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Compassion in Action ReportsFaith-Based and Community Solutions to Hunger at Home and AbroadPreface In January 2007, the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives launched a series of monthly Compassion in Action Roundtable meetings to highlight organizations, programs, and policies addressing critical social needs. The Roundtables convene and facilitate discussion among policymakers, government officials, philanthropists, and faith-based and community service providers around targeted issues. The events reveal the President’s Faith-Based and Community Initiative as a broad-based, community-centered reform agenda; showcase innovative projects and promising practices; and draw attention to government efforts to expand and support the work of faith-based and community organizations actively engaged in serving their neighbors and communities. The following report offers an overview of the March 2008, Compassion in Action Roundtable, entitled Faith-Based and Community Solutions to Hunger at Home and Abroad. Please note the statistical information presented throughout the report reflects data available up to the time of Roundtable, and excludes any data collected after March 2008.Introduction Access to healthy food and adequate nutrition is one of the most essential human needs. While most Americans can afford to put enough food on the table each day, more than 12 million U.S. households were “food insecure” at some point during 2006. To increase food security and reduce hunger, the Federal government provides children and low-income individuals with access to food, a healthful diet, and nutrition education through multiple agency programs. Since 2001, funding for domestic nutrition assistance has increased by more than 70 percent to $59 billion, demonstrating the Bush Administration’s unwavering commitment to this mission. Hunger is not only a domestic issue. The gap between recommended nutritional requirements and purchasing power of the populations in the world’s poorest countries was more than 32 million tons in 2003. The generosity of the American people is addressing hunger overseas, helping to feed 70 million people in more than 50 countries in 2006 alone through food aid, humanitarian assistance programs, and agricultural support to newly emerging democracies. While government, with its vast resources, expertise, and unparalleled convening power, plays a vital role in meeting human need, it alone cannot bring relief to all those who suffer the ravages of hunger. Jedd Medefind, deputy director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (OFBCI), said the most effective way to address hunger and its related issues is through government collaboration with “caring nonprofits” that can respond to need “from within a community, building solutions that are hand- to- hand and heart- to- heart.” Medefind explained, “We believe that government will be more creative, more responsive, more effective—and more caring—when it joins its strengths with the unique strengths of both faith-based and other front-line nonprofit organizations. Groups that are rooted in the communities they serve, that draw upon scores of dedicated volunteers, that have a personal passion for the problems they address, that offer warm hands and a caring touch in ways that government simply isn’t able to. That’s the work of the Faith-Based and Community Initiative, to strengthen these groups and to grow the ways our government can partner with them to meet great need.” U.S. Department of Agriculture's Domestic Program Leading the effort to fight hunger in the United States is the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and its faith-based and community organization (FBCO) partners. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer said since the Department established its Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives in 2002, “we’ve been working to coordinate our nutrition, rural development, and foreign agricultural programs with faith-based and community organizations.” Secretary Schafer explained, “In this day in age, no one should go hungry. Ensuring food security is a challenge that requires the combined efforts of citizens, the private sector, and local, State and Federal government. USDA is committed to working with our community and faith-based partners until every household and family in the United States has the food they need for an active, healthy life.” According to Secretary Schafer, FBCOs play a vital role in fighting hunger, serving on the front lines of need and providing volunteers that are “the lifeline of America’s emergency food distribution system.” USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has 15 domestic nutrition assistance programs that reach 1 in 5 Americans over the course of a year. The Federal nutrition assistance safety net ensures that low-income Americans—especially children — have access to healthy food and nutrition education at schools, day care facilities, and in their homes. The Food Stamp Program is the cornerstone of Federal nutrition assistance programs and provides crucial support to working poor and needy households. FNS administers two direct grant competitions to strengthen this important program: (1) Participation Grants, which provide funding for projects aimed at making the processes through which State agencies determine food stamp eligibility simpler and easier for applicants, and (2) Outreach Grants, which provide funding for projects that will test outreach strategies that show promise of increasing program participation. As part of its outreach efforts, USDA provides free materials such as brochures and posters to FBCOs for distribution among underserved populations, including the elderly, the working poor, and the Hispanic community. Secretary Schafer said collaboration with FBCOs helped increase participation among those eligible to receive food stamp benefits by 11 percent between 2000 and 2005.