Community FoodBank of New Jersey: Advocacy

Federal Nutrition Program News

New Jersey finally gets added to commodity program

President Obama signed the FY10 Agriculture Appropriations Bill (H.R. 2997) into law. Funding for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) has increased to $171 million enabling seven new states, including New Jersey, to finally begin operations in 2010! New Jersey has been waiting since 2004 for Congress to increase funding so this is a great day for many nutritionally at-risk seniors who will soon be able to participate in CSFP.

Child Nutrition Programs get temporary funding boost

The full range of federal child nutrition programs - school lunch, school breakfast, summer feeding, WIC, child care feeding - were due to be reauthorized by Congress. But then came the ongoing debate over health care that pushed other congressional business aside and child nutrition reauthorization was temporarily postponed until 2010.

The delay, until Sept. 30, 2010, was written into the fiscal year 2010 agriculture appropriations bill that passed earlier this month with $150 million of child nutrition “investments” with savings from temporary extensions of expiring provisions.

Included in the legislative mix are:

•    $85 million to improve children’s access to meals during the summer;
•    $25 million to help schools purchase cafeteria equipment;
•    $25 million to help automatically enroll children in the School Lunch Program;
•    $8 million in grants to improve health and nutrition in child care settings; and
•    $5 million in performance bonuses for increasing WIC agencies’ breastfeeding rates.

Though the extension was made for the entire fiscal year, congressional leaders have pledged to tackle child nutrition reauthorization within the next six months, with plans to complete action before fiscal year 2011 budget decisions are made, in order to fund additional proposed expansions.

Food Stamp Update

The severe recession has prompted the federal and state governments to make some improvements to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, still known as the Food Stamp Program here in New Jersey where participation has increased by 13% in the past year. The Economic Recovery Act automatically boosted every household’s Food Stamp allotment by 13.6% as of April 1, 2009. To help relieve the backlog of new applications, redetermination periods for existing cases will be extended from 12 to 24 months for seniors and from 6 to 12 months for all others. At initial application, seniors, the disabled and working people can be interviewed over the phone instead of having to visit their county Food Stamp office.

If you or someone you know is struggling financially, you can self-screen for eligibility for Food Stamps or any one of 28 other assistance programs at njhelps.org

Proposed Legislation

Among bills recently introduced in the 111th session of the U.S. Congress are the following:

House Resolution (H.R.) 3625: The Food Marketing in Schools Assessment Act would provide for the Secretary of Education to study and report on the marketing of foods and beverages in elementary and secondary schools.

H.R. 3705: The Expand School Meals Act would increase the number of children eligible for free school meals.

Senate (S.) 1693: would require the Secretary of Agriculture to ensure the safety of school meals by enhancing coordination with States and schools operating school meal programs in the case of a recall of contaminated food.

S. 1737: would increase the number of children eligible for free school meals, with a phased-in transition period, by raising the eligibility level to 172 percent of poverty guidelines by July 1, 2012.

For bill summary and status information, along with the text of legislation, visit: http://thomas.loc.gov/ and enter the bill number.

NJ Family Care

Families earning too much to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to purchase health insurance on their own, should check out NJ FamilyCare, a health insurance program offered by New Jersey that provides quality, free or low-cost health coverage for uninsured children 18 and younger and some low-income parents. For many families, it costs nothing: no monthly premiums or co-payments. For families with higher monthly incomes, there is a sliding scale for small co-payments and monthly premiums may be required. Most immigrants whose documents allow them to live here permanently are eligible. For undocumented residents, their children may be eligible if born in the U.S.

To learn more, or apply online visit njfamilycare.org

Or, call 1-800-701-0710 (Multilingual operators are available.)

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. Food Stamp benefits, income deductions and other qualifications for federal nutrition assistance have not kept pace with inflation, nor do they accurately reflect rising household and living expenses, such as the price of gasoline, electricity, food or medicine.

A comparison of average monthly client totals at emergency pantries served by the Community FoodBank of NJ during the first three months of 2009 shows a 67 percent increase in the number of people seeking food assistance over the same period in 2007.
Community FoodBank of New Jersey, May 2009

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Simplified Nutrition Assistance For Seniors (SNAS)

SNAS was just launched in New Jersey. Seniors who are 65 or older, living alone and receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) can be enrolled in the Food Stamp Program at a higher benefit level ranging from $85 to $155 per month, depending upon their housing costs. Potentially eligible seniors will receive a letter informing them about SNAS and a one-page application. Seniors already receiving Food Stamps must wait until their redetermination period to enroll in SNAS.

Male Senior Eating