July 3, 2009

Hunger

Action Needed on Food Stamp Eligibility

The goal of the Hunger Task Force is to reduce hunger in Missouri and dependence on emergency food supplies.

TASK FORCE GOALS FOR 2009

For Missouri Seniors…build a coalition of organizations to inquire into why Missouri does not have the Seniors Farmers Market program and work to get Missouri to take advantage of the program in 2009, and the task force will work for the re-filing and the passage of a Supplemental Food Stamps for Seniors bill.
For Missouri Families…inquire into making sure the State takes full advantage of the changes in the Food Stamp Program that were made in the 2008 Farm Bill and educate direct service providers about how FS benefit families. Write the Food Stamp Program report with Legal Services of Eastern Missouri.
For Missouri Ex-offenders…advocate for the passage of a bill that would allow Missouri to opt out of the Federal lifetime ban on ex- drug offenders from being eligible for food stamps.

Food Research and Action Center released the 2008 State of the States Report
Missouri numbers show:

12.9% of the population is food insecure
13.0% Poverty Rate
17.7% Child Poverty Rate

Presentation on the 2008 Farm Bill and Missouri Food Stamp Program

Learn how the 2008 Farm Bill has changed the Missouri Food Stamp Program and how those changes will affect your clients.

If you are interested in hosting one of these presentations please contact Christine Woody or 573-690-7662

Paper on the Changes Made to the Federal Food Stamp Program because of the Passage of the 2008 Farm Bill

2008 Farm Bill Nutrition Title Fact Sheet, prepared by the House Committee on Agriculture

Hunger Task Force Newsletter, May 2008

Missouri Hunger Atlas - 2008 report highlighting county by county hunger statistics in Missouri

Senate Bill 764 is an Economic Benefit to the State

The Lifetime Ban and the Missouri Food Stamp Program (James Frost, Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, January 2008)

The MASW Criminal Justice Task Force and Hunger Task Force are advocating in support of SB 764, which would modify eligibility for the Food Stamp Program.

What would passing SB 764 do?
MASW Economic Impact paper on SB 764
How to advocate for this bill

On Thursday November 8, 2007, our executive director, Bob Quinn, did a interview with Mid-Missouri’s News station KWMO regarding the Farm Bill. The Farm Bill is being debated in the Senate this week. We hope that the Senators work to ensure a strong nutrition title. Read more...

2007 Food Stamp Press Release 2007 Missouri Food Stamp Program Report

Food Stamps Erosion Report 2006 Missouri Food Stamps Program Report

View the list of 2008 legislation MASW followed on Hunger

More information

For more information on hunger in Missouri and across the United States please visit these websites:

Bread for the World
Food Research and Action Center
Share our Strength
MAZON, a Jewish Response to Hunger
United States Department of Agriculture

A list of upcoming meetings is available on the MASW Calendar page. A list of related web sites is available on the MASW Links page.

If you are interested in participating in the Hunger Task Force, please contact Ben DeFeo .

Staffed by Christine Woody .

Updated: 04/03/2009