2012 Spring Newsletter

These are rocky times. Money is short, resources are strained, and client numbers are increasing rapidly. These are problems the emergency food community has faced for years, but they have accelerated during the past couple years.During this time, it has become increasingly clear why the Washington Food Coalition is so important. What organization in Washington State wholly and specifically represents the interests of emergency food sites and their clients?

Only the Washington Food Coalition.

Harvest against Hunger area summits1 in 6 people in Washington struggle with hunger. Meanwhile, our state boasts 39,500 farms and ranches, with excess local food going to waste daily. More than a hunger problem, we have a connection and distribution problem. The Harvest Against Hunger Area Summits were designed to help remedy this problem.

Using funds from the WSDA Specialty Crop Block Grant, Washington Food Coalition worked with important partners including WSDA Food Assistance Programs and Rotary First Harvest to host four Harvest Against Hunger Area Summits across Washington to bring the emergency food community together with local specialty crop farmers and their commodity commissions. The summits helped these groups learn how their businesses intersect and potential options for growth.

Over the years, Washington food producers have worked with many hunger relief organizations to help combat hunger in our State. The Harvest Against Hunger Area Summits were designed to bring together these organizations to share ideas and insights about ways that farmers, processors,

packers and hunger relief organizations can more effectively work together to alleviate hunger in our communities. Food banks, meal programs and other groups across the state are working to increase the amount of Washington-produced foods that are available, and they need meaningful connections with producers to identify opportunities that are both effective and sustainable. This innovation and collaboration is critical as the number of families facing hunger continues to grow in Washington due to the current recession.

Each of the Harvest Against Hunger Area Summits provided many unique insights and opportunities to see growth in these connections. We found that the opportunities to increase

relations between local growers and local emergency food programs in mutually beneficial ways were seemingly endless.

At the Harvest Against Hunger (HAH) Wenatchee Area Summit in September, the issues of storage and transportation were highlighted as barriers to collaborate on and overcome somehow. The HAH Yakima Area Summit in January offered insightful discussion into the opportunity of one-to-one connections between small-scale farmers and local food programs. At the HAH Olympia Area Summit in February, ideas were shared on how emergency food programs can reach out and market themselves to local growers. Later in February, at the HAH Seattle Area Summit, discussions arose about educating youth on how to grow food, as well as ideas on how to make small-scale farming more economically viable.

It was also evident that certain issues and ideas continued to arise at each HAH Summit, no matter where in the state it was held. The utilization of Food Hub (food-hub.org) to locate and connect with food sources had a large amount of interest. The development of materials and tools addressing liability as well as methods of donations to provide to growers was discussed widely. Understanding individual

growers and the best way to tap into their production line is another discussion that was brought up statewide. In addition, the opportunity for emergency food programs to position themselves as a paying customer whenever it is possible was an idea that provided opportunity for long-term sustainability in these relationships. These ideas, along with many others, were clearly applicable in all areas of the state.

While this series of Harvest Against Hunger Area Summits proved to be incredibly useful and exciting, they most definitely provided more of a launching point than a finish line. The journey to connecting local growers with local emergency food programs is far from over. There is much work to be done to take the ideas from the Harvest Against Hunger Area Summits and turn them into practical, sustainable systems. The opportunities for the richness that could result from a food system that utilizes these ideas, however, is truly inspiring.

June 2010

Food for ThoughtNewsletter Spring 2012 • www.WaFoodCoalition.org

The conference will feature speakers, workshops, technical training, tours and time to network and learn from others in your eld. Flyers and registration materials will be sent out this summer, but mark your calendars today!

Washington Food CoalitionC/O Thurston County Food Bank220 NE ThurstonOlympia, WA 98501Tel: 360.352.8597 www.ThurstonCountyFoodBank.org

NON-PROFITU.S. Postage

PAIDOlympia, WA

Permit No. 236

CURRENT RESIDENT OR

The 2010 WFC Conference Committee is looking for your input for the September event.

If you have any ideas for workshops, speakers, trainings, etc. -- informational or just plain fun -- pass them on.

We would also love your participation in the organization and/or implementation of the conferencence.

