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USDA Report Finds 17 Million Families At Risk of HungerWhen the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its annual report on Household Food Security in November, the numbers were sobering. In 2008, 17 million households were food insecure and families had difficulty putting enough food on the table at times during the year, up from 13 million households in 2007. The 2008 figures represent the highest level observed since nationally representative food security surveys were initiated in 1995. More than one-third of the affected households were defined as having “very low food security,” meaning one or more people in the home went hungry during the year due to the family’s inability to afford enough food. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack noted that while the USDA’s nutrition programs provide a safety net to those with critical food needs, “…addressing the root of hunger requires a broader strategy.” The investments made under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 that focus on long-term job creation are intended to address the continuing poverty that remains the underlying cause of hunger. Vilsack also stated, “We have another opportunity to improve the health and nutrition of our children when Congress begins to debate the Child Nutrition Reauthorization.” He was referring to the need for certain child nutrition programs to be reauthorized by Congress every five years. While the School Breakfast Program and the National School Lunch Program are permanent, and the Recovery Act included a large boost in benefits to USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), other vital nutritional efforts such as the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), State Administrative Expenses (SAE), and the Special Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) have real expiration dates. The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, expired on September 30. Resources Read the full USDA report on Household Food Security U.S. Mayors, Sodexo Foundation Issue Report on Childhood Hunger Relief Successes
According to Stephen J. Brady, Sodexo Foundation president, “These challenging economic times are increasing the number of families that are hungry, so we must learn from the innovative programs that are working and replicate these good ideas across the country.” Some examples of effective municipal efforts illustrate the variety of initiatives highlighted in the full report. In Baltimore, MD, the Maryland Food Bank’s School Pantry Program distributed more than 300,000 pounds of food at 72 schools. The program has two goals—to feed hungry children and to actively engage parents in their children’s education. The design is simple and wonderfully effective. More than 8,000 low-income families were given bags of groceries in exchange for parents’ participation in school-based volunteer activities. In 2010, the program will expand to include an additional 25 schools. The Backpack Buddy Program run by Louisville, KY’s Dare to Care Food Bank ensures that children from low-income households who receive breakfast and lunch at school during the week also enjoy nutritious weekend meals at home. A registered dietician selects foods such as cereals, 100 percent fruit juice, and microwavable chili to include in backpacks that children receive on Friday afternoons. Teachers report that children in the program have become more responsible and appear more alert on Mondays. The Backpack Buddy program has grown from four to 19 school locations. The Women’s and Children’s Free Restaurant (WCFR) in Spokane, WA serves a low-income district where 91 percent of children receive free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch. WCFR serves well-balanced meals and high nutrition grocery items to low-income women and their children in an atmosphere of dignity, respect, and safety. Some of WCFR’s community partners include Feed Spokane, Hope House, the Intercollegiate School of Nursing, Shalom Ministries, and the Caritas Center. With 107,000 residents under the age of 18 living below the poverty level, Dallas has been well served by the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB), which distributes donated, purchased, and prepared foods in 13 North Texas counties. The group has increased the amount of nutritious staple items to ensure that food pantries have a reliable supply to offer families. NTFB’s innovative Kids Cafes serve hot, nutritionally complete evening meals to students who participate in school-based breakfast and lunch programs but don’t always get a third meal at home. Tom Cochran, CEO and Executive Director of the Conference of Mayors, said that “Ending childhood hunger by 2015 is an enormous challenge and we need reports of successful models to inspire and motivate people to take action. We offer this publication in support of that goal.” Download a full PDF version of Childhood Anti-Hunger Programs in 24 Cities. Seasons Givings: Gifts that Go Farther
Feeding America has holiday card purchase options for individuals and businesses that support the group’s effort to end hunger in America. Your tax-deductible donation will help their network of more than 200 food banks provide a brighter, more nutritious holiday for many American families. There are still a few days left to order cards, and procrastinators can always send a HOPE eCard when they make a tribute gift online. The Ozarks Food Harvest in Springfield, Missouri distributes nearly five million pounds of food annually to 29 southwest Missouri counties. The group’s Adopt a Backpack program is a tremendous gift that provides a backpack of food for a hungry child this holiday season. Just $40 provides a backpack every weekend for a month (24 meals); $150 provides a semester’s worth of backpacks (108 meals); and $300 provides a backpack a week for an entire school year (216 meals). The Vermont Foodbank, the only food bank in the state, will send a beautiful holiday ornament