Feed the Hungry
It is important for Californians to remember that even in these times of relative prosperity, thousands of their neighbors go hungry or undernourished. Many families aren't always sure at the start of the month whether they'll have enough food to last until month's end. Two causes for this alarming predicament are the erosion of the the Food Stamp Program, and the number of jobs that pay too little for workers to feed their families.
Food stamps reach more people than any other nutrition assistance program, but nationally food stamp participation has declined much more significantly than a growing economy would warrant. The Government Accounting Office found two reasons for the decline not explained by the growing economy: one, uneven implementation of welfare reform, which has led to confusion and inappropriate (and even illegal) practices in local food stamp offices; and two, elimination of eligibility for most legal immigrants. The decline in participation especially hurts children. In California, efforts have been somewhat successful to counter these trends, but it is important to stay alert to developments.
Here are some of the most useful strategies:
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In the aftermath of welfare reform, food banks throughout the country are raising private funds to operate innovative programs and to feed those who are hungry. Every food bank strives to be a hunger advocate, producing hunger studies, tracking local statistics, and informing the network of advocates on the issue.
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California Food Policy Advocates promotes state policies to feed the hungry, and has a comprehensive guide to food stamp policies in California
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Bread For the World helps develop a national strategy to prevent hunger, preserving the Food Stamp Program. Also, and raising the minimum wage.
Here are some studies of the issue:
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The Hunger of Poor People in the United States: 1998
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Sweet Charity: Emergency Food and the End of Entitlement by Janet Poppendieck
For FCL Newsletter articles on hunger see:
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March 1998 Fighting Hunger, Food Security, Resources
Here are two books on the issues:
Feeding the Poor by Peter Rossi (1998) analyzes the impact of five U.S. nutrition programs: WIC, the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast program, the food stamp program, and the Child Care Food Program. [120 pages. ISBN: 0844740101. Washington DC: American Enterprise Institute.]
Rethinking Urban Economic Development by William Schweke and Brian Dabson (1998) outlines the basic steps for tailoring an appropriate urban development effort, including modernizing manufacturing firms, reforming city schools, developing welfare-to-work initiatives, running microenterprise, and designing individual development accounts. All those concerned about the economic fortunes of their cities can benefit from this reading. [112 pages. Price: $20.00. Contact the Corporation for Enterprise Development, 777 North Capitol St., N.E., Suite 410, Washington, D.C. 20002 or call: (202) 408-9788].
Friends Committee on Legislation
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