Contact:Joe Gruber [email protected] Van Gasken [email protected]

Let Us Know

Make the WFC Conference What YOU Want It to Be

September 15-17th Washington Food Coalition Conference

Wenatchee Convention Center

Save the Date!

�“We very much enjoyed and appreciated the Washington Food Coalition Conference�… we just started a new blog as a result of attending a workshop at the conference."

Kathy McLaughlin, 2009 WFC Convention Participant

Conference Inspiration!

Thank you Northwest Harvest for your generous support of the 2009 WFC Conference.

It made the event a true success.

Washington Food Coalitionwww.wafoodcoalition.orgPO Box 95752Seattle, WA 98145

phone: 206.729.0501fax: [email protected]

Working Together for a Hunger-Free Washington Is this address correct and current? If not, please let us know!

Quick Tips:

Ingredients of a Successful Cause-related Marketing Relationship

Jocelyne Daw, author of Cause Marketing for Nonprofits: Partner for Purpose, Passion and Profits, says

a successful partnership has a few important ingredients (adapted and summarized tips from her book):

- Have structure, framework and legal requirements in place -

- Plan, under promise and over deliver -

- Focus on values alignment -

- Think win-win -

Getting Technical: Best Practices with the Latest Technology in the Fight Against Hunger

Hunger Action Day A Success!Thanks to our partner agency Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Coalition for hosting Hunger Action Day on February 3rd.Hunger Action Day 2012 was a huge success! More than 150 advocates turned out and covered the capitol in orange, talking with more than 80 legislators about the importance of the Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Coalition legislative priorities – thanks to all who came and all who contacted their lawmakers. A special thanks to Speak-er Frank Chopp, who gave a passionate talk about the importance of the safety net and the need for revenue options to protect the services that serve Washington’s most vulnerable residents.

What’s Happening Now?In February, the Senate Ways and Means Committee released their budget proposal and heard public testimony. While it contained few options to increase revenue and used ap-portionment to reduce the amount of cuts that needed to be made to balance the budget by moving the due date for some K-12 education costs to the next fiscal year, the budget propos-al was generally applauded by advocates for low-income families. That Senate budget pre-served current funding appropriations for our state’s nutrition assistance programs, TANF benefits amounts, and Disability Lifeline’s Medical and Housing/Essential Needs programs. K-12 education was also saved from any additional cuts.On the following Friday evening, March 2nd, the Republican caucus, along with three fiscal conservative Democrats, joined forces to pull a Republican version of the budget proposal to the floor for a vote. This budget had no public notice and no public review or hearings. Their proposal replaced all the language of the budget bill that had had hearings and passed out of committee already. It makes cuts to basic and higher education and deep cuts to hu-man services, including eliminating the State Food Assistance Program (SFA). That budget passed the Senate very early Saturday morning, with all but the three Democratic Senators voting against it.This budget eliminated the State Food Assistance Program which provides state-funded food stamps to feed legal immigrants. However, WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program, school meals and EFAP had no cuts.On March 8th, the final day of the regular session, the House rejected the Senate’s budget. Governor Gregoire then called for a special session that began Monday March 13th, and will last up to 30 days. Lawmakers must come together during that time to formulate an agreed upon budget to send to the Governor for her signature. If the legislature cannot formulate an agreed upon supplemental budget during the special session, the Governor could balance our budget with across the board cuts. This will mean nutrition assistance programs such as the Emergency Food Assistance Program, which pro-vides funding for food banks to pay for operations transportation, and food purchasing costs, may suffer from a cut in funding. Some programs, such as the Farmers Market Nutrition Program, which provides money for low-income seniors and families with young children to purchase produce at local farmers markets, may not survive any further cuts in funding.Stay informed and speak out now to protect these vital programs!Updates available on our blog at www.wafoodcoalition.blogspot.com.

Washington Food Coalition is proud to discover and promote best practices that enhance the work being done around our state and beyond to alleviate hunger in the most effective ways possible.In this newsletter, we’re focusing on best practices that are using technology to boost the hunger fighting work of our members.