“We value our partnership with FBCOs that can help us reach these people in need,” Secretary Schafer explained, adding, “We are continuing to reach out to the FBCOs because they have shown the ability to get [the job] done. Many of our efforts are designed to build on the Federal partnership with State and local agencies- building innovative support to help them reach out to clients and improve operations…Through partnerships with [FBCOs], the State agencies have distributed commodities in some of the poorest areas of our country- reducing food insecurity and hunger. These organizations also assist in promoting government nutrition assistance programs with eligible people who have not previously participated.” Additional FNS programs which offer partnership opportunities for FBCOs include: The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) ensures that children in low-income areas continue to have access to nutritious meals and snacks during long school vacations, when they do not have access to school lunch or breakfast. Just as learning does not end when school lets out, neither does a child’s need for good nutrition. SFSP partners also provide children with supervised activities that are safe, fun, and filled with learning opportunities. Through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), nutritious meals and snacks are served to eligible children and adults who are enrolled for care at participating child care centers, day care homes, and adult day care centers. CACFP also provides meals to children who reside in homeless shelters, and snacks to youths who participate in afterschool care programs. The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) supplements the diets of low-income Americans, including elderly people, by providing them with emergency food and nutrition assistance at no cost through food pantries and soup kitchens. Under TEFAP, the USDA makes food commodities available to the States, which receive the food and supervise overall distribution of the food commodities to eligible recipient agencies. In general, the eligible recipient agencies are public or private nonprofit organizations that provide food and nutrition assistance to the needy through the distribution of food for home use or the preparation of meals. The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) serves low-income pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, and infants and children up to age 5, who are at nutrition risk. WIC provides participants with 1) checks or vouchers to purchase specific nutritious foods at authorized food stores; 2) nutrition counseling; and, 3) health care referrals. The WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) provides WIC participants with coupons or checks to purchase unprepared, locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables from authorized farmers and/or farmers’ markets as well as nutrition education. The National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program provide nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to more than 26 million children each school day. In addition, The Afterschool Snack Program, run through the National School Lunch Program, reimburses organizations for snacks served to children in afterschool educational and enrichment programs. The following Roundtable panelists represent FBCOs working in partnership with USDA to feed the hungry and address the hunger-related issues affecting millions of Americans each year. Their presentations represent the unique role FBCOs play in extending the work of government through innovative programming and grassroots strategies rooted in a deep sense of commitment to serve those in need. Below are their remarks as prepared for the Compassion in Action Roundtable. Panelist: Pastor Joseph Wingo Chief Executive Officer, Angel Food Ministries “Our mission at Angel Food Ministries (AFM) is to provide critical food relief to vulnerable Americans through the distribution of a monthly menu of protein-rich food that is both top quality and affordable. The Angel Food program fosters healthy interdependence and personal dignity and provides a nutritious diet for families or individuals who struggle with food insecurity while also impacting communities through the distribution process, which involves local host site churches and a network of volunteers. Each month, Angel Food helps up to 500,000 families receive the nutrition they need at an affordable price. Anyone can participate in the Angel Food program—there are no qualifiers. People from all socioeconomic backgrounds purchase Angel Food, and senior citizens, single parents, the underemployed, and the unemployed are helped significantly by the food relief we provide. The Value of Angel Food Angel Food not only is a great value for consumers, but it also provides a tremendous outreach opportunity for churches. That’s why across the nation almost 4,000 churches, ministries, and community organizations in 35 States have become host sites for AFM. Angel Food gives back to these host sites. To date, we have contributed more than $10 million dollars for benevolent work to the churches that participate as AFM host sites. These funds have helped participating churches, ministries, and organizations meet the needs of people in their communities and have a greater impact in their neighborhoods. AFM host sites provide a dignity-enhancing experience for people who purchase Angel Food. Host site volunteers welcome those who desire to purchase Angel Food as friends. By getting to know AFM volunteers, many people have found solutions for some of the challenges they are experiencing in life. Often those who purchase Angel Food eventually join in the army of 20,000 volunteers and help with food distribution for their area. Through the Angel Food program people not only receive much-needed nutrition but they also are able to establish a new and healthy social network of support. Our goal at Angel Food Ministries is to help uplift and encourage senior citizens, single parents, struggling families, and other individuals by providing access to nutrition they often could not receive otherwise and to extend a sense of hope and encouragement during difficult times. Angel Food Ministries helps its recipients establish a food budget that works within their income and also provide a means of connection to caring people who can work with them on a variety of needs. USDA Involvement USDA has also helped AFM connect to food stamp families. Each month, by processing more offline food stamp vouchers than any organization in the country, Angel Food is helping feed approximately 400,000 people monthly in the United States, with peak months exceeding 500,000. Through a grant, USDA is helping reduce the significant administrative burden created by processing food stamps without Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) systems. With USDA’s help we are creating an electronic system that allows host sites to accept food stamps and gives community members access to food stamp applications. Because so many people and communities have benefited from the program, Angel Food Ministries has increased by approximately 90 percent annually. In other words, our organization has almost doubled the number of people we have helped every year. And, we are still growing across the nation, with dramatic growth planned in the western and northeastern states. Presently, we have 3,984 host sites and anticipate we will surpass 6,000 host sites this year. AFM is self-sufficient and only uses grants and donations for infrastructure or expansion. Our partnership with USDA has been extraordinarily helpful both in developing infrastructure and helping provide essential nutrition to fragile families. Going forward, our next important efforts will include: development of a capital pool for advance procurement of food; placement