segments in the "Big Healthy Life" series

Revisiting Santa Fe's Food Policy

The Santa Fe Food Policy Council, a thirteen-member advisory group that includes city and county officials and other citizens working on local food issues, hosted one of its occasional public forums on October 12, 2017, at the Santa Fe Convention Center.

The council heard presentations from at least a dozen speakers about food policy in our state capital as it relates to the multi-year food plan.

According to the news site Edible (Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Taos), three ongoing needs came to the forefront during the presentations: to expand the local market for local growers to sell their produce locally; to expand access to locally grown food to people of all incomes; and to educate a broad public about growing, buying, and cooking natural, nutritious produce. Read full article by Pamela Walker, who interviewed Kierstan Pickens, executive director of the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute, about how the Double Up Food Bucks program helps low-income families buy more fruits and  vegetables at growers markets.

Mayor Javier Gonzales, who has made a priority of addressing hunger in Santa Fe, also offered some remarks.“Santa Fe is a city of great means. Yet thirty percent of our kids will go hungry tonight. Twenty-eight percent of them have two working parents," said Gonzales. "Sixty percent of them are obese. We must challenge ourselves to solve the issues of hunger in our community."

A Conversation on the Nutrition Section of the Farm Bill

Photo: Ellen Buelow

Even when it appears we are not making a difference, we really are." Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham

Many legislators who sit on the House or Senate Agriculture Committee or on a committee that has decision-making powers on agriculture are holding listening sessions with constituents ahead of the upcoming debate on the next Farm Bill. The chairs of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees have set a goal of completing the legislation on time this year, before the current law expires in September of 2018.

Because of delays and disagreements, the 2012 Farm Bill was not approved until 2014. The Agricultural Act of 2014, reduced funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Food Assistance Program (SNAP) by about 8.6 billion over 10 years.

"The good news is we starting work early on this farm bill, Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham told more than a dozen persons invited to dialogue on the next five-year agriculture legislative initiative.

The congresswoman said the early discussions are allowing members to reach agreements on the framework of the new legislation. "This is the most bipartisan effort in Congress," said Lujan Grisham.

Lujan Grisham poses with Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Advocates (Photo Stephanie Kean)

Lujan Grisham, who sits on the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Nutrition and is a member of the House Hunger Caucus, wanted to hear the views of anti-hunger, nutrition, and anti-poverty advocates on the Nutrition Title, which governs important anti-hunger programs like SNAP, The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP),  the National School Lunch Program,and  the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).

Some of the advocates asked that funding for the nutrition education elements of SNAP not only be protected but improved."We need education programs tailored to education levels of recipients," said Patty Keane, immediate past-president of the New Mexico Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (NMAND) and associate scientist, nutrition Lecturer II, Department of Pediatrics Prevention Research Center.

Honored to participate in this #FarmBill listening session w/ @RepLujanGrisham, the wonderful #TeamMLG & this amazing group. #SNAP #SNAPEd https://t.co/YHduWic29y

— Patty Keane, MS, RD (@PKeaneRD) August 19, 2017

Pam Roy, executive director of Farm to Table, spoke about the need to add language to the Farm Bill that takes into account cultural factors when implementing nutrition programs locally. "We need to include culturally significant foods on Indian reservations," said Roy, who is also director of the New Mexico Food and Agriculture Policy Council.

Photo: Carlos Navarro

'Working to Prevent Block Grants'
There was also request to resist deep cuts in SNAP. Melody Wattenbarger, CEO of Roadrunner Food Bank, said her Albuquerque-based food bank (which reaches out into many parts of New Mexico) and all the food banks in the Feeding America network, view SNAP as a very important program in the overall effort to address hunger in the United States. "The SNAP program provides 10 times more food than our combined (Feeding America) network," Wattenbarger

Bread for the World advocates also asked that the next farm bill protect funding and the structure of SNAP, including not making food stamps a program that is block-granted. "I'm going to work to prevent block grants," Rep. Lujan Grisham reassured us.

Photo: Stephanie Kean

There were also requests to ensure that work and other requirements not become obstacles to keep eligible people outside of the program. "We need protection in the Farm Bill against mandatory work requirements," said Sovereign Hager, an attorney with the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty.

Within the conversation on obstacles, there was a mention of finding ways to get around the cliff effect, when a person who receives SNAP benefits (usually a working mother) receives a promotion that renders her ineligible for food stamps. 

Congress will return to work after Labor Day, which means that work of the formal work on the Farm Bill will resume at that time. Rep. Lujan Grisham urges constituents to keep sending her comments. Use this link to contact the congresswoman.

A Food Movement based on Catholic Principles

“Give us this day, our daily bread,” we pray. How can we let Christ live through us in a way that better helps to ensure the world’s hungry receive their daily bread? This question is one that necessitates seeing ourselves as interconnected with our brothers and sisters across the world, so we can maintain the spiritual stamina needed to create a more equitable food system.   -Kelly Moltzen

Kelly Moltzen,  a board member of the  Franciscan Action Network, recently wrote a guest author in the The Christian Food Movement blog, on how faithc communities can build a food system based on Catholic principles. She suggests such a plan would follow five guidelines offered by  the Good Food Purchasing Policy of the Center for Good Food Purchasing:

• local economies, 
• environmental sustainability, 
• valued workforce,
• animal welfare
• nutrition.  

How do you put these five principles into practice?  Moltzen gives us an example from Church of the Blessed Sacrament on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City.

