About D.C. Hunger Solutions
Every day in the District of Columbia, nearly one out of eight households struggles with hunger, with uncertain or limited access to, or ability to buy, nutritionally adequate and safe food. D.C. Hunger Solutions, founded by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) in 2002 as a separately staffed and funded initiative, seeks to create a hunger-free community and thereby improve the nutrition, health, economic security, and well-being of low-income District residents.
What's Happening Now
January 27, 2010
D.C. Hunger Solutions on News Channel 8
DCHS Director Alex Ashbrook recently appeared on News Channel 8's "News Talk" discussing the recent food hardship report, the importance of school breakfast and lunch, afterschool suppers, and child nutrition reauthorization. Follow this link to watch the segment.
January 26, 2010
New Survey Finds Two in Five D.C. Households with Children Unable to Afford Enough Food in 2008-2009
Report Exposes Broad Hunger and Provides First-Ever Food Hardship Data for Every State, the Top 100 Large Cities and Every Congressional District. More...
December 8, 2009
Low Rate of Participation in School Breakfast Means Missed Meals for Children and Missed Federal Dollars for Washington, D.C.
Recession Increasing the Number of Children Eligible for Program, But Participation Rates Not Reflecting Increased Need.
November 16, 2009
Meal program aims to keep kids hungry for learning - D.C. Hunger Solutions brought Washington Post reporter Bill Turque to Southeast Academy to explore the benefits of breakfast in the classroom.
November 19, 2009
New Data Show 12.4 Percent of Washington D.C. Households Struggling with Hunger as Recession Hit
"The Great Harvest" - a launch party for DCFoodForAll.com
Saturday, October 24, 2009; 5pm to 9pm.
Come celebrate the launch of the DCFoodForAll.com, a collaborative blog working toward community food security. RSVP by emailing dcfoodforall@gmail.com. Proceeds will go to support the DC Food Finder, an interactive map of food resources in DC. But we mean the "suggested" part - all are welcome, regardless of ability to donate! Click here for more... (pdf)
October 15, 2009
D.C. Food Stamp Program Wins National Awards
D.C. Hunger Solutions congratulates the D.C. Department of Human Services Income Maintenance Administration for receiving two bonus awards, one for its timely processing of SNAP/Food Stamp applications and the other for best program access. The awards are given out by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to recognize outstanding and timely customer service. More under "What's happening with Food Stamps in D.C.?"
September 11, 2009
Food Stamp Participation High in Washington, D.C. - City Reached 82 Percent of Eligible Individuals with Food Stamps in 2007.
August 10, 2009
Nine Farmers' Markets in D.C. Now Accept Food Stamps
A step applauded by Mayor Adrian Fenty, nine farmers' markets are ensuring that D.C. residents in communities that lack adequate access to fresh fruits and vegetables will be able to purchase fresh produce. Click here for more, including a list of markets that now accept food stamps.
Bus Shelters are Home to New Farmers' Market Advertising Campaign
A new advertising campaign by the D.C. Farmers' Market Collaborative features ads displayed in fifteen bus shelters across the city. Click here for more...
August 7, 2009
Two New Releases from DCHS:
Healthy Snacking at the Corner Store curriculum (pdf)
This four-lesson, easy-to-teach curriculum is part of the D.C. Healthy Corner Store Program, which is working to help small grocery stores carry more fruits and vegetables, healthy beverages, and healthy snacks. The Healthy Corner Store Program, funded by the D.C. Department of Health, Community Health Administration, is part of the city-wide effort to reduce childhood obesity in the District. A list of the stores participating in the program in 2009 is included in Lesson Four. The curriculum was designed for and pilot-tested with middle school-age youth, but it can be modified as necessary for younger or older children or adults.
A Guide to Collecting School Meal Applications (pdf)
DCHS releases this guide to coincide with preparations for the start of school. It explains the two most effective strategies for ensuring all students eligible for free and reduced-price meals are certified for them. Check out the guide to learn what your school can do to optimize federal meal reimbursements and leverage additional resources such as Title I and E-Rate funding. The guide draws on lessons learned from the D.C. Public Schools’ successful application campaign in school year 2008/09. For more information, contact Alex Ashbrook (aashbrook@frac.org).
July 29, 2009
DCHS Releases Afterschool Nutrition Issue Brief (pdf)
This issue brief provides a summary of the key federal afterschool nutrition programs, the District’s accomplishments in operating these programs, and opportunities to expand and strengthen them. The District has seen a more than 550 percent increase in participation from 2,590 children participating in fiscal year 2004 to 14,563 children participating in fiscal year 2008. During the current economic recession, we must do even more to connect all low-income children to afterschool nutrition programs.
You can take action by: urging Congress to add D.C. to the list of states that can operate the Afterschool Meal Program; seeking improvements to the afterschool nutrition programs in Child Nutrition Reauthorization; continuing to build on the District’s success in expanding participation in the current afterschool nutrition programs.
July 2009
D.C. Organizations: Bring the Afterschool Meal Program to D.C.
Click here to join our sign-on letter asking the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee to make sure that D.C. is added to the list of states that can operate the Afterschool Meal Program. The Afterschool Meal Program provides funding so afterschool and youth development programs (like YMCA’s, Boys and Girls Clubs, church-based programs) in low-income areas can serve dinner each weeknight to children in their care. Currently only ten states – Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and West Virginia – have an Afterschool Meal Program.
June 1, 2009
Washington Post Covers D.C.'s Afterschool and Summer Nutrition Programs, Features Data and Quotes from D.C. Hunger Solutions and FRAC
"The number of D.C. students fed in federally qualified after-school programs has increased dramatically in the past several years, from about 1,550 a day in 2002 to 14,650 a day as of October, according to Alexandra Ashbrook, director of D.C. Hunger Solutions, a local advocacy group." Click here for the full story.
May 1, 2009
Witnesses to Hunger Photography Exhibition
Witnesses to Hunger will have its first Washington, D.C. exhibition, displaying photographs taken by forty courageous women to show how hunger affects their lives and the lives of their children. The exhibit will be on display at the United States Senate (Russell Building Rotunda, Intersection of Constitution Ave & Delaware Ave NE, Capitol Hill Complex) from May 4 to May 8, 2009; hours: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Visit the Witnesses to Hunger Web site for more information.
April 16, 2009
Local Wellness Policies in D.C. Schools
Access a new report on D.C. Public Schools' progress with Local Wellness Policy Implementation, plus resources to promote the policy in district schools, on the Local Wellness Policies in D.C. Schools page.
April 2009
Food Stamp Increase Takes Effect
From USDA: This chart shows the additional amount most households in the lower 48 States and the District of Columbia will receive:
Download this flyer - Your Food Stamp Benefits Are Going Up! (pdf) - which contains more information on the increase in benefits for food stamp recipients.
March 17, 2009
D.C. Begins Serving School Breakfast in the Classroom
As of January 2009, D.C. Public elementary schools have begun an exciting new program – Breakfast in the Classroom. Click here for more...(pdf)
February 2009
Economic Recovery Legislation is Now Law!
Follow this link for highlights of the act and what it means for food and nutrition programs.