of regional warehouses; and expansion of our relationships with a broad variety of social service institutions. Our advanced purchasing power is significant because it can help to mitigate the impact of increasing food costs on those who participate. Angel Food Ministries has served more than 32 million people since we started in 1994. To date, more than 13.7 million boxes of Angel Food have been distributed and we have contributed more than $10 million dollars toward benevolent work of churches that participate as AFM host sites. We have accomplished much over the past 13 years, yet we know there is still much to be done. Angel Food Ministries is looking forward to being able to provide hope and a hand-up to more people in more ways in the days ahead. Panelist: Robert Bush, Director, East Texas Food Bank “In the United States, there are 35.5 million people—including 12.6 million children—living in households that experience or are at risk of hunger or food insecurity. Texas is one of the hungriest states in America with 1.3 million households not sure where their next meal is coming from. In East Texas, there are more than 177,000 people living in poverty and another 200,000 near poverty. There are 35.5 million stories behind the faces of hunger. It is the father next door, who has just lost his job and has a mortgage and mounting bills, and there is little left to put food on the table. It is the single mom who can’t afford to buy baby formula, so she resorts to watering down milk to make it last longer. It is the veteran living on a fixed income and having to choose between buying his life-saving medicine or purchasing groceries. These are the stories… the faces of hunger in America today. These are the tough choices East Texans are facing everyday. Twenty years ago a small group of concerned citizens formed a grassroots community organization to feed the hungry. Guided by a vision of a hunger-free East Texas, the East Texas Food Bank has built a growing hunger-relief network comprised of more than 200 partner organizations in 26 counties covering 20,000 square miles—of which three out of every four pantries is faith-based. Our network feeds thousands of people every day by serving hot meals at a rescue mission, delivering mobile meals to seniors, serving nutritious after-school meals to children, providing a bag of groceries to a family, sending a backpack of food home with a child over the weekend, and much more. While food banks all across America and around the world are collecting and distributing more food than ever before, the need is still great. Last year, the East Texas Food Bank distributed 13.8 million pounds of food that provided 10.7 million meals to children, seniors, and working families—and yet we are only serving 25 percent of the East Texans who are food insecure. For the past 35 years, food banks have been collecting distressed, dented, damaged, and donated goods and distributing them to hungry Americans through partner agencies, but the need is still great. To respond, food banks continue to [create] additional solutions to hunger in their communities. Child Hunger Initiatives In East Texas, we are facing the cruel truth that one in four of our children are at-risk of going to bed hungry. We, along with many other America’s Second Harvest food banks, have initiated a number of child-hunger programs to help alleviate this tragedy. During the school year, food banks partner with youth-serving organizations, such as Boys and Girls Clubs, to provide nutritious after-school meals in a safe place at Kid’s Cafes. On Fridays, children who have been identified as food insecure by a teacher, counselor, or principal receive a backpack full of food. BackPack Program food is nutritious and kid-friendly and requires little, if any, preparation. We know that these children learn, grow, and develop better if their basic need for food is being met. We also sponsor the Summer Food Service Program—a program of the Texas and U.S. Departments of Agriculture. Children who receive free or reduced price meals during the school year often face hunger in the summer months. Last year we served 118,000 meals and we are planning to serve 160,000 meals in the summer of 2008. We serve as an intermediary organization on behalf of partner churches and community groups that provide space, volunteers, and structured activities for participating children. Working Families In addition to providing food and groceries for families through pantries and meals through onsite feeding programs, the East Texas Food Bank is employing additional strategies to reduce hunger. In 2006, we launched a food stamp nutrition education program to help families stretch their food dollars, make good food choices, benefit from supplemental food programs, and maximize State and Federal nutrition programs. We also conduct social marketing campaigns to promote good nutrition like Loving Your Family Feeding Their Future™ and Eat Smart. Play Hard.™ In partnership with the Texas Food Bank Network and Texas’ Health and Human Services Commission, we have begun an innovative food stamp outreach and enrollment project. Food stamps should be the best and first line of defense against domestic hunger. Yet only half of those eligible currently participate in the program in the East Texas. Based on 2006 results, 25 counties served by the East Texas Food Bank have participation rates below 50 percent and as low as 13 percent. In 2007, the East Texas Food Bank launched a program to increase awareness of and participation in the Food Stamp Program. A number of strategies were tested to determine how best to achieve our goal including: educating [more than] 200 partner agencies, door-to-door canvassing in low-income neighbors, gaining media coverage, in-home visits, incorporating food stamp outreach into core business models, serving as an ombudsman on behalf of potential clients, and marketing the program to employers and Chambers of Commerce to educate their employees. Senior Hunger A recent innovation in East Texas was in response to learning that seniors were cutting their Friday meal from Meals on Wheels into fourths and then using that to eat over the weekend. The East Texas Food Bank is working to solve this problem with the Senior Servings Program. Senior Servings is a program targeting seniors who receive meal assistance during the week but are unable to receive any on the weekends. Food Bank volunteers fill bags each week with easy-to-open, nutritious food for the seniors and deliver the bags on Fridays along as part of Meals on Wheels delivery. Closing There are many diverse strategies to alleviate hunger in America, and the East Texas Food Bank is working every day to integrate these strategies into a comprehensive, multi-faceted plan that leads to a hunger-free East Texas. Hunger in America is a solvable issue but it takes each of us playing our unique role—public, private, community-based, and