to anyone on your gift list for a $35 donation to ensure that no families in the Green Mountain State go without food this season. Share Our Strength has a host of partners helping to feed hungry children this year. A special eBay page has great autographed gift items from The Food Network’s celebrity chefs with all proceeds going to the charity. Plus great subscription offers to popular magazines like Parents, Fitness and Family Circle benefit hungry children while satisfying avid readers. The CAPSBC Food Bank in San Bernardino, California features an itemized “wish list” so gift givers can choose exactly which foods they’d like their donation to provide. From canned goods to turkeys and hams and pies, the list features everything a family needs to have a welcome, festive holiday meal. Donating the gift of your own time can have just as much impact as a financial one. In Massachusetts, Project Ezra will deploy nearly 1,000 members of Jewish organizations and synagogues on December 25 to fill in for social service volunteers celebrating Christmas with their families. Project Ezra participants shop for, prepare, and deliver a full Christmas dinner to neighbors in need. Applications Open January 1 for 2010 STOP Hunger Scholarships
Each national STOP Hunger Scholarship recipient receives a $5,000 scholarship and a matching $5,000 donation to their affiliated hunger relief organization. Added consideration is given to those students working to combat childhood hunger. For complete STOP Hunger Scholarship application details visit http://www.sodexofoundation.org/hunger_us/scholarships/scholarships.asp Article ArchivesSTOP Hunger eZine Issues Vol. 4 Issue 4: STOP Hunger eZine - December 2009Vol. 4 Issue 3: STOP Hunger eZine - October 2009 Vol. 4 Issue 2: STOP Hunger eZine - July 2009 Vol. 4 Issue 1: STOP Hunger eZine - March 2009 Special Edition: $5,000 scholarships for community service Vol. 3 Issue 6: STOP Hunger eZine - November 2008
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December 2009 – Volume 4/Issue 4
In this issue: Sodexo and Habitat for Humanity: Meeting the Challenge of Affordable Housing
Most of us think of Daytona Beach as one of Florida’s fabulous vacation destinations. For low-income residents who call this coastal city home, however, the shortage of affordable housing is an everyday concern. Thanks to the efforts of Halifax Habitat for Humanity (HFH,) a fundraising challenge from the Sodexo Foundation, and payroll deductions from Sodexo employees, one more Daytona-area family will have a home of its own in 2010. Halifax HFH is a locally run Florida affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, a non-profit organization that partners with volunteers, corporations, and people in need to build and renovate decent, affordable housing. Since 1986, the Halifax affiliate has built 111 homes for area residents, one of which was sponsored by Sodexo in 2004. Now, the Sodexo Foundation has issued a challenge grant to the Florida chapter of SOL (Sodexo Organization of Latinos) to raise $40,000 via employee payroll deductions towards the construction of a second Habitat home. Once the goal is reached, the Sodexo Foundation will provide a 2 to 1 match on the money raised to provide Habitat with the $80,000 required for a new home in the Daytona area. SOL is one of Sodexo’s Employee Network Groups, which help promote and ensure an open and inclusive environment. According to Rodney Cruise, District Manager, Sodexo Campus Services and a Halifax HFH Board member, the one-year-old Florida SOL chapter has 60 members and has made the HFH initiative the centerpiece of its activities. “We kicked off the fundraising effort in early October at a national SOL event and have been reaching out to all Sodexo employees across Florida and Georgia during staff meetings,” said Cruise. “The response has been so extraordinary; in just over a month employees have contributed $25,000 through payroll deductions…we’re more than halfway towards our goal!” Cruise noted he was particularly grateful to Sodexo’s hourly employees, who have donated in almost equal numbers as salaried managers. “One hourly associate committed to $5 per paycheck, or $260 in total donations,” recalled Cruise. “When I checked with her to be sure she was comfortable with such a large donation she told me ‘My sister lives in a Habitat home; I should have been doing this all along.’” Sodexo’s contribution doesn’t end once the $80,000 is raised. When Habitat breaks ground for the home, SOL network group members and Sodexo employees will volunteer to build the house. Sodexo’s long relationship with Habitat for Humanity, at both the local and national level, has built reservoirs of good will. Halifax HFH Executive Director Lori Gillooly said, “The strength of Habitat for Humanity is the development of community partnerships. Halifax HFH has been particularly blessed to have the support of the Sodexo family. From Rodney Cruise’s service as a Board of Director member, to Sodexo's signature sponsorship of events with financial, in-kind, and volunteer assistance, and now to the commitment of the SOL group to provide a house sponsorship, Halifax HFH salutes Sodexo for its generous contribution of time, talent. and treasure.” |
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It gets harder every year to come up with those special holiday presents for family, friends, and customers. And if you also want your gift to help provide sorely needed food assistance for those who face a bleak season, you’ve really got your work cut out for you. Well, we’ve done the searching for you! Following are some gift suggestions that say “happy holidays” in more ways than one. 
Each year, as part of Sodexo’s commitment to work for a hunger-free America, the Sodexo Foundation honors students who have made their own commitment to fight hunger and its root causes. On January 1, 2010 applications open for the 4th annual STOP Hunger Scholarships, which are available to students from kindergarten through graduate school.