**COMMUNITY           FOOD SECURITY RESOURCE KIT**
***How to Find Money, Technical Assistance,                     and Other Help to Fight Hunger and Strengthen Local Food Systems***
**July 2000**
**Table of Contents**
******
**Welcome From the Secretary of Agriculture .....................................................................           4**
**How to Use This Resource Kit ............................................................................................5**
**Brief Background on the USDA Community Food Security Initiative           ........................... 6**
**Chapter 1: Local Infrastructure .......................................................................................           7**
****Community Food Project Grants ...................................................         
 Community Food and Nutrition Program ..............................         
 Rural Community Facilities Grants and Loans ...................................................	        
 Food Policy Councils, Networks, or Coalitions ....................................................         
 Mickey Leland/Bill Emerson Hunger Fellows Program .............................................................         
 National Hunger Clearinghouse of Best Practices...................................................         
 Corporation for National Service         

**Chapter 2: Economic and Job Security**
 Empowerment Zones/Enterprise Communities         
 Community Kitchens         
 Food Stamp Employment and Training Program         
 Job Access and Reverse Commute Program         
 The Small Business Welfare to Work Initiative         
 Welfare-to-Work Grants: Department of Labor         
 Rural Business Opportunity Grants (RBOG)         
 Rural Business Enterprise Grants (RBEG)         
 Intermediary Relending Loan Program (IRP)         
 Share Our Strength's Operation Frontline         
 Family Economics Program/Cooperative Extension System         
 Asset Development: Individual Development Accounts (IDA's)         
 Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)         
 EXTENSION SYSTEM: Welfare-to-Work Support Sources         
 Department of Veterans' Affairs Homeless Programs         
 Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) 
**Chapter 3: Federal Nutrition Safety Net**
****Food Stamp Program (FSP)         
 WIC: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants,           and Children         
 WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP)         
 National School Lunch Program (SLP)         
 School Breakfast Program (SBP)         
 National Food Service Management Institute         
 Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)         
 Nutrition Program for the Elderly (NPE)         
 Afterschool Care Snacks for At Risk Children         
 Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)         
 Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)         
 Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)         
 Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)         

**Chapter 4: Food Recovery and Donations**
 Food Banks and America's Second Harvest         
 Food Rescue         
 From the Wholesaler to the Hungry         
 Society of St. Andrew         
 USDA Food Recovery and Gleaning Initiative         
 Kids Cafes 
**Chapter 5: Food Production and Marketing**
 Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP)         
 Loans for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers         
****Small Farm Program         
 Farmer Direct Marketing         
 Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)         
 Farmers' Markets         
 Community Gardens         
 Food Cooperatives         
 Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program         
 Self-Help and Resource Exchange (SHARE) Program****
 Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) 
**Chapter 6: Education and Awareness**
 Team Nutrition         
 USDA Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program (FSNEP)         
 Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP)         
 Dietary Guidelines for Americans         
 Food Guide Pyramid         
 Interactive Healthy Eating Index         
 Food Safety Education 
**Chapter 7: Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation**
****Food and Nutrition Assistance Research Program (FANRP)         
 Federal Food Security Measurement Project (FFSMP)****
**** Food Security Assessment, Executive Summary         
 Community Food Security Assessment ToolKit         
 Selected Research Studies Funded by the Food Assistance         
 and Nutrition Research Program         
 National Nutrition Safety Net: Tools for Community Food Security         
 Guide to Measure Household Food Security (Revised Edition)         
 Thrifty Food Plan         
 National Agricultural Library and the Food and Nutrition Information           Center****
**Appendices**
****Appendix A: USDA State Community Food Security Liaisons           and Gleaning Coordinators         
 Appendix B: USDA Food and Nutrition Service Regional Offices         
****Appendix C: Resources, Listed by Types of Entities           Eligible 
******Welcome**
Even though the United States is the richest and most powerful Nation           in the world, far too many Americans---and particularly, children--are           going hungry. In 1998, about 36 million Americans--- including 14 million           children---lived in households that suffered from either hunger or food           insecurity. About 10 million of these individuals---of whom 3.4 million           were children-- lived in households that suffered directly from hunger,           in which family members sometimes went without food because they couldn't           afford to obtain it.         

Neither the Federal government nor communities can, on their own, solve           the large and complex problem of hunger. For far too long, many government           programs have worked in isolation from communities; likewise, community-led           efforts frequently have been disconnected from government resources           that can help improve their programs. That is why I have created the           USDA Community Food Security Initiative. Through the Initiative, the           Federal government is energetically forging innovative partnerships           with nonprofit groups, private businesses, and individual citizens,           as well as with state, local, and tribal governments, in order to help           solve the problems of food insecurity and hunger. 
The Initiative---like the overall Community Food Security movement           -- broadly addresses seven action areas: local infrastructure, economic           and job security, the Federal nutrition assistance safety net, food           recovery and gleaning, local food production and marketing, education           and awareness, and research and monitoring. **For each of these           action areas, there are concrete ways the government can help communities.****That's what this tool kit is all about -- helping           people working at the grass-roots level to obtain the resources they           need to end hunger and food insecurity.**
This guide will help you find funds, technical assistance, and other           help for community food security-related activities from a wide variety           of sources. It is one concrete way USDA is aiming to strengthen comprehensive           community-based solutions, as well as improve the utilization and effectiveness           of key Federal nutrition programs like the Food Stamp Program and the           Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children           (WIC.) The kit is designed to provide state, local, and tribal governments,           as well as local nonprofit organizations, the assistance needed to initiate,           strengthen, or expand many programs currently focused at achieving community           food security. 
Although the kit does not provide the one and only solution to hunger           and poverty, we hope by offering many different assistance possibilities,           USDA can provide both a solution and a partnership that will fit the           unique needs and resources of your community. We look forward to working           with you on this vital effort.         
