In Your Faith Community SNAP Outreach In Your Faith Community Presented by Candace R. Swift WHEAT Americorps*VISTA, 2011 www.HungerHurts.org 602/955.5076 4000 North 7th Street, Suite 118 Phoenix, AZ 85014

Hunger is defined by the USDA as, “The uneasy or painful sensation caused by a lack of food. The recurrent or involuntary lack of access to food.”

In Maricopa County Food was listed as the major need in a Maricopa Association of Governments 2010 survey Food assistance requests are one of the most often received calls at Community Information & Referral.

The United Food Bank of Arizona reports: An average of 21,800 DIFFERENT people have come to them for assistance each week in 2011

No Choice? 50% of those helped at the Food Bank must choose between buying food or paying for utilities 41% must choose between buying food and paying rent or mortgage 27% must choose between buying food and paying for medical care

It’s A SNAP! Join WHEAT in Our Quest to End Hunger in a NEW Way… WHEAT is the World Hunger Ecumenical Arizona Task Force working to end hunger through education, advocacy, motivation and empowerment. WHEAT primarily works with faith communities to provide tools and resources for outreach, awareness and action.

Help your congregation and community break the cycle of hunger and poverty in their communities by sharing information about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps. SNAP benefits allow families to purchase more nutritious foods, like whole grains, low-fat and fat-free milk products, fruits and vegetables. With SNAP, low-income families and individuals are better able to access healthy food, right in the communities where they live, work and play. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the new name for the Food Stamp program through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Squash Hunger In A SNAP WHEAT is starting a new effort to increase SNAP (food stamp) enrollment. We know that there are many people going hungry everyday and the SNAP program is the best way to help people get nourishing food. We believe faith communities have a lot to offer the community and contribute to this movement. We would like to invite you to join us in this effort.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program SNAP is the new name for the federal Food Stamp Program. SNAP helps low-income families and individuals supplement their food budget by providing an Electronic Benefit Transfer card which is used like a debit card to purchase food at authorized retail stores. SNAP is the new name for the Federal Food Stamp Program. SNAP helped put food on the table for more than 40 million people per month. SNAP helps low-income families and individuals buy the healthy and nutritious food that they need. SNAP helps put food on the table for more than 40 million people per month. For more about FNS programs and resources, visit www.fns.usda.gov. For information about local food assistance organizations contact the National Hunger Clearinghouse at 1-866-3-HUNGRY 10

SNAP benefits allow families to purchase more nutritious foods: "There are many in the world who are dying for a piece of bread, SNAP benefits allow families to purchase more nutritious foods: Whole grains Low-fat and fat-free milk products Fruits Vegetables. We all know that an unhealthy one-dollar burger is going to feed you for far less money than the cost of going to the grocery store and buying healthy food to make at home. SNAP gives recipients the financial capacity to buy nutritious and healthy food so that they can finally make that nice wholesome family dinner. SNAP provides just enough extra support that families aren’t forced to choose between necessary purchases, like medicine and food.

…but there are many more dying for a little love.” ~Mother Teresa With SNAP, low-income families and individuals can access healthy food right in the communities where they live, work and play. Compassion with Action is the key to successfully helping those in need. There are many in the world who are dying for a piece of bread, but there are many more dying for a little love.  ~Mother Teresa

What % of ELIGIBLE Senior Adults in Arizona do YOU think participate in SNAP?

Only 32% 2/3 of our Senior Adults in need are NOT taking advantage of this important food resource! Only 32% of eligible individuals 60 years of age or older participate in the SNAP program. Statistics provided by USDA and Food Research and Action Center (FRAC)

How many SNAP Households do YOU think include children in Maricopa County?

only 1/3 of these eligible families receive SNAP! 26% of children living in Maricopa County are eligible for SNAP but go to bed hungry because only 1/3 of these eligible families receive SNAP! 1 in 5 households live in poverty in Arizona. Of those, over half have children under 18. Yet, only 1/3 are using SNAP! Statistics provided by USDA and Food Research and Action Center (FRAC)

44.5 Million Americans In March 2011 Received SNAP Statistics provided by USDA and Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) Received SNAP

BUT, gaps in participation remain…

1 In 3 Arizonans Eligible For SNAP Go Unserved… Statistics provided by USDA and Food Research and Action Center (FRAC)

WHY Do So Many Need Help? The Ugly Truth! Poor Economic Factors have caused: Lack of Employment or being Underemployed Increase in Medical Care Costs – e.g. medications Increase in Gasoline Prices and Public Transportation Costs Higher Costs of Food & Housing Unfortunately, with the decreasing number of Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) employees and the rising number of SNAP applicants, as well as the increasing number of individuals now eligible, the application process becomes stressful and emotionally draining for both parties. SNAP application assistance within your faith community will make all the difference not only for the DES offices, but also for our neighbors who are a little uneasy about asking for this help! The Ugly Truth!

Reasons for Lack of Participation Shortage of information Intimidated by the process Misconceptions Dignity People do not know where to find the information about the program, who qualifies, where to apply, how to apply, etc. People who have not applied for SNAP are intimidated by the amount of paper work and the process A lot of the issues are due to misconception about immigration, who is eligible and what SNAP provides. People work really hard to be able to provide for themselves & their family so when times are tough it becomes very difficult to take that first step in asking for help.