"Picture this: going to church and picking up a farm share with food grown on an organic and biodynamic farm owned by a religious congregation, and having surplus food that is grown be donated to the church’s food pantry or soup kitchen, thanks to the support of other parishioners who can help to subsidize the additional food," said Moltzen, who serves as Nutrition Coordinator for Bronx Health REACH and as a leader for the Food Justice Working Group at NY Faith & Justice.

 " A Catholic food system would care for the hungriest among us, both on the other side of the world as well as the other side of the street, making sure everyone not only has access to food but gets fresh, quality, nutritious food, that doesn’t degrade environmental sustainability but promotes ecological well-being instead," added  Moltzen.

The author makes a compelling case for Congress to transform food-related legislation when the 2018 Farm Bill comes up for debate."To make more sustainably, ethically grown produce available at an affordable price for all, we would need a Farm Bill that is committed to biodiversity and incentivizes produce rather than subsidizes corn and soy as staple crops," said Moltzen. "More affordable fruits and vegetables would also support equity for communities of color that are disproportionately affected by health disparities."

Read the full post, entitled "Building a Catholic Food System."

Hunger Challenges and Solutions North of the Border

Wikimedia Commons

Canada has similar challenges as the U.S. when it comes to hunger and food insecurity. This post has a few tweets on those challenges and some solutions at the provincial level.

 Check out this tweet from Canada Without Poverty (@CWP_CSP)

Summer #Hunger Is A Symptom Of A Persistently Flawed Food System https://t.co/POAIpOzI83 #poverty #ChewOnThis

— CanadaWithoutPoverty (@CWP_CSP) July 25, 2017

And the Ontario Association of Food Banks (@OAFB) addresses a recent decision from the provincial government

#ON opts out of collecting food insecurity data, creating gaps in data used to analyze poverty reduction policies https://t.co/4xzcMsjZSP

— Ontario Food Banks (@OAFB) July 12, 2017

In British Columbia, First Call BC (@FirstCallBC reports on the positive effects of a ban on junk food in schools

School junk food bans showing positive results https://t.co/sqAw5fU7kk @bchealthyliving @bctf #bced @mbrussoni #obesity

— First Call (@FirstCallBC) July 10, 2017

In Quebec, Barb Burt (@hibarb7) links to a report about a program for grocery stores in the province to send their excess food to food banks in the province

Quebec grocery stores province-wide program, send unused produce to food banks https://t.co/aaduhfdJtG John Horgan @jjhorgan can BC follow?

— 🇨🇦 Barb Burt 🇩🇪 (@hibarb7) July 14, 2017

Back in British Columbia, Food Banks BC (@RealFoodBanksBC) and BCWildfireHelp (@bcwildfirehelp) report on efforts to assist evacuees escaping wildfires that have threaten communities in the province this summer.

Update on #BCwildfire Our food banks are here to help all evacuees - Go to our website to find the nearest food bank https://t.co/B1QAs3MuTc https://t.co/7i9qQJwfB6

— Food Banks BC (@RealFoodBanksBC) July 24, 2017

Updated: Where to find food & supplies in South #Cariboo;
Food banks, ESS svs's & prescriptions avail #bcwildfires🔥https://t.co/2CGG7t87WO

— BC WildfireHelp (@BCWildfireHelp) July 18, 2017

Artists, Advocates and Chefs Promote #FoodisFuel Message

Our leaders need to make ending hunger a national priority. Kids who get school breakfast achieve 17% better scores in math. That's because food is fuel. You can't compete on an empty stomach.

 -Julianna Margulies




A Place at the Table spells out the issue very clearly. "Our country has more than enough food for everyone. With the right structure of policies in place — from school meals and federal nutrition programs to a Farm Bill that works for all Americans — we can create, protect, and share this abundance, so every American, at every stage of life’s journey, can count on the healthy food they need to thrive.

But here’s the problem: Over the years, the system has missed some much-needed maintenance, and right now, 42 million Americans aren’t getting enough healthy food to eat. A family in a rural community might live hours away from the nearest grocery store. A factory worker might earn too much to qualify for nutrition assistance but too little to afford enough to eat."

Questlove, Julianna Margulies, Rosie Perez, Christian Siriano, and other artists, advocates, and chefs are uniting to join average citizens like you and me to demand action from our elected leaders to end hunger in America. The stories from Jonathan Safran Foer, John Leguizamo, Zainab Salbi, and other advocates make it clear that we all need to take action to get our leaders focused on ending hunger. Follow this link (and scroll down) to see the short #FoodisFuel messages from  each of these prominent individuals.

When our leaders make this critical issue a priority, and prevent hunger from holding anyone back, it will unlock the potential of millions of Americans.

This campaign matters for everyone. It's for people who might never stand in a spotlight or walk a red carpet, and people who dream of being artists but can't think ahead beyond worrying about where their next meal will come from.

America’s potential is our people. Food is the fuel that makes everything we achieve possible. Healthy food and sound nutrition power up our wellbeing, and propel us forward to build vibrant communities.  A Place at the Table

This campaign matters for tomorrow's Juliannas and Questloves. It matters for anyone who might be out of a job, but not out of hope -- anyone who could still bounce back if they could focus on something besides their rumbling stomach.

Questlove (pictured at left)i s the co-founder of the Roots, but that’s only one course of his daily meal: Food fueled his childhood in Philadelphia, his years playing music on the road, countless hours in the studio, and continues to inspire his creativity, whether he’s sitting behind the drum kit or writing a New York Times Bestseller

This campaign matters for all of the future astronauts, advocates, teachers, parents, grandparents, and neighbors who will continue to contribute to American communities. Everyone needs healthy food to live up to their full potential.

Join the Movement by providing your e-mail address and zip code. The organizers of A Place at the Table will be in touch again very soon with more ways you can get the word out and grow this movement!