It takes more than food to fight hunger. The Community FoodBank of New Jersey is committed to raising the awareness of hunger in New Jersey, communicating the reality of hunger and advocating for better policies and programs that provide adequate nutrition for all. Together we can provide a voice for those we serve especially children and their families, seniors, the unemployed, and low-income workers.
For many Americans, making ends meet is a constant struggle. When forced to make tough decisions about where they will spend their limited incomes, many have turned to their local food pantry or soup kitchen for help for food to help balance their budgets.
Current Issue: Hunger Increases may not be over
US Mayors Release Annual Hunger Report
The U.S. Conference of Mayors released their annual report on hunger and homelessness. The report, which surveyed the 29 major American cities (including Trenton, NJ) that comprise the task force on hunger and homelessness, found that 86% of those cities reported a rise in emergency food demand by an average of 15%. Across the survey cities, over a quarter (27%) of the people needing emergency food assistance did not receive it. None of the cities forecast a decrease in emergency food demand and nearly all of the cities (93%) expect demand for emergency food to continue to rise. Unemployment led the list of causes of hunger, followed by poverty, low wages, and high housing costs. A PDF of the full report can be downloaded here: http://usmayors.org/pressreleases/uploads/2011-hhreport.pdf
FY-2012 Agriculture Appropriations Passed in November
Congress Contemplating Next Steps for Farm Bill
Thanks to your efforts, on November 18, President Obama signed 2012 Agriculture Appropriations into law. The Feeding America network together sent more than 19.700 emails and made over 4,000 calls at just the right time to make our elected officials understand the importance of protecting programs that feed hungry Americans. The bill passed with critical funding for nutrition programs that we have been advocating for over the past few months. Because of this funding the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) will help put food onto our foodbank’s depleted shelves, we will be able to serve our existing caseload of seniors through the CSFP program and many New Jerseyans will continue to be supported by SNAP (Food Stamps) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) through 2012. As the economy recovers slowly, the systems that support these Americans must remain strong.
Congress Contemplating Next Steps for Farm Bill
The coming year is critical to future funding of important nutrition programs. In 2012 the Farm Bill will be evaluated and reauthorized. The Farm Bill, reauthorized every 5 years, is a comprehensive piece of legislation that sets the policy for farming and agricultural but also critical nutrition programs. We can help our Members of Congress get ready for the Farm Bill 2012 by letting them know about the extent of hunger in their districts and the positive roles that federal nutrition programs play in combating both hunger and obesity. Our advocacy work next year will build upon our efforts to provide education on the importance of the federal nutrition programs.
Do you have a feeding program? Invite your member of Congress to visit. Or call them to tell them who and how many you are serving.
Are you an individual volunteer? You can call to let them know that you support the Community FoodBank of New Jersey which helped to serve approximately 900,000 people in New Jersey last year.
To find and contact your member of congress using your zip code: www.congress.org
Use Feeding America’s toll free number, 877-698-8228 to connect to your Member of Congress directly.
Food Stamps
Our Food Stamp Outreach Program’s primary goal is to empower individuals who deserve food stamps benefits to apply for them. Learn more.
Hunger Here At Home
With the U.S. and world economies in crisis, more unemployed workers, working poor families and seniors on limited incomes than ever are living at the margins of poverty and need help from the nation’s network of food banks and the charities they serve. SNAP (food stamps) is a critical safety net program that helps support people during difficult times especially in times of emergency. Because it is an entitlement program, the program maintains the flexibility necessary to address an unusual rise in need without jeopardizing the ability of our most vulnerable to be fed. Any deficit reduction should exempt the SNAP program from any caps or cuts that would alter the ability to respond to urgent demands as evidenced by recent participation trends.
Participation in the SNAP/Food Stamp Program is still on the increase. In September 2011, SNAP/Food Stamps participation rose to a record 46, million people, an increase of over 400,000 individuals from September 2010. One in seven Americans receives SNAP/Food Stamps. The number of participants in New Jersey (over 840,000) increased by more than 20 percent in the last year and more than doubled in the last 4 years. For more info: www.frac.org
Free Tax Preparation
The Community FoodBank of New Jersey is connecting clients to free income tax preparation services in our area.