 Sincerely, 
 Dan Glickman         
 Secretary of Agriculture 
**How to Use This Resource Kit**
Time after time, grass-roots community food security and anti-hunger           projects ask one basic series of questions: *"How can we obtain assistance           from the government, or from other sources, to help more people? How           can we get money? How can we get technical assistance? What other types           of help can we get?"*
This guide is an attempt to answer those questions. 
The USDA Community Food Security Initiative (CFSI) presents this Resource           Kit "as a one-stop shop" for assistance for community-centered food           security activities. We believe that creating the Resource Kit is a           necessary step by the Federal government to enable each community to           more effectively access and utilize new and existing USDA and other           community food security-related programs. It has been designed to allow           community organizations, including state, local, and tribal governments;           non-profits, faith-based groups: state and community food policy councils;           schools; the private sector etc.; to strengthen existing, or initiate           new, efforts at the grass-roots level to reduce hunger and strengthen           local food systems. 
To make the guide more user friendly to the general public unfamiliar           with the intricacies of the Federal government, the guide is not sub-divided           in the usual governmental manner, i.e., by the government agency, then           sub-branch administering each program; rather, the guide is organized           by chapters for each of the seven community food security action areas:           
1) Local infrastructure (including Community Food Project grants and           food policy councils) 
2) Economic and job security (including assets development, job training,           and economic development) 
3) The Federal nutrition assistance safety net (including food stamps,           WIC, and school meals) 
4) Food recovery and donations (including gleaning, perishable food           rescue, and food banking) 
5) Local food production and marketing (including farmers' markets           and community gardens) 
6) Education and awareness (including general public awareness and           food safety and nutrition education) 
7) Research, monitoring, and evaluation (including projects that help           adapt national research tools for local use) 
Each of the seven action area chapters begins with a short statement           summarizing why that action area is important. In addition, each program/resource           listing has the following information: 
***Why This Resource Is Useful** (*A 1-sentence           summary to help you quickly determine the general nature of a funding           source or technical assistance mechanism) 
***Eligibility*** (A very brief description of           whether the resource is for individuals, families, nonprofit groups,           or government agencies, as well as other key eligibility requirements).           To make this guide most useful, all programs have one or more of the           following easy symbols identifying which types of people or entities           can utilize each resource: 
 People (including individuals or households)         
 Nonprofit organizations (including community action agencies and hunger           groups)         
 Businesses (including for-profit affiliates of nonprofit groups)         
 Government agencies (including state and local governments and school           districts)         
 Tribes (including any sub-entities of tribal governments)         
 Higher education (including colleges and universities)         
 Any interested party (any citizen, group, or agency can use the resource)           
***Program Description*** (a short description           of what the program does and what kinds of entities are eligible, as           well as any matching funds required) 
***Best Practices***(a few examples of effective           ways in which the resource is being used) 
***Deadlines*** (date or dates during which funding           or other assistance is given) 
***Contacts*** (organization or office from which           you can get applications and more information--whenever possible, e-mail           addresses and web sites will be listed) 
We strongly suggest that, before applying for assistance under a particular           program, you not only read the summary information in this kit, but           that you obtain more detailed information from the offices or entities           most involved with that particular resource. Many of the programs in           this guide have narrow guidelines set by law, so you certainly do not           want to waste time and energy applying for help when your project is           clearly not eligible. However, do keep looking. As the kit demonstrates,           just about any sort of legitimate anti-hunger or food security project           could receive help from one or more of the listed resources. If you           have general questions beyond the scope of just one resource, please           feel free to contact the USDA Community Food Security Initiative by           contacting your State Community Food Security Liaison (list of liaisons           in appendix A or at www.reeusda.gov/food_security/liaisons.htm           ) or by contacting our national staff at (202) 720-5746 or [email protected].           Also, you can use these contacts to obtain updated information on the           resources referenced in this kit. Obtaining knowledge of the vast array           of community food security-related resources is the first step to full           access and implementation of broad community-based responses. The Resource           Kit will allow communities already working to end hunger and poverty           to strive to achieve comprehensive community food security, as well           as enable those who are starting new****programs to more           adequately address the root causes of community hunger and poverty.         
****
**{INSERT STANDARD ONE PAGE HAND-OUT ON THE USDA COMMUNITY FOOD           SECURITY INITIATIVE}**
**______________________________________________**
**Chapter 1: Local Infrastructure--*Creating new and enhancing           existing local infrastructures to reduce hunger and food insecurity.***
**Summary**
Developing local infrastructure is a key aspect of all community food           security activities. A strong, developed local infrastructure must be           either constructed or supported by innovative partnerships with all           levels of government, the private sector, and anti-hunger and anti-poverty           nonprofits. With this goal in mind, the programs included in this chapter           have allowed, and will continue to allow, communities to increase food           security by coordinating the efforts of the whole food system to create           and support the improved self-reliance of all community members. Infrastructure           includes both physical and human capital, coordinated in an efficient           manner. The bottom line is that organizations need both the equipment           and the people to get the job done. The construction of a comprehensive           local infrastructure aimed at eliminating food insecurity could include           utilizing rural community facilities loans, food policy councils, community           food project grants, and other tangible community-based efforts to improve           nutrition and increase community and individual empowerment. It could           also include adopting new methods after studying a national database           of best practices to learn what works.         
**Community Food Project Grants**
***Why This Resource Is Useful:*** The Community           Food Projects program provides one-time grants to nonprofit organizations           to undertake comprehensive, multi-pronged responses to local food, farm,           and nutrition issues.****
***Eligibility:* Nonprofit organizations.**Only           nonprofit groups can receive these grants. 
***Description:***These grants are designed to           increase food security in communities by coordinating the efforts of           the whole food system, to assess the strengths, establish linkages,           and create systems which will improve the self-reliance of community           members. This form of self-sufficiency will be achieved by increasing           each individual community's access to fresher, more nutritious food           supplies and by promoting comprehensive responses to local food, farm,           and nutrition issues. Activities include growing, processing, and marketing           food, as well as improving the nutrition safety net, aiding food recovery           and gleaning, and supporting nutrition education. Grant awards are funded           from $10,000 to $250,000 with an annual total of $2.5 million, and require           a dollar­for-dollar match in non-Federal funds (in-kind is allowable).           Grants are from 1 to 3 years in duration.****
***Best Practices***(more detailed best practices           can be found at the program web site:**)**-  The Tohono O'odham Community Food System, Tohono             O'odham Community Action, Sells, Az--$80,000. Program goals include             the development and expansion of community gardens, organization of             a desert food collection program, redevelopment of traditional food-based             farming practices, development of direct-to-customer and wholesale             markets for traditional Tohono O'odham foods, initiation of culturally             sensitive nutrition education programs, and support for the development             of agriculture-based micro-enterprise projects. 