faith-based—working together to ensure that no man, woman, or child goes to bed not knowing where his or her next meal will come from.” “Catholic Charities agencies have worked for more than a century to serve those in need and empower them to build lives of dignity and economic security. Last year, Catholic Charities USA embarked upon a Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America, a multi-year, multi-faceted approach to cut poverty in half by 2020. Ensuring access to basic nutrition is an important element of reducing poverty in our country. Catholic Charities USA’s members—more than 1,700 local agencies and institutions nationwide—provide help and create hope for more than 7.8 million people of all faiths and social and economic backgrounds. Catholic Charities serve 1 in 10 people living in poverty. Food provision constitutes 51 percent of the total services provided by Catholic Charities agencies. In 2006 there was a 12 percent increase in soup kitchens, congregate dining, home-delivered meals, food bank/pantries, and other services. Our agencies provided food services to more than 6.3 million people in 2006. Catholic Charities agencies have found unique ways to partner with other non-profit organizations and the government to deliver critical services to those who are hungry. For example:
Many of our agencies participate in advancing the Food Stamp Program, the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, The Emergency Food Assistance Program, the Emergency Food and Shelter Grant Program, and a range of other food assistance programs that address hunger in communities across the country. They deliver essential food assistance to low-income individuals, families, children, and seniors who need these programs to lead productive lives. One of the most effective programs that is critical to local communities is the Food Stamp Program. Catholic Charities works to preserve and expand policies that strengthen this important safety net program. Catholic Charities USA continues to work with Congress and the Administration to advance policies that create greater access to those eligible by providing food stamp outreach services. For instance, the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of San Diego works in collaboration with the State to enroll people in the Food Stamp program if they initially only ask for emergency food assistance. In addition, we are proud of our continued relationship with the government in the Emergency Food and Shelter Grant Program, one of the most effective government/nonprofit partnerships in our nation’s history. This program gets funds directly into local nonprofit agencies to meet locally defined critical needs. The Emergency Food and Shelter Grant Program was developed in the wake of the economic downturn in the early 1980’s to make sure that individuals had adequate food and shelter. As you can see, Catholic Charities agencies serve the hungry but provide more than just food. Individuals are engaged in services that will help them feed themselves—we are able to do this work because we are an effective and accountable partner with the government. Effective public policy and innovative partnerships with government support must continue to be strengthened in order help to address the growing problem we face with hunger in this nation. Catholic Charities USA is committed to continuing to work as an effective and accountable partner with government to meet the needs of the most vulnerable in our society.” U.S. Department of Agriculture’s International Programs USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) works with a variety of cooperating sponsors, including private voluntary organizations, foreign governments, and intergovernmental organizations to provide international food aid, humanitarian assistance, and agricultural development support to eligible countries. The primary FAS-administered programs providing these partnership opportunities are:
An award made under a food aid grant program is a donation of agricultural commodities plus a limited amount of funding to cover freight costs associated with the transport of those commodities to destinations in foreign countries. Some awards may also include cash funding for a specific purpose in support of a development project; however, the donation of commodities is the primary component of each food aid award. Commodity donations are made in hundreds of tons of food and are designed to help large numbers of beneficiaries. None of the food aid grant programs currently administered by the U.S. Government award only cash for the purchase of food overseas. The following three Roundtable panelists discussed their organizations’ collaboration with USDA to deliver food and humanitarian assistance to those affected by hunger around the world. Below is an overview of their presentations. International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) is the official humanitarian aid and development agency of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA). Since its inception in 1992, IOCC has administered more than $250 million in emergency aid and sustainable development programs in 33 countries. In Lebanon, IOCC operates an education program through USDA’s Food for Education program, and in partnership with the Lebanese Ministry of Education, local nongovernmental organizations, parents, and the public school system. The program targets children aged 13-15 who attend public schools, providing them with food, school supplies, and school equipment. Since 2001, more than 10 million meals have been distributed to these students. In addition, the program supports education and awareness campaigns, including interactive, educational plays in which 60,000 students have participated. Regional Director George Antoun said these plays are important for the kids because “they come from poor families and usually they don’t go to…plays. The plays are prepared especially to tackle environmental, health, and nutritional topics. Also, parents in public schools are invited by the directors of the schools to attend special sessions. These sessions are held by professionals who come and talk about different topics that are of interest to the parents, and they also listen to and answer questions.” The program also rehabilitates dilapidated school buildings, providing a better, more secure environment in which children can learn. Antoun explained that being a Christian faith-based organization in a predominately Muslim country presented a unique set of circumstances. Antoun said after the war in 2006, IOCC went to a town called Maroon Al-Ras, on the border of Israel and Lebanon, “to help people who came back after massive displacement.” He continued, “We talked to the head of the municipality who is affiliated with [a] radical group…[who] didn’t want to cooperate when he knew that this was U.S. government assistance. He wanted to deprive the whole community from the assistance. So we went to the school director, whom we have known for a few years—we had been working with him in the village. And with him, we…formed a committee that was able to receive assistance… [I]n the end, we got a thank you letter for the work we have done.” Schools are an important entry point into a community, and IOCC’s work with children through the Food for Education program has increased its recognition in the region. This acknowledgment was expressed by a woman whom IOCC staff met in a displacement center after the 2006 war. Antoun explained, “When she saw IOCC staff distributing relief supplies at the displacement center, she recognized the IOCC sign and said, ‘Aren’t you the same organization that is helping our kids in school, giving them food every day and also helping the school?’ And the staff said ‘yes.’ Immediately she came and she hugged them and she said, with tears in her eyes, ‘you were with us at peace and now you are with us during the war.’” Panelist: Beth Sheehy, Senior Representative, Planet Aid Planet Aid is a nonprofit organization engaged in the battle against hunger through its international development work and commitment to the UN Millennium goal of ending extreme hunger and poverty. Across America, Planet Aid collects used clothing and shoes through 8,000 designated collection boxes, the proceeds of which help support their programs addressing health, education, food production, and income generation in impoverished communities in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. To date, Planet Aid has contributed more than $18 million in funding and gifts-in-kind. Planet Aid is a USDA Food for Progress grantee and operates programs in Mozambique and Malawi. The programs work to train teachers, organize farmers, improve nutrition, and help communities and individuals affected by HIV/AIDS. In each country, Planet Aid organizes farmers clubs to help establish food security. According to Senior Representative Beth Sheehy, “food security is defined as a farmer having enough food for the family throughout the year and for each individual to have 3 nutritious meals a day.” Planet Aid organized groups of 3,000 farmers into 60 clubs, each of which is assigned an extension worker and project leader. The farmers clubs work to develop the capacity of farmers by using low-cost irrigation rope pumps and increase yield through the introduction of high- yield crop varieties and livestock pass-on grants. Planet Aid also targets hunger and malnutrition is its soy distribution program. Sheehy explained, “As we have learned through our work with the Total Control of the Epidemic program (TCE) in Africa, nutritious food with sufficient protein supports the body’s immune system. However, food insecurity and lack of education prevent many HIV-positive people from consuming adequate nutrition.” To increase protein intake Planet Aid established 50 soy canteens in Mozambique, distributing soy foods to pregnant women and poor HIV/AIDS-infected individuals, particularly orphans. In Malawi, Planet Aid provided educational awareness about the health benefits of soy. For its multi-sector project in Mozambique, Planet Aid was awarded 60,000 metric tons of wheat to support:
For its project in Malawi, Planet Aid was awarded 30,000 metric tons of wheat to support:
Panelist: Lara Evans, Technical Specialist, World Vision World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities in nearly 100 countries. World Vision partners with individuals and communities, empowering them to develop sustainable access to clean water, food supplies, health care, education, and economic opportunities. World Vision participates in USDA Food for Progress (FFP) and Food for Education programs. The programs are administered through World Vision’s Grant Acquisition and Management (GAM) Global Food Resources team, which assesses, designs, implements, and evaluates short and long-term food aid development and relief activities. GAM’s core focus is to foster vibrant community-based activities that develop local capacity to address food insecurity, build resilience against future shocks, and provide for a clearly articulated exit strategy and sustainability plan. Technical Specialist Lara Evans provided the following overview of two USDA funded programs in Mongolia and Afghanistan: “The goal of the FFP program in Mongolia is to diversify the incomes of herders through improved agriculture production and processing. This includes the promotion of higher quality livestock and veterinary care, increasing local capacity for small business development, and providing distance learning and literacy skills training. The FFP project facilitated a series of trainings for approximately 3,000 herders on bio-intensive horticultural techniques, the processing and preservation of fruits and vegetables, and greenhouse and underground storage construction. These trainings led to increased income, improved food security, and dietary diversity among beneficiary herders. For example, the percentage of households whose income ranged from $200 to $500 per month increased from 9 percent to 17 percent. Under the Animal Husbandry component, a series of trainings were conducted for approximately 2,500 herders on animal care, rangeland management, higher quality breeds, and the processing of livestock products. Trainings included both classroom and hands-on experience. Of note, World Vision works in partnership with a local faith-based organization dedicated to strengthening Mongolia’s veterinary care system. The project trained approximately 2,300 herders in cooperative formation, business and marketing skills, business planning, and proposal writing. Learning centers have a multitude of resources for the community including newspapers, books, and DVDs to complement training classes. Additionally, the program provides literacy training for young herders. Mongolia has very different set of gender inequities in contrast to the majority of world. In Mongolia, males need empowerment. Young herders are all males, thus they are pulled out of school and isolated in fields with their herds. Afghanistan The Food for Education program in Western Afghanistan began in 2003 and is being implemented in Badghis and Ghor provinces. The three primary objectives are:
