Food Stamp Eligibility Expanded for Families with Child Care Expenses

The Empire Justice Center has updated its brochures regarding expanded eligibility for food stamps for families with child care and dependent care expenses. The revisions reflect the upward adjustment of the eligibility levels (200% of poverty), which were done in October, 2009. The brochures are available in English and Spanish.

These brochures are a useful tool in raising awareness around this change in the Food Stamp Program that allows higher income guidelines for households that incur child care/dependent care expenses. The brochure also highlights which households are eligible for the deduction and what counts as an expense.

Please feel free to print out these brochures and distribute them.

For the brochure in English click here.

For the brochure in Spanish click here.

USDA's 2010 Golden Grocer Award Nominations

The Outreach Coalition of the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is pleased to announce it is accepting nominations for the Golden Grocer Hunger Champions Award Program. These awards represent the retailer component of the Hunger Champions Award Program by recognizing the instrumental role retailers play in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP or the Food Stamp Program in NYS). Retailers committed to the FNS vision of ending hunger and improving nutrition and health has ensured the success of the SNAP. Highlighting successful activities that improve service to recipients of SNAP benefits and low-income customers will provide other retailers with exemplary models to replicate.

The 2010 Golden Grocer Hunger Champions awards will be given to retailers that provide excellence in customer service, outreach, and/or nutrition education.

To be eligible for a nomination, a firm must be a SNAP authorized retailer in good standing. As in the past, awards will be given in three categories of SNAP authorized firms: local stores affiliated with large corporations, small independent grocery stores, and farmers’ markets.

Nominations will be accepted throughout the year and awards will be made on an ongoing basis.

For more information on the nominations process and for a nomination form click here.

USDA's 2010 Hunger Champion Award Nominations

The Outreach Coalition of USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is pleased to announce nominations are open for the 2010 Hunger Champions Award Program. This program honors local county assistance offices(LDSS offices or HRA centers) that provide exemplary service in assisting eligible clients to obtain benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP - the Food Stamp Program in NYS). It is the goal of the award program to recognize and support those local county assistance offices that make an enduring effort to embrace the mission of the SNAP.…“to increase food security and to reduce hunger by providing children and low income people with food, a healthy diet and nutrition education.”

Local county assistance offices with a unique and creative approach to serving their clients will be selected as the 2010 Hunger Champions.

For more information on the nomination process and for a nomination form click here.

Nominations are due by July 2, 2010.

NY Farmers Markets Accept EBT/Food Stamps

Did you know over 130 NY Farmers Markets Accept EBT/Food Stamp/SNAP cards?

Launched by the Farmers Market Federation of NY, the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, and the NY Department of Agriculture and Markets, this program encourages food stamp recipients to shop their local farmers market for wholesome, fresh food.

How the program works:
1) A food stamp recipient visits one of the over 130 NY Farmers Markets that accept tokens.

2) At the market, the recipient heads to the table with a “Use Your Food Stamp (EBT) Card Here!” banner.

3) The recipient uses their card to purchase as many $1 wooden tokens as they would like. These tokens act as cash within the market and can be used to purchase fresh produce, baked goods, meats, cheese, and much, much more!

To help increase awareness of this program among food stamp recipients and community agencies, a new website was created to familiarize organizations and individuals with the program. To visit the site click here . The Web site was launched with the purpose of being a resource for promoting the program, explaining how it works, finding a market in your community or getting great tips on buying and preparing fresh vegetables.

Spring is here and Farmers Markets are opening for business. Your help is needed in getting the word out about this exciting opportunity for food stamp recipients in communities across NYS.

Powerpoint Slides for CNR Conference Call: 4/19

Working Together to End Childhood Hunger: Senate's Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010

Monday, April 19^th from 1:00 – 2:15 pm

1. To join, please dial:

(712) 432-9998

Access code: 501528#

2. Once called-in, please press *6 to mute your phone. If you'd like to ask a question and/or contribute to the call, press *6 again to unmute your phone.

3. There is a visual component to the conference call. To download the slides and follow along, please visit:

http://www.nutritionconsortium.org/childnutrition/documents/SenateHHFK_000.pdf

Thank you!

Take Action: Ask Your Representative for More CNR Funding

From the Food Research and Action Center:

Congress is back in session and moving forward with Child Nutrition Reauthorization. Attention now moves to the House of Representatives which has signaled its intent to start the reauthorization process.

At stake is additional funding for reauthorization, and we need your help! Please ask your Representative to sign on a "Dear Colleague" letter circulated by Reps. Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO). This letter urges House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to help identify funding sources for the $1 billion per year funding increase that President Obama has proposed for Child Nutrition Reauthorization.

Anti-hunger advocates are seeking additional funding for reauthorization - above the Senate Agriculture Committee-passed bill ($4.5 billion over 10 years) to reach President Obama's proposed $10 billion over 10 years. These efforts are supported by the White House, USDA, and Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Blanche Lincoln (D-AR).

Click here to access the "Dear Colleague" letter.

Conference Call: Senate's Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010

SAVE THE DATE: Monday, April 19th, 1:00 - 2:15p

Conference Call: Working Together to End Childhood Hunger
Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010

What: Conference call about the Senate Agriculture Committee's Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. Learn about specific proposals in the bill and how they may affect your work regarding school meals, summer food, WIC, and meals in child care settings.

Who: Hosted by the Nutrition Consortium of NYS in collaboration with the Food Bank of the Southern Tier, Food Research and Action Center, Early Care and Learning Council, New York School Nutrition Association, and WIC Association of NYS.

When: Monday, April 19th

Time: 1:00 - 2:15p

Why: Early last month, Chairman Blanche Lincoln introduced the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, her mark for Child Nutrition Reauthorization. The Senate Agriculture Committee passed the bill on March 24th.

During this conference call, learn about what's in the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act and how the bill creates a path to end child hunger, promotes health and reduces childhood obesity, and improves program management and integrity. A time to ask questions, too!

We'll also discuss next steps for advocacy, including both encouraging representatives to identify additional resources to fund anti-hunger priorities and engaging with House members.

To join this conference call: Please RSVP by Friday, April 16th to Connie McIntyre at the Nutrition Consortium of NYS by phone: (518) 436-8757 x19 or e-mail: connie.mcintyre@nutritionconsortium.org.

Upon registering, you will receive a confirmation e-mail with call-instructions.