- Community Enterprise and Food Security Project--$145,000. San Francisco             League of Urban Gardeners, San Francisco, CA. The San Francisco League             of Urban Gardeners (SLUG) has built crop-scale urban gardens on abandoned             lots adjacent to public housing developments, and runs youth job-training             and employment programs at each of the sites.
- The Topeka Common Ground Project--$115,000. Kansas Rural Center,             Inc., Whiting, KS. Joint activities will promote sustainable farming             practices, economic interdependency, youth leadership, community gardening,             and agricultural entrepreneurship. 

***Deadlines:***Grants applications are accepted           during one application period per year, usually in late spring. Check           with contacts below for update.**
***Contact:*** Elizabeth Tuckermanty, Community           Food Projects Coordinator         
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative State Research, Education,           and Extension Service,         
Stop 2241, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-2241         
Phone: (202) 205-0241; Web site: www.reeusda.gov./crgam/cfp/community.htm           
**Community           Food and Nutrition Program**
**Why This Resource Is Important:**This program provides           funds to coordinate private and public food assistance resources, assist           low-income communities to identify potential sponsors of child nutrition           programs, initiate such programs in under-served or unserved areas,           and develop innovative approaches at the state and local level to meet           the nutrition needs of low-income individuals.****
**Eligibility: Nonprofit organizations, Government agencies,           Tribes**. States, public agencies, and public and private nonprofit           agencies/organizations, including Community Action Agencies, as well           as state and local anti-hunger groups, are eligible to receive funds           on a competitive basis for community-based, local, and statewide programs.         
****
**Description:**Projects funded under this program should:         - Provide nutrition benefits, including those which prevent disease,             to targeted low-income families
- Inform eligible low-income individuals and families of other nutritional             services available to them
- Carry out targeted communications/social marketing to improve dietary             behavior and increase nutrition program participation among eligible             low-income populations
- Coordinate private and public food assistance resources 
- Provide assistance to low-income communities in identifying potential             sponsors of child nutrition programs and initiating such programs             in unserved or under-served areas
- Develop innovative approaches at the state and local level to meet             the nutrition needs of low-income individuals 

***Best Practices:***- In Santa Barbara, CA, the County Community Action Commission turned             an abandoned kitchen at a former mental hospital into a food production             facility that daily provides over 1,000 meals for the agency's elderly,             child development, and Head Start programs.
- Leveraging school breakfast start-up funds approved by the legislature             to supplement Community Food and Nutrition Program, the Ohio Hunger             Task Force was instrumental in bringing 77 new schools into the breakfast             program in 1 year, as well  as in easing paperwork             for low-income households by advancing direct certification.
- City Harvest, a New York City program, translated $50,000 in CFNP             support into an additional 394,000 pounds of prepared food, which             was picked up nightly and provided to more than 200 emergency feeding             programs, including 60 new ones recruited during the grant year.

**Deadlines:** Deadlines vary by year; check Web site           or office below*.*
**Contacts:**Cathy Rivers         
Department of Health and Human Services         
Administration For Children and Families         
Office of Community Service; 5th Floor West         
370 L'enfant Promenade S.W.         
Washington, D.C. 20447 (202) 401-5252         
www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/ocs/kits1.htm
**Rural Community Facilities Grants and Loans**
***Why This Resource Is Useful:***This program           provides Federal small grants and larger loans to help rural government           agencies and nonprofit groups pay for a wide variety of infrastructure           upgrades, including infrastructure related to community food security,           food banking, and food recovery. 
***Eligibility:*****Nonprofit organizations,           Government agencies, Tribes**. Public entities (such as municipalities,           counties, and special-purpose districts ), nonprofit groups, and Indian           Tribes in rural areas and towns with a population of 50,000 or less           are eligible for these grants for facilities**.**
***Description****:* A small amount of grant           funds­and a significantly larger amount of loan funds­are           available to construct, enlarge, extend, or otherwise improve community           facilities providing essential services in rural areas and towns. Grant           funds are usually used to leverage larger loans; however, a limited           number of stand-alone grants are now set aside specifically for community           food security-related activities. Funds may be used for facilities used           in health care, public safety, and public services. Funds may also be           used for necessary equipment for the operation of these facilities,           and to pay other necessary costs connected with them. The program may           also fund other types of community facilities that provide essential           services to rural residents; and may pay necessary costs connected with           such facilities. The maximum term on all loans is 40 years. The Rural           Community Facilities Grant Program is typically used to fund projects           under special initiatives, such as Native American community development           efforts; child care centers linked with the Federal government's Welfare-to-Work           initiative; federally designated Enterprise and Champion Communities,           the Community Food Security Initiative, and the Northwest Economic Adjustment           Initiative area. In most cases, grantees are able to leverage Community           Facility funds with private and state dollars to enable completion of           more construction than might otherwise have been possible. 
***Best Practices:***The Food Bank of Western           Massachusetts has received funding to modernize its warehousing capacity.****
***Deadlines:***Funds are awarded throughout the           year, but often run out quickly. The best time to apply is usually in           the beginning of the Federal fiscal year, which starts every October           1.****
***Contacts*:**Applications are handled in each           state by the rural community facilities staff, housed in the state office           of the USDA Rural Housing Service.         
The office in your state can be located on the Internet at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html           or by calling (202) 720-1500 or (202) 720-1490. 