With the support of USDA, World Vision has dramatically increased enrollment over the last four years. How do these numbers link to increased food security? Each child receives a monthly take home food package based if they reach a 70 percent attendance rate. The food package includes rice, lentils, and vegetable oil. For example, in 2007 over 75,000 families received a monthly take-home ration. Within the context of the 2007 drought and the current severe winter, this take home ration will be even more critical during the 2008 school year. World Vision supports professional development for the Ministry of Education’s Master Trainers and Teacher Educators by bringing in professional trainers from Kabul to teach innovative curriculums designed in partnership with a UK-based INGO, Children in Crisis. Curriculums are designed to be taught with low-cost materials. Using simple items such as rocks, beans, sticks, and bricks, teachers learn not only basic mathematical skills, but innovative ways to engage Afghan children in learning these skills. Health and hygiene directly impact food utilization and nutrition. In Afghanistan, poor hygiene causes widespread cases of worms among school-aged children while the extremely hot summer months cause dehydration. In combination, these two factors lead to illness or death among young children in rural areas of Afghanistan. Additionally, poor nutrition and lack of diverse foods lead to anemia and other vitamin deficiencies. To address these concerns, World Vision provides health and hygiene education, de-worming medicines, oral dehydration salts, and vitamins. Afghanistan has one of the lowest rates of literacy in the world. Only one in 10 Afghan women can read. World Vision funds literacy classes for women who never learned to read, write, or do math. While women are learning to read and write, they also learn how to properly store and handle food and care for themselves and their children. One participant remarked, ‘With education, I am able to help my children. When I can read and write, I can help them. When they have questions or homework, I can do something. When they’re little, who can help them, if I cannot?’ Again, how does this relate to food security? Research has shown that an educated woman is more likely to delay marriage and childbirth, immunize her children, and understand the nutritional needs of her family. Higher levels educational correlate with improved levels of child survival and development. With infant and child mortality rates among the highest in the world, educating women is key to any developmental efforts in Afghanistan. Appendix A: Federal Efforts to Alleviate Hunger U.S. Agency for International Development Managed by USAID’s Office of Food for Peace (FFP), Public Law 480 Title II (Title II) is the principal mechanism through which USAID implements international initiatives to promote food security through humanitarian and development uses of food aid. The primary goal of Title II is to combat world hunger and malnutrition. In fiscal year (FY) 2007, approximately $1.8 billion was administered by FFP. In the process, FFP partnered with private voluntary organizations and international organizations such as the World Food Program. In FY 2007, these programs benefited over 31 million people. The Global Development Alliance From the GDA’s partnership efforts, both public and private sector institutions gain valuable experience in collaborating and pooling resources, and in so doing, these institutions are exposed to new concepts for addressing developing challenges. Through the GDA, USAID sponsors public private partnerships in every region and every sector of work. Because of its strong affinity with the private sector, GDA investments leverage significant additions to programs to spur greater investment; further develop rural micro-entrepreneurship; and create institutions to improve education, training, and the delivery of health services. All of these support the advancement of democracy by empowering local civil society organizations. The GDA continuously seeks to facilitate new partnerships. The GDA’s Annual Program Statement which allows organizations to submit proposals for new partnership opportunities is found at http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/global_partnerships/gda/. GDA & Foods Resource Bank The Alliance aids people around the world who experience extreme poverty and hunger. In sub-Saharan Africa, the Alliance has helped families produce or earn enough to feed the entire household. Families often have enough left over to barter or sell in order to buy basic medicines or send children to school. In the process, the Alliance encourages philanthropy and builds positive relationships between U.S. communities and communities overseas. To learn more about the Foods Resource Bank Alliance go to www.usaid.gov/press/releases/2002/pr021127_2.html. For more information about USAID, please visit www.usaid.gov/our_work/global_partnerships/fbci/. U.S. Department of Agriculture The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recognizes the important role that faith-based and community organizations play in helping us to better serve those in need. Through grant programs and other opportunities, USDA welcomes faith-based and community groups as important partners in our domestic food and nutrition, rural development, and international food aid programs. USDA Rural Development (RD) is committed to helping build stronger, more vibrant rural communities across the Nation. RD partners with faith-based and community organizations on projects that bring housing, community facilities, utilities, and other services to rural communities. These programs can support delivery of social services, including nutrition assistance, in rural areas. The following is a brief overview of just one RD program that can support this goal:
To learn more about USDA Rural Development partnership opportunities, please visit http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rd/fbci/. USDA Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the United States government’s principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves. Each year, HHS administers more grant dollars than all other federal agencies combined—distributing 60% of all federal dollars awarded. With programs covering a wide spectrum of activities, there are many opportunities for faith-based and community organizations (FBCOs) to partner with HHS. For more information on HHS, visit www.hhs.gov/fbci. Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) For more information visit http://pathprogram.samhsa.gov/. Community Services Block Grant For more information visit http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/csbg/. Social Services Block Grant For more information visit http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/ssbg/. Runaway and Homeless Youth Programs Transitional Living Program Street Outreach Program For more information visit http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/fbci/progs/fbci_rhyouth.html. Secretary Ed Schafer Secretary Ed Schafer was sworn in as the 29th secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) on January 28, 2008. He brings a record as an innovative two-term governor of North Dakota to USDA along with extensive private sector experience as both an entrepreneur and a business executive. Secretary Schafer served as North Dakota’s governor from 1992 to 2000 and made diversifying and expanding changes to North Dakota’s economy by reducing the cost of government