Resource Access & Networking: Washington Food Coalition Online Member CommunityAs part of Washington Food Coalition’s recent launch of an all-new website, we now offer an extensive online member account management and community network-ing portal. Members can login to access contact info for all other members, start discussions, post questions, make connections, and much more. The opportunities for accessing resources and networking with others in this work is incredible with this new tool.Visit our website at www.WaFoodCoalition.org and click on ‘Member Community’ to login and take advantage of this member benefit. Contact us if you are uncertain of your member account user name and password.

Food Procurement & Transportation: FoodHubFoodHub gathers professional food buyers, wholesale producers, distributors and industry suppliers in one dynamic online community. The best part? FoodHub recently integrated an “Emergency Food Assistance” badge for all of their members which indicates that they are willing to donate food to local food banks.Gain access to a multitude of nearby buyers, sellers and distributors of food with a free membership account at www.Food-Hub.org

Client Tracking: ClientCard FB3 Remote Access Last year, ClientCard released an all new version of their free client tracking software that is designed specifically for Washington food banks. Recently, the Community Services of Moses Lake provided this software for all of the food banks in Grant, Adams and Lincoln Counties. They then had Ken Craig, the software’s creator, configure the software remotely and provide live administra-tive training from his Western Washington home. Contact Ken to learn more about ClientCard FB3 at

[email protected]

Client Eligibility Screening: Washington ConnectionThe goal of Washington Connection is to increase access to services and benefits so that everyone in Washington can meet their basic needs and has the opportunity to prosper. This is done through a web-based universal application that makes it easy for low-income individuals and families to screen for eligibility and apply for a broad array of services and benefits online. You can become a Partner that hosts the access to this tool for your client or you can take it a step further and assist them with the tool.Learn how to become a Washington Connection Partner here:http://www.dshs.wa.gov/servicereform/communitypartner.shtml

What sort of technology does your program use to enhance the services you provide? Let us know!

Food for ThoughtA publication of the

Washington Food Coalition

P.O. Box 95752 Seattle, WA 98145-2752 206.729.0501 / phone

206.729.0504 / [email protected]

Board MembersKris Van Gasken, Des Moines Area Food Bank

WFC ChairRobert Coit, Thurston County Food Bank

WFC Immediate Past ChairHelen McGovern, Emergency Food Network

WFC Vice ChairYvonne Pitrof, Vashon Maury Food Bank

WFC TreasurerNancy Wilson, Inter-Faith Treasure House

WFC SecretaryRoger Trapp, Resources Community Action

Bob Soule, Chelan-Douglas Comm Action CenterPeny Archer, Comm Services of Moses Lake

Scott Kilpatrick, Comm Services of Moses Lake Connie Nelson, Spokane Valley Partners

JoAnn Ruston, Hope Source Lisa Hall, Northwest Harvest

John Neill, Tri-Cities Food BankChris Gerke, Cascade Blue Mountain Food Share

Kathy Covey, Blue Mountain Action CouncilWendy Gonzalez, Helpline Walla Walla

Mike Cohen, Bellingham Food BankLeanne Geiger, Volunteers of America WWJoe Gruber, University District Food Bank

Kevin Glackin-Coley, St. Leo’s Food Connection Robin Rudy, Tenino Community Service Center

Kellie McNelly, ROOF Community ServicesJames Fitzgerald, Sal. Army-Stop Hunger

Vicki Pettit, Coastal Community Action Program Anthony Airhart, Coastal Harvest

Hoyt Burrows, Central Kitsap Food Bank Marilyn Gremse, Bainbridge Island Help House

Bonnie Baker, Northwest Harvest Scott Hallett, Council on Aging & Human Services

Shayne Kraemer, Meals Partnership Dorothy Palmer, Colville Confederated Tribes

Through its statewide membership, Washington Food Coalition members

find practical solutions to common challenges. The Coalition draws on the strength and reach of its membership to equip, educate and empower every-

one working to end hunger in our state.__________________________________________

This newsletter prepared with funds made available by the WA Dept. of Agriculture,

Food Assistance Programs.

No person shall on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, national origin, age, citizenship,

political affiliations, belief, veteran status or sexual orientation, be denied employment or benefits or be discriminated against as a participant, administrator

or staff member under this program.