More information on Community Facilities Grants and Loans is available           at:**http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/Nonprofit/np_splash.htm****
**Food Policy Councils, Networks, or Coalitions**
***Why This Resource Is Useful:*** Typically organized           by state or local governments or by a coalition of nonprofit groups,           food policy councils, networks, or coalitions create a coordinating           framework to bring togther diverse entities in order to build the community-based           infrastructure needed for food security. 
***Eligibility:*****Any interested party,           Government agencies**. Community Food Security (CFS) Networks           and Coalitions can be formed by any group of concerned citizens, but           Food Policy Councils must have the involvement of at least one government           agency. 
***Description:*** While there is no large pool           of federal money for such efforts, all three of the types of entities           described below could potentially receive limited start-up funding from           the Community Food Projects Grant Program. - CFS NETWORKS:  Networks typically bring together             representatives from a wide range of food-and agriculture-related             fields for information sharing, policy advocacy, and catalyzing new             collaborative projects. Networks may be loosely organized, often beginning             under the umbrella of an established agency; they often have a steering             committee, a coordinator, and member organizations. 
- CFS COALITIONS:  A CFS coalition is a more formally             organized network. It is a defined entity like an organization, rather             than an informal network. A CFS coalition may itself become a nonprofit             entity if its objective is to become an enduring and independent collaboration.             Coalitions typically undertake more structured and well-organized             activities than networks. 
- FOOD POLICY COUNCILS:  Food Policy Councils (FPC's)             can be constituted at the city, county, or state level. FPCs are generally             composed of representatives from a variety of food- and agriculture-related             fields in the private and public sectors. An FPC differs from a network             or coalition in that it is typically sanctioned by either city or             county government, and its members may be appointed by officials such             as the mayor, city council president, county executive, or governor.           

***Best Practices:*** Food Policy Councils have           operated or currently operate in the following cities: Toronto and Edmonton           (Canada), Pittsburgh (PA), Syracuse/Onandaga County (NY), Philadelphia           (PA), Hartford (CT), St. Paul (MN), Knoxville (TN), Austin (TX), and           Los Angeles (CA). 
***Deadlines:*** Councils, coalitions, or networks           can be formed any time during the year, but if they seek funds from           a local government agency, it is helpful for their start-up to coincide           with the start of the governmental fiscal year. 
***Contact:***Community Food Security Coalition,           P.O. Box 209, Venice, California 90294         
Phone: (310) 822-5410; Web site: www.foodsecurity.org
Mickey Leland /Bill Emerson Hunger Fellows Program 
*Why This Resource Is Useful:*The Mickey Leland/Bill Emerson           Hunger Fellows Program is a year-long fellowship that trains emerging           leaders in the fight against hunger, giving them experience by placing           them for 6 months in a local field and 6 months in a Washington, DC-based           policy position.****
***Eligibility:*****People, Nonprofit           organizations**. Currently, there are 20 slots for individuals           to serve as Fellows; thus, the number of organizations at the local           and national level who can receive Fellows is also limited to 20. Individuals           selected to serve in the program generally have at least a bachelor's           degree and a demonstrated commitment to fighting hunger. Local and national           anti-hunger and anti-poverty organizations that are 501(c)(3) nonprofit           organizations are eligible to apply to receive a placement of Fellows.
***Description:***The program, a part of the           overall AmeriCorps/VISTA program, provides 20 young leaders with a broad           understanding of the problem of hunger, the skills necessary to contribute           to a solution, and the personal experience that puts faces and names           to these issues. Leland/Emerson Fellows begin their year in mid-August,           and spend the first 6 months of the program working in grass-roots organizations           at sites throughout the country learning about hunger and poverty through           hands-on experiences. The following 6 months are spent in Washington,           D.C., at national nonprofit organizations working on hunger and poverty           policy. To further Fellows' professional and leadership skills during           the program, professional development days are held every Friday during           the Fellows' 6 months in Washington, D.C. Two intensive 10-day training           sessions are held in Washington, D.C., during August and February to           help the Fellows prepare for and reflect upon their work and experiences.           Mickey Leland/Bill Emerson Hunger Fellows receive a living allowance           that averages $8,000 for the year (designed to experience living at           the poverty level), health insurance, and an education award of $4,725           for use toward further education or repayment of student loans. Housing           is provided in the host community during the 6-month field placement,           and assistance in locating housing in Washington, D.C., is offered for           the policy placement segment of the program. Program travel expenses           are provided as well. Begun in partnership with VISTA in 1994, the Mickey           Leland/Bill Emerson Hunger Fellows Program is a project of the Congressional           Hunger Center, founded by Congressman Tony P. Hall after Congress voted           to abolish its own House Select Committee on Hunger. Fellows are chosen           each year to honor the work of former U.S. Representative Mickey Leland,           who perished in an air crash while visiting hunger-stricken areas in           Africa in 1989, and Bill Emerson, U.S. Representative from Missouri,           who worked tirelessly for the hungry, and who died in 1996.
**
***Best Practices:*** Because the program has           a great deal of flexibility, Fellows have helped create, expand, or           improve a wide variety of anti-hunger and community food security-related           projects.******
***Deadlines:*** Prospective Fellows           must apply each year by end of January; organizations seeking a field           placement must apply by April; organizations seeking a Washington, DC-based           policy placement must apply by late November.
***Contact:***Congressional Hunger Center,           229 ½ Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20003, (202) 547-7022           ext.16, fax (202) 547-7575; E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.hungercenter.org/
**National Hunger Clearinghouse of Best Practices**
***Why This Resource Is Useful:*** The           National Hunger Clearinghouse offers a wealth of relevant best practices.           Before undertaking any significant new activity, it is critical to learn           if such activities are already carried out elsewhere and, if so, what           their most and least successful techniques have been. 