All For One And One For All! Help your faith community and the community-at- large break the cycle of hunger and poverty… Provide SNAP Outreach!! Could you imagine holding on to nothing but the hope that one day it will all be better. With the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and your faith community coming together, we could truly break the cycle of hunger and poverty in communities that we all live in!

Providing SNAP Outreach has its Benefits… Gives an opportunity for those in need to apply for assistance with YOU, a trusted source, in a comfortable place. You faith community can provide a place for people to apply for assistance with a trusted source in a comfortable atmosphere.

Strengthens the ties YOU have built throughout your community, engaging new volunteers while empowering those in need.

Frees up valuable resources to help the community focus its efforts on other areas of need; those who’ve benefited will spread the word, empowering the community to bring an end to hunger through education.

Provides an opportunity for your faith community to reach out in a new way - serving those in need while gaining a sense of peace that you are participating in your mission to serve the poor and feed the hungry.

Ten Ways to Get Involved...it's a SNAP Faith Communities Can Provide: Informational handouts A Computer for clients to prescreen & apply online Assistance with the prescreening process There are different ways that faith communities can be involved in SNAP outreach. You may choose one, several or all of the various ways to provide assistance.

Ten Ways to Get Involved...it's a SNAP Faith Communities Can Provide: Assistance with applying online Assistance in copying, printing, and faxing documents Paper applications, if necessary You Can Provide All, Some Or One!

Ten Ways to Get Involved...it's a SNAP Faith Communities Can Provide: Information on application process to applicants Access to telephone to call Department of Economic Security (DES) Assistance in tracking their case A confidential and safe space.

And Once Participating in SNAP, There Are More Nutritious Food Options Available!!

Fresh Food in a SNAP! Once people have SNAP benefits to help them get enough food, we want to make sure that they have access to nutritious food, particularly at farmers’ markets.

Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables reduces the risk of mouth, stomach, and colon cancer. Having a diet with whole grains and lean proteins increases energy throughout the day. Children who regularly eat a balanced breakfast have better concentration levels than those who don’t.

Barriers to Eating Healthy Food Food insecurity--lack of consistent means and access to obtain food. This leads to cycles of starvation and overeating. Fast food restaurants are more readily found in low-income areas. Grocery stores with high quality produce are scarce in low-income neighborhoods. When people are food insecure, they lack the financial resources to have consistent access to food, which leads to cycles of skipped meals and overeating when food is available. As this map demonstrates, there are far more fast food restaurants in low-income residential areas than in higher-income neighborhoods. Low-income neighborhoods lack full-service grocery stores that have high-quality vegetables.

Why SNAP at Farmers’ Markets? Organic Vegetables at Farmers’ Markets are 40% Cheaper Than at Nearby Grocery Stores 30 Farmers’ Markets in Maricopa County, 6 accept SNAP Farmers’ Markets are a place where farmers and producers from Arizona sell their own products directly to customers. Farmers’ markets are designed for families and perfect as a family activity. Children can meet the farmers and taste different foods like honey, cheese, and crackers. A recent study shows that organic vegetables are 40% cheaper at farmers’ markets than at nearby grocery stores. In Maricopa County there are 30 farmers’ markets and 6 are authorized to accept EBT/SNAP as a form of payment. Even with such a low number, the markets and SNAP recipients are already benefitting. SNAP recipients spent $39,390 at farmers’ markets in Maricopa County last year. Unfortunately, not many people know where the farmers’ markets are or which ones take SNAP. So we are working to spread the word and increase the number of markets that are authorized to take SNAP. To do this, we are looking to volunteers to help with outreach and to support the farmers’ markets that are making the transition to accepting SNAP.

How Can YOU Help? Engage in Outreach Join a Strategy Panel Volunteer On a Nutrition Education Committee Sponsor an Incentive Program Provide Transportation One of the ways you can get involved is by helping with distributing educational material. WHEAT is developing brochures and flyers that we want to make available at as many locations as possible. Another way that you can help is by joining WHEAT and its group to help strategize about creative approaches to make this project more effective such as coming up with different ways that we can support the farmers’ markets that are making the transition to accepting SNAP, or new ways to reach out to different communities. You can join a nutrition education panel. WHEAT is creating some material with nutrition information that can be used at workshops or added to handouts about the farmers’ markets. Incentive programs encourage SNAP recipients to visit the market for the first time and help increase visits to the market even after the incentive program has ended. Some programs have offered to match dollars spent by SNAP recipients at the farmers’ markets or offer $10 for every $25 spent. One of the obstacles to shopping at the farmers’ market is finding a way to get to and from the market. Your community could help by offering transportation from a specific point to a few different farmers’ markets every week.

Have We Struck A Nerve With You?! Call to Action Have We Struck A Nerve With You?! How Will YOU Make A Difference?

JOIN US… WHEAT can get you started in a SNAP!!! YOU provide the People & Place We’ll provide the Training & Materials Just call or email us to set up a time to begin your training. We’ll meet with you, show you how and get you started! It’s just that easy. Call: 602/955.5076 Email: wheat@HungerHurts.org