What Can a Hunger Report Do for You? Dorothy Smith, RD UC Cooperative Extension Amador, Calaveras & Tuolumne Counties
Hunger Report Provides: Increase community awareness Solid data Anecdotal information Publishable information
How Calaveras County Used the Report: Presented to the Board of Supervisors Solicited Grant funding: –Emergency Mobile Food Pantry Project –MICH Project Mothers Infants and Child Harvest
Emergency Mobile Food Pantry Provide food to hard to reach targeted communities. Provide nutrition education to targeted communities. Provide referral and resource information to targeted communities.
Process Obtain Community “Buy In” Identify and secure distribution site Recruit volunteers Provide service
Conducted focus groups in 5 remote communities Recruited 41 volunteers!
Successes Secured 5 sites at no cost Obtained funding for van Provides service to approximately 100 families per month Provide food for over 2000 meals per month
Continued Successes Summary Data –2628 Families –7900 Meals –2400 Nutrition Education Contacts
Successes Continued 45% of families served were new to food bank services. Reduction of 25% has occurred at main food bank in San Andreas. Education and referral information provided monthly.
Nutrition Education and Referrals
MICH Project Prop 10 funded 1 year grant WIC and Food Bank Collaborative Voucher for fruits and vegetables provided to WIC participants each month
MICH Project $50,000 Grant $32,000 for fresh produce Created economic benefit for community
Hunger Reports Can Be a Powerful Tool. The Possibilities Are Numerous.