***Eligibility:*Any interested party.** Any           organization, agency, or concerned citizen can use the Clearinghouse.****
***Description:***The National Hunger           Clearinghouse is a program of World Hunger Year under contract with           USDA. They operate the gleaning and food rescue hotline "1-800-GLEAN-IT."           The database contains information on gleaning and food recovery groups           as well as organizations covering many other facets of the anti-hunger           and anti-poverty fields: hunger, nutrition, agriculture, food security,           sustainable agriculture, community development, micro-credit, and job           training. World Hunger Year works closely with USDA on highlighting           and replicating "model programs" that focus on self-reliance. The Clearinghouse           encourages donations and volunteering by making referrals to organizations           throughout the United States. 
***Best Practices:***World Hunger Year has           produced a detailed series of "replication guides" for some of the Nation's           most innovative and effective anti-hunger, community food security,           and anti-poverty programs. These guides, available through the Clearinghouse,           can help others replicate existing best practices and adapt them to           local conditions. 
***Deadlines:***The Clearinghouse can be accessed           throughout the year.****
***Contacts:***
The National Hunger Clearinghouse - World Hunger Year
505 Eighth Avenue, 21st Floor
New York, NY 10018-6582
1-800-GLEAN-IT, ext.151; (212) 629-8850
fax (212) 465-9274
Elise Hubert, Information Coordinator
E-mail: [email protected]
**The Corporation for National Service**
***Why This Resource Is Useful:***The           Corporation for National Service (CNS) matches talented, motivated people           with opportunities to serve their community and the Nation. 
***Eligibility:*****People, Nonprofit           Organizations, Businesses, Schools, Higher Education, Tribes.**           Over 1 million people each year participate as members and volunteers           in CNS's three programs (see below). Thousands of organizations--both           local and national--sponsor programs. The program sponsor is the organization           that manages the project, selects and supervises national service participants,           organizes the service opportunities, and provides the budgeting and           evaluation of the program.
***Description:***There are three main programs           of the Corporation for National Service. 
 AmeriCorps--AmeriCorps engages more than 40,000 Americans in intensive,           results-driven service. After their term of service, AmeriCorps members           receive education awards that help finance college or pay back student           loans.
 Learn & Serve America--With the help of Learn & Serve America,           over 1 million children participate in service-learning activities in           their schools and communities. 
 National Senior Service Corps--Through the Senior Corps, nearly           half a million Americans age 55 and older share their time and talents           to help solve local problems.
While the million-plus national service participants serve in all           50 states, Tribes, and U.S. territories, the programs themselves are           designed and driven locally. Local communities know their problems best           and are most capable of inventing innovative and entrepreneurial solutions.           The national service network offers opportunities to replicate good           ideas and to expand programs that are working.

***Best Practices:*** National service participants           engage in such activities as tutoring, immunizing children against preventable           diseases, organizing neighborhood watches, providing services for people           with disabilities and homebound elderly, building homes for low-income           families, assisting with disaster relief, cleaning streams and building           trails--among many other services. A new and growing component focuses           on bridging the Digital Divide, the gap between computer-proficient           children and those who have not been introduced to computers. In addition,           members recruit volunteers to work alongside them in their efforts to           meet critical community needs.
***Deadlines**:* Deadlines for programs vary;           contact CNS for details.****
***Contact:***Corporation for National           Service
 1201 New York Avenue
 Washington, D. C. 20525
 Phone: (202) 606-5000
[email protected]
 Wesite: http://www.cns.gov/
_____________________________________________
Chapter 2: Economic and Job Security*­increasing economic           and job security by helping low-income people attain living-wage jobs           and self-sufficiency, while increasing community-based economic development           in rural, urban, and suburban areas.*
Summary
Economic and job security activities and initiatives help low-income           people obtain good jobs and build self-sufficiency. They are based on           the understanding that the single best way for a household to overcome           food insecurity is for one or more adults in the household to obtain           and maintain a job at good wages. USDA economic and job security activities           provide assistance to communities, nonprofit groups, businesses, and           families throughout the United States--with particular emphasis on rural           communities ­ to expand local economic development in a sustainable           way; create living-wage jobs; provide job training, placement, and retention           aid; and help families develop assets, and to wisely save and invest           funds. Economic independence is the central foundation for providing           the support and security that are needed for ensuring community food           security.
**Empowerment Zones / Enterprise Communities**
***Why This Resource Is Useful:*** Empowerment           Zones and Enterprise Communities are designed to create jobs and business           opportunities in economically distressed areas. In those areas already           designated EC/EZs, businesses can receive tax incentives, and special           funds may be available for community-based organizations.
**Eligibility: Businesses, Government agencies,Tribes.**           Only geographical entities -- such as rural municipalities, multi-county           rural regions, cities, and urban neighborhoods -- can become Empowerment           Zones and Enterprise Communities. However, businesses moving into or           creating new projects in EZ/ECs may be eligible for tax incentives.           Internal Revenue Service form 954 is the authorizing document for those           seeking these tax incentives.
***Description:*** The program is currently           administered by the USDA in rural areas and by the Department of Housing           and Urban Development (HUD) in urban areas. Empowerment Zones are larger           geographical entities and thus receive a larger package of government           benefits than Enterprise Communities. EC/EZs have, to date, been designated           in two rounds. Round I included 72 urban and 33 rural communities as           EZ/EC Communities, which are currently receiving more than $1.5 billion           in performance grants and more than $2.5 billion in tax incentives.           20 Round II EZs received $3.8 billion in Federal grants. The EZ/EC Initiative           is unique with respect to previous urban/rural revitalization efforts           because it is focused on community decision-making. Residents decide           the scope of the project in their own neighborhoods, not Federal officials           in Washington. Thus, all zones and communities have the flexibility           to build community food security-related activities into their strategic           plans if they choose to do so. The EZ/EC designations are based on strategic           plans developed by local leaders, organizations, state officials, and           the private sector. Each EZ/EC designation implies special consideration           for various Federal programs and other assistance including social service           block grants, new tax-exempt facility bonds, tax incentives for employment,           and other special considerations for Federal programs.