and advancing agriculture his top priorities in office. He worked to normalize trading relations with China and develop that nation as an export market for North Dakota farm products. Secretary Schafer also led efforts to upgrade North Dakota’s communications infrastructure and make high-speed voice and data networks available to farmers, ranchers, and rural businesses. To expand the state’s job base, he encouraged the growth of value-added agricultural industries such as pasta and corn sweetener manufacturing. As governor, Secretary Schafer managed a state workforce of 12,000 people, oversaw a budget of $4.6 billion, and led the state’s response to emergencies such as the severe floods that hit the Grand Forks area in 1997. As chair of the Western Governors Association, Secretary Schafer led regional efforts to demonstrate how technology could improve the efficiency and lower the cost of delivering government services such as health benefits and food stamps. He also worked to make telemedicine more available and affordable in rural areas. Secretary Schafer was elected chair of the Republican Governors Association in 2000 and that same year he co-founded and co-chaired the Governors Biotechnology Partnership to increase public understanding and support for the benefits of agricultural biotechnology. He has had a lifelong interest in conservation and helped arrange the United States Forest Service’s May 2007 purchase of the 5,200 acre Elkhorn ranch in North Dakota. The site was where Theodore Roosevelt had his home and operated a cattle ranch in the 1880’s. It is near the preserved town of Medora—the state’s leading tourist attraction. Before entering public life, Secretary Schafer was an executive with the Gold Seal Company in Bismarck, a successful marketer of nationally-known consumer products such as “Mr. Bubble” bubble bath, “Glass Wax” glass cleaner, and “Snowy Bleach.” The company had been founded by his father, Harold Schafer. Secretary Schafer joined Gold Seal after he earned his MBA and held a series of management positions with the company before becoming president in 1978. Under his leadership, Gold Seal’s sales climbed to $50 million through acquisitions and new product introductions and its net worth tripled. It was sold in 1986. Schafer then went on to launch several new businesses, including a commercial real estate development company, a fish farm and a classic car dealership. After leaving office in 2000, he cofounded Extend America, a venture capital-backed company, to provide wireless voice and high-speed data services to commercial and residential customers in five rural Midwestern states. He also served as a director of the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation that oversees the historic town’s operations and became active in leading several other nonprofit and citizens advocacy groups in North Dakota. George Antoun George Antoun is the regional director of International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), currently in charge of IOCC relief and development operations in the Caucasus and the Middle East. Antoun has a Master’s Degree in Public Health and Health Services Administration. Autoun also has more than 20 years of management experience in relief and development, in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Before joining IOCC in 1995, Antoun undertook several consulting assignments supporting various United States based non-governmental organizations in setting field operations, staff training, and developing project implementation policies and procedures. Antoun’s responsibilities at IOCC include management of the field offices, staff training and supervision, developing proposals, negotiations with government and donor representatives, strategic planning and monitoring, and supervising the implementation of projects with emphasis on assisting in building the capacity of local communities and organizations. Since 1999, Antoun has organized and supervised the establishment of IOCC offices in Russia, Lebanon, Iraq, Ethiopia, Jordan, and Syria. Robert Bush Robert L. Bush has served as Executive Director of the East Texas Food Bank since January of 2005. Since arriving at the East Texas Food Bank, Bush has worked on a number of different projects including the completion of a capital campaign that allowed for the building of a large cold storage facility, as well as initiating a number of innovative national hunger-relief programs such as Kids Cafe, BackPack, Summer Food Service, Outreach and Enrollment, and Senior Servings for East Texas. Prior to the East Texas Food Bank, Bush served a three-year term as a senior staff member of AmeriCorps*VISTA in Washington, D.C., which included a term as national director. During his tenure, Bush led the launch of an Entrepreneur Corps, sending members into low-income neighborhoods to help residents save money, purchase homes, and start businesses. Additionally, Bush represented the Corporation for National & Community Service in the Oklahoma and Southwest Region. Bush also worked as a State Coordinator for Oklahoma State Department of Education’s Learn & Serve America program. Bush obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and a Master’s Degree in Higher Education Administration from Northeastern State University in Oklahoma. Lara Evans After graduating from James Madison University in 1997 with a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs, Evans joined the Peace Corps and served as water/sanitation and health educator in Ghana, West Africa. Following Peace Corps, Evans spent five years working with a small private firm in Arlington, Virginia focusing on small and medium size enterprises development in Latin America. In 2005, Evans graduated from the American University School of International Service with a Master of Science in Development Management. She subsequently joined International Relief and Development (IRD) as an associate program officer working on relief and food security programs. Evans is currently a technical specialist on the Grants Acquisition and Management Global Food Resources team at World Vision. She manages USDA programs in Afghanistan and Mongolia and a USAID Title II program in Mozambique. Candy Hill Candy S. Hill serves as chief spokesperson on all of Catholic Charities USA’s advocacy efforts. As Senior Vice President for social policy and government affairs for Catholic Charities USA, Hill is responsible for directing the organization’s federal advocacy efforts; representing Catholic Charities USA on Capitol Hill and with the administration; and serving as the organization’s Chief Spokesperson on social policy. Most recently, Hill represented Catholic Charities USA at the Holy See Mission to the United Nations where she was invited to speak on the oppression of women outlining the scourge of domestic violence in the United States. In June of this year, Hill joined women of all faiths from around