| April 15, 2008 |
Editor’s Note
We apologize, but our e-mailing lists were merged. Please take a moment to re-subscribe to 1 or all 3 of our newsletters. HSM Action Alert – information on bills and other important topics that request your assistance. HSM Member e-News – information for food shelves and food banks HSM Nourishing News – news for volunteers, donors or any one interested in the hunger movement and HSM activities. Spring Greetings from Colleen
You can make it possible! NEW Food Shelf Funding – help us pass a State appropriation for one-time additional funds of $619,000 The bill is now in conference committee. With the state confronting a $935 million budget deficit and agencies throughout the state bracing for cuts, it is critical that our lawmakers understand the needs of the 1 in 17 Minnesotans that rely on food shelves. The funds would be available to food shelves July 1. This is very timely because the summer always drives demand higher from families with children. Please make contact with the Conference Committee Members AND the Governor’s Office to engage support for the increased food shelf funding. Thanks for working with HSM to end hunger in Minnesota, Colleen New Audit Legislation that could affect food shelves
The board of the White Bear Lake food shelf has been working on new legislation that could affect some food shelves. Minnesota Statutes Section 309.53 Subd.3 requires non-profits to conduct more stringent financial reporting and auditing if their total revenue exceeds $350,000 per year. Several or most food shelves book a value on donated food even though they are not required and there is no prescribed value. The new law would simply exclude the value of food accepted through donation, but not resold, from the calculation of the $350K threshold. Colleen Moriarty of HSM and Mark Sather of the White Bear Lake food shelf board testified for this change at the Capital on behalf of food shelves. Stay tuned for updates if it passes. Farm Bill UPDATE
Farm bill extension of current law expires April 18 According to America’s Second Harvest, there is a “perfect storm” of spikes in food prices, decreasing food donations, and skyrocketing energy and health care costs, – a simple extension of the 2002 bill would be unacceptable. MORE... Politico Feeding children during the summer time just got easier
The Simplified Summer Food Program contributes to the healthy growth and development of low-income children by providing them with nutritious snacks and meals when school is out so they are better able to continue learning when they return to school. All states can use the simplified reporting and accounting rules. Now, they can focus on what really matters — feeding hungry children during the summer months. Will the Next President Do Something About Poverty & Hunger?
The country seems poised to engage in a national discussion on how to address the issue of poverty. A recent poll found that by a large margin, voters say poverty and hunger are getting worse and they want to hear more from candidates on addressing this problem. Nourishing Web Links
The WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program MN Regional Food Shelf Visits 02-07 Event
On Saturday May 10th, letter carriers in more than 10,000 communities will collect food items and deliver them to local food banks to help some of the millions of Americans, including an estimated 13 million children, who face hunger every day. Book Link
Closing the Food Gap: Resetting the Table in the Land of Plenty Area Training/Conferences
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