***Best Practice:***The Enterprise Community           created the Northeast Delta Louisiana Public Market, which aids farmers,           most of whom are African American, from several nearby counties. USDA           funding will place the market in a permanent facility.****Excess           food at the end of each market day is being recovered and given to a           local anti-hunger organization and participating farmers also organize           field gleaning projects. The farmers are part of a small farmer cooperative.******
***Deadlines:*** Contact the national           offices listed below for more information on deadlines for particular           resources.****
***Contacts:****Rural*: http://www.ezec.gov           USDA, Rural Development, Office of Community Development, 300 7th           St., SW, Washington, DC, 20024, Phone: (202) 619-7980, Fax: (202) 401-7420.
*Urban***:**www.hud.gov/cpd/ezec/ezeclist.html            United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office           of Community Planning and Development, 451 7th St., SW, Washington           DC 20410, Room 7130 Phone: 202-708-6339*,*or (toll-free) 1-800-998-9999.
**Community Kitchens**
***Why This Resource Is Useful:***Community           Kitchens help train low-income individuals for jobs in the food service           industry while recovering excess prepared food for distribution to the           hungry.
***Eligibility:*Nonprofit organizations, Schools.**           Non-profit groups or schools with access to commercial food preparation           facilities, as well as ties to efforts that rescue perishable food,           can create Community Kitchen programs.****
***Description:***Community Kitchen           programs create valuable partnerships aimed at eliminating hunger by           actively linking social service providers, nonprofits, local government,           and the private sector to empower low-income individuals. The Community           Kitchen Program is based on the idea that food can be used as a powerful           tool to fight hunger, as well as its root causes. The Community Kitchen           concept was pioneered by DC Central Kitchen and has been expanded with           the collaboration of Foodchain, the National Food Rescue Network, which           makes private sector-funded grants available for Community Kitchen start-up           and planning. The Community Kitchen programs combine job training and           food recycling to feed the hungry with training for low-income individuals           in the culinary arts or the food industry. Community Kitchens secure           donated foods from local donors and then return donations to a "central           hub" kitchen. At this point men and women enrolled in the culinary arts           program convert the food donations into meals. The meals produced at           the Kitchen are then distributed to target sites in the community, including           homeless shelters, children's after-school programs, drug rehabilitation           clinics, adult feeding programs, and other programs. 
***Best Practices:***Community Kitchen program           graduates gain valuable marketable skills and often gain employment           at the same businesses that donate food to the Community Kitchen. One           great example of the integrated response of Community Kitchen programs           can be seen in Richmond, VA. The Central Virginia Food Bank combines           the local food bank, the Urban League of Richmond, Sargent Community           College, and the local American Culinary Federation chapter, to fully           address the complexities of overcoming hunger and poverty in the Richmond           area. Many of the graduates of this program have found employment within           the local food industry. 
***Deadlines:***Foodchain grant applications           are usually due in the late spring. Please contact the organizations           indicated below for current information.**
***Contacts:***
DC Central Kitchen America's Second Harvest
425 2nd St., N.W. 116 South Michigan Avenue, Suite 4
Washington, DC 20001 Chicago, Illinois 60603
(202) 234-0707 Phone: (312) 263-2303 x116
http://www.dccentralkitchen.org/	          Web site: www.secondharvest.org
**The Food Stamp Employment and Training Program**

***Why This Resource Is Useful**:* Low-income           individuals eligible to receive food stamps have the opportunity to           receive education, job-training, and work experience.
***Eligibility:*****Government agencies,           Nonprofit organizations**. States receive the funding directly           but have the ability to provide funding to contractors, nonprofit groups,           or local government agencies to carry out employment and training activities.
***Description:***Since 1987 states have participated           in the Food Stamp Employment and Training (E&T) Program to provide           able-bodied food stamp recipients meaningful work-related activities           that lead to employment and a decreased dependence on food stamps. The           Federal government allocates to states a 100 percent Federal E&T           grant each fiscal year to administer their E&T programs. States           can choose which E&T program components they offer. E&T components           may include: job search training and support; independent job search;           workfare; educational programs to improve employability; work experience           or training; and self-employment training. The agency in each state           that operates the Food Stamp Program is also responsible for administering           the E&T Program.****
The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation           Act of 1996 instituted a 3-month food stamp participation limit for           able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs). Unless they are exempted           by state agencies under authority of the Food Stamp Act, or unless they           live in a area in which the participation limit has been waived because           of high unemployment or a lack of jobs, ABAWDs must work; participate           for 20 hours a week in a qualifying education, training, or work program;           or participate in workfare to receive food stamps for more than 3 months           in a 36­month period. In response to Administration concerns about           the effect of the 3­month participation limit on ABAWDS, the Balanced           Budget Act of 1997 (BBA) authorized substantial additional Federal funding           to create qualifying work, education, and training opportunities for           ABAWDS. ****
***Best Practices:*** Illinois contracts           with public and private nonprofit organizations and agencies in Chicago           (and with its Workforce Development System outside the city) to provide           slots in its workfare program, called "Illinois works." Also in Illinois,           under the Volunteer Community Work Program, approximately 6,300 ABAWDs           monthly will preform work for public and/or private nonprofit organizations           at a rate equal to the ABAWD's monthly food stamp allotment divided           by the minimum wage, up to a maximum of 20 hours per month.
 South Dakota's ABAWD workforce component, "Community Service,"           operates in 20 counties via a partnership between the South Dakota Departments           of Social Services and Labor.
 Washington has a workfare component for ABAWDs that consists of           30 days of job search, followed by placement in an approved public or           nonprofit worksite if the job search is unsuccessful. The six regions           within Washington's Department of Social Services either contract for           workfare site development and monitoring with a variety of community           organizations, or hire staff as workfare coordinators.
***Deadlines:***States submit a plan every           2 years.
***Contacts:***Contact your States' Department           of Social Services. The phone number may be listed under Health and           Human Services.