the world at an international colloquium on “Women as Peacemakers” which was sponsored by Barry University in Miami. Hill, a native of Michigan, joined Catholic Charities USA in the summer of 2005 after serving for five years as the President and CEO of Catholic Charities of Monroe County in Michigan. From 1999 to 2001, Hill was the Diocesan Director of Agencies and Institutions for the Archdiocese of Detroit, serving as liaison between the archdiocese and its eight social services agencies and 33 affiliates. Prior to joining the archdiocese, she worked for more than 25 years for the Michigan’s Department of Human Services, formerly the Family Independence Agency. Hill holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics from Alma College in Michigan Patricia Mancha Patricia Mancha is a native of Eagle Pass, Texas, and has worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture since May of 2003. She currently serves as Acting Director of the Office of Strategic Initiatives, Partnership and Outreach (OSIPO) for the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). Mancha has held various positions within FNS including Director of Communications and Governmental Affairs for the Southwest Regional Office and Confidential Assistant to the Under Secretary for Food Nutrition and Consumer Services Nancy Johner. Mancha began her career in the Federal government with the United States Border Patrol, where she served as Public Affairs Specialist and Community Relations Officer for the Del Rio sector. She was responsible for reaching out to communities served by the border patrol, consular offices, and the media. She also served the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) in El Paso, Texas, Miami, Florida, and Dallas, Texas. During her tenure with the INS, Mancha served as Public Affairs Specialist and Community Relations Officer. She had the opportunity to promote the mission of the INS, educate communities, foreign consular staff, and the media about changes in immigration law, new benefit programs, and general immigration issues. Mancha worked with communities in the United States and abroad to identify victims of human trafficking and smuggling organizations during situations where undocumented persons suffered illness, abuse and in some situations death. She worked to educate communities about the National Entry Exit Registration System (NSEERS) requirements following the September 11 attacks and helped inform communities during the transition of the INS into the Department of Homeland Security. Mancha organized public forums and information sessions for communities to learn about the Department of Homeland Security and helped to celebrate its one year anniversary. Mancha has worked with and promoted Federal programs to media at local, State, national, and international levels. She believes her role as a spokesperson for the organizations she represents is to educate communities about the work that agencies accomplish every day. Mancha belongs to a family of teachers. Her father Javier has been an elementary school teacher for over 28 years, her mother Petra is a retired librarian, and her sisters Leticia, Brenda, and Kina Marie are all presently teaching at the elementary school level. A former high school teacher herself, Mancha feels she has found her calling working in the field of public affairs and enjoys educating the public about the value the USDA adds to the lives of the American public. Kirk Miller W. Kirk Miller became the General Sales Manager of USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service on July 17, 2002. As General Sales Manager, Miller overseas FAS’ export promotion, marketing and trade analysis, export credit programs, and USDA food aid activities. Before coming to FAS, Miller coordinated market development and regulatory affairs programs of the North American Export Grain Association (NAEGA) from 1992 to 2002. In this capacity, Miller was staff liaison to the association’s technical committees and to USDA and foreign governments on sanitary and phytosanitary trade and regulatory issues. Miller served as Administrator of USDA’s Federal Grain Inspection Service for more than three years during the administration of President Ronald Reagan. Miller has also operated his own agricultural consulting business, was president of the American Malting Barley Association and the Barley and Malt Institute, and was Assistant Director of National Affairs for the American Farm Bureau Federation. Raised on a farm in Ohio, Miller earned his Bachelors of Science in Agricultural Economics from Ohio State University and a Master of Arts in International Transactions from George Mason University Beth Sheehy Beth Sheehy is a Senior Representative for Planet Aid. In this role, Sheehy works with the Office of Partnership in the management and representation of United States Department of Agriculture Food Aid Commodity Programs in Mozambique and Malawi and in the development and representation of current and future programs and events with USAID and other United States multilateral development organizations. Prior to this, Sheehy served as External Affairs and New Business Manager for Land O’Lakes International Development Division where she managed USDA Food Assistance Programs in Asia and represented the division’s legislative and new business interests. Beth also worked as legislative coordinator for the Overseas Cooperative Development Council and is a former Peace Corps volunteer in Kazakhstan. Beth completed her Bachelor of Arts at Miami University (OH) and her Master of Business Administration at George Mason University. Pastor Joseph Wingo Joseph Wingo is the CEO of Angel Food Ministries, which he cofounded with his wife, Linda, in 1994. Angel Food Ministries is one of the most progressive in developing innovative ways to provide hunger relief to needy families. By purchasing high quality food at immense volume discounts then passing the savings directly to the consumer, Angel Food is providing much needed nutrition to more than 500,000 hungry families. The values and integrity instilled in Pastor Wingo as a second generation minister, his education in business, ministry, and his knowledge in business practices have proven invaluable in the operations and logistics of the Angel Food Ministry. Pastor Wingo’s fervent heart of compassion has caused Angel Food to flourish. The Wingo’s family mission is to provide hope to people in need. Angel Food Ministries has been structured to help any and all who desire to participate. Individuals and families benefit from the program, but churches and organizations that become distribution host sites benefit in many ways as well. Pastor Wingo and his wife Linda have been married more than 38 years and together they lead Emmanuel Praise Church in Good Hope, Georga. They have two sons who also serve with them in ministry.
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