**Job Access and Reverse Commute Program**
***Why This Resource Is Useful:***It           provides funding for communities to solve transportation problems.****
***Eligibility:*Nonprofit organizations, Government           agencies.** Local government agencies and private non-profit           organizations eligible for****discretionary grants for           operating and capital expenses for Jobs Access transportation service.           
***Description:*** The Job Access and Reverse           Commute Program has two major goals: (1) to provide transportation services           in urban, suburban, and rural areas to help welfare recipients and low-income           individuals access employment opportunities; and (2) to increase collaboration           among the transportation providers, human service agencies, employers,           metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), states, and affected communities           and individuals. . Job Access projects are targeted at developing new           or expanded transportation services such as shuttles, vanpools, new           bus routes, connector services to mass transit, and guaranteed ride           home programs for welfare recipients and low income persons. The Job           Access and Reverse Commute Program funds promotion of employer-provided           transportation, use of transit for non traditional purposes, and transit           voucher programs. Grants are awarded based on the percentage of population           that are welfare recipients, the demonstrated need for additional services,           the level of current coordination with and the use of existing transportation           providers, the use of innovative approaches, and the presence of a regional           plan and long term financing strategy. 
Funding for Job Access grants is authorized at $150 million annually.           Of this amount, $50 million was guaranteed in fiscal year (FY) 1999.           The guaranteed portion increases by $25 million a year, reaching the           full authorized $150 million in FY 2003. In FY 1999, $75 million was           available for the Job Access and Reverse Commute grant program. A 50           percent non-DOT match was required. Other Federal funds that are eligible           to be expended for transportation can be used as part of the match.           Applicants should submit projects that can be implemented quickly. This           announcement is available on the Internet on the U.S. Department of           Transportation's FTA website at http://www.fta.dot.gov/wtw
***Best Practice:***FTA encourages grantees           to consider how technology innovation may assist in meeting the mobility           needs of Job Access & Reverse Commute (JARC) recipients. FTA is           offering grantees an alternative mechanism to help speed up the process           of deploying such promising new technologies through the Joint Partnership           Program for the Deployment of Innovation (JPP).
***Deadlines*:**The application deadline changes           yearly, so it is important to check the Web site or office listed below.****
***Contact:***
For general information or to view the FY 1999 projects; see FTA's           Web site at: http://www.fta.dot.gov/wtw
United States Department of Transportation
Doug Birnie, Federal Transit Administration, Room 6423, 
400 7th Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20590, Phone (202) 366-1666           FAX (202) 366-3765
**Welfare-to-Work Grants: U.S. Department of Labor**
***Why This Resource Is Useful:*** Welfare-to-work           grants help recipients of the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families           (TANF) (formerly the AFDC welfare program) through job creation and           training, education, and other related programs.
***Eligibility:*****Nonprofit organizations,           Businesses, Government agencies, Tribes**Competitive grants           may be awarded to local governments, Private Industry Councils, Tribes,           and private entities (such as community development corporations and           community-based organizations, community action agencies, and other           private organizations) who apply in conjunction with a Private Industry           Council or local government. The Secretary of Labor will give special           consideration to cities with large concentrations of poverty as well           as to rural areas. 
***Description:*** The Balanced Budget Act           of 1997 authorized the U.S. Department of Labor to provide Welfare-to-Work           Grants to States and local communities to create additional job opportunities           for the hardest-to-employ recipients of TANF. The grants may be used           to help move eligible individuals into long-term unsubsidized jobs using           strategies like: job creation through short-term public or private sector           wage subsidies; on-the-job training; contracts with public or private           providers of job readiness, job placement, and post-employment services;           job vouchers for similar services; community service or work experience;           or job retention and supportive services (if such services are not otherwise           available). The grants totaled $3 billion: $1.5 billion to be awarded           in fiscal year 1998 and $1.5 billion in fiscal year 1999. There will           be two kinds of grants: (1) Formula Grants to States and (2) Competitive           Grants to local communities. A small amount of the total grant money           is also to be set aside for special purposes: 1 percent for Indian tribes;           0.8 percent for evaluation; and $100 million for performance bonuses           to successful States. 
***Best Practices:*** Assistance can be provided           to individuals who have reached the 60-month TANF time limit. Such assistance           does not count toward the 60-month limit unless it is cash assistance           provided directly or through wage subsidies. In those cases, the months           do count toward the 60-month limit. 
***Deadlines:*** Once a year, States submit           a 2-year plan. The one they submitted this year expires in 2001.
***Contacts:*********US           Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration
200 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20210
Dennis Lieberman-Phone: 202-219-0181 ext. 132,         
http://wtw.doleta.gov/resources/fact-grants.htm
List of the Department of Labor welfare-to-work offices:****
http://wtw.doleta.gov/resources/regcon.htm
Rural Business Opportunity Grants (RBOG) 
*Why This Tool Is Useful*: These grants support community planning,           technical assistance, and training for rural businesses and can be used           to support food-related micro-enterprise or job creation activities           targeted at food-insecure individuals.******
***Eligibility:*Nonprofit organizations, Businesses,           Government agencies, Tribes.** Public bodies, nonprofit organizations,           Native American tribes, and cooperatives can receive funds through this           program. Applicants must be located in rural areas. 
***Description:*** The Rural Business Opportunity           Grants program (RBOG) was created by the 1996 Farm Bill to assist in           the economic development of rural areas by providing grants for business           and community development. Grant funds may be used for the following           purposes: to identify and analyze business opportunities, including           export markets, that will use local natural and human resources; identify,           train, and provide technical assistance to existing or prospective rural           entrepreneurs and managers; establish business support centers and otherwise           assist in the creation of new rural businesses; conduct local community           or multi-county economic development planning; establish centers for           training, technology, and trade that will provide training to rural           businesses in the utilization of interactive communications technologies           to develop international trade opportunities and markets; conduct leadership           development training of existing or prospective rural entrepreneurs           and managers; and pay reasonable fees and charges for professional services           necessary to conduct the technical assistance, training, or planning           functions. The program can fund any such activities for food-related           enterprises. For FY2000 there is approximately $3 million available.           
***Deadlines:*** There are two rounds of funding           at the national level. Please contact your state Rural Business Cooperative           Service office for more information. 
***Contact*s:**
Applications are handled in each state through the USDA Rural Business           Cooperative Service. The RBS office in your state can be located on           the Internet at: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html
For national information about the overall program, contact:         
U.S. Department of Agriculture         
Wayne Stansbery         
Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Specialty Lenders Division         
1400 Independence Ave., SW, Stop 1521, Washington DC 20250         
Phone: (202) 720-1400; E-mail: [email protected]
**Rural Business Enterprise Grants (RBEG)****
***Why This Resource Is Useful:***The RBEG program           assists small and emerging businesses in rural areas outside the boundary           of a city of 50,000 or more and in their immediately adjacent urbanized           or urbanizing areas. 
***Eligibility:*****Nonprofit organizations,           Government agencies, Tribes**. Eligible recipients for this grant           are public bodies, private nonprofit operations, and federally recognized           Indian tribal groups. Public bodies include incorporated towns and villages,           boroughs, townships, counties, states, authorities, districts, and Native           American Tribes on Federal and state reservations, and other federally           recognized Indian tribal groups in rural areas. 
***Description:***
The purpose of the Rural Business Enterprise Grants (RBEG) program           is to finance and facilitate the development of small and emerging private           business enterprises located in rural areas through grants to public           bodies, nonprofits, and federally recognized Indian Tribal groups. This           includes starting and operating revolving loan funds, business incubators,           and industrial parks. Costs that may be paid from grant funds include           the acquisition and development of land; fees for professional services;           technical assistance and training associated with technical assistance;           startup operating costs and working capital, providing financial assistance           to a third party; production of television programs to provide information           to rural residents; and creating, expanding, and operating rural distance           learning networks. 
***Best Practices:***
In Vermont, the Economic Development Council and the University of           Vermont each received a grant of $250,000 to fund community kitchen/incubator           facilities for use by small and emerging food processing businesses           in developing and testing new uses of their products, packaging/canning,           and distribution activities. 
***Deadlines:***Deadlines vary from state to state.           Please contact your state office for more information.****
***Contacts:***
Applications are handled in each state through the USDA Rural Business-Cooperative           Service. The office in your state can be located on the Internet at:           http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html
For national information about the overall program, contact:         
Carole Boyko or Amy Cavanaugh         
USDA, Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS), Special Lenders Division         
Room 5404 South Building, Stop 1521, Washington, DC 20250         
Phone: (202) 720-1400; Web site: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/busp/bprogs.htm
**Intermediary Relending Loan Program (IRP)**
***Why This Resource Is Useful:***Loans for establishing           revolving loan funds to provide financing for rural businesses and community           development**.**
***Eligibility:* Nonprofit organizations, Businesses,           People, Government agencies, Tribes.** Nonprofit corporations,           public agencies, Native American Tribes, and cooperatives are eligible           to receive IRP funds as intermediaries. Intermediaries must have adequate           legal authority and a proven record of successfully assisting rural           businesses and industries. The ultimate recipients of loans from IRP           revolving loan funds can be for-profit organizations, individuals, and           public and private nonprofit organizations, and must be located in unincorporated           areas or in cities with populations under 25,000.****
***Description:*** The Intermediary Relending Loan           Program (IRP) provides direct loans at 1 percent interest to intermediaries           for establishing revolving loan funds for small businesses and community           development projects in rural areas. Intermediaries are nonprofit organizations           or public agencies that re-lend money through loan pools to ultimate           recipients, who are businesses, individuals and others. The USDA state           offices of Rural Development generally are delegated loan approval authority           on a case-by-case basis. Applications are considered in a quarterly           national competition. Loans to intermediaries range from $100,000 to           $2 million. Intermediaries receive a 30-year loan with a fixed annual           interest rate of 1 percent. Funding available for fiscal year 1997 was           $37 million. Factors considered in judging applications from intermediaries           include: financial condition, assurance of repayment ability, equity,           collateral, experience and record of managing a loan program or providing           other assistance to rural businesses, ability to leverage with funds           from other sources, extent assistance would flow to low-income persons.           
***Best Practices:*** As part of the Pacific Northwest           Economic Adjustment Initiative, an IRP loan of $1.5 million supplemented           an existing revolving loan fund for relending to small businesses in           rural Jackson and Josephine Counties in Oregon. Businesses that create           or retain permanent jobs involving skills related to manufacturing,           industrial production, and wood products are given preference. Southern           Oregon Regional Economic Development, Inc., the intermediary, estimates           that by targeting a maximum of $20,000 per full-time-equivalent job           created or saved, the IRP loan will create or save at least 50 jobs           in the fund's first round of loans in these communities. 
***Deadlines:*** Please contact your state office           for deadlines.******
***Contacts:***Applications are handled in each           state through the USDA Rural Business Cooperative Service. To locate           your state office, go to: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html
For national information about the overall program, contact:         
Wayne Stansbery Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Specialty Lenders           Division         
1400 Independence Ave. SW Washington DC 20250-1521, Phone: (202) 720-1400******E-Mail: [email protected]           Website: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/busp/bprogs.htm
**Share Our Strength's Operation Frontline**

***Why This Resource is Useful:*** Teaches low           income individuals about nutrition, healthy cooking, and food budgeting..           
***Eligibility:*****People, Nonprofits,           Government Agencies** Low-income individuals and families can           enroll in Operation Frontline classes; partnerships with non-profits           and government agencies can increase efficiency of costs and resources.           
***Description***: Operation Frontline classes           are designed to help people cook more nutritious and economical meals           for themselves and their families. Each class focuses on a different           theme, such as following the food guide pyramid, shopping effectively           or cooking nutritious meals. Taught by professionally trained volunteer           chefs, nutritionists and financial planners, classes meet once a week           for six weeks, and run 2 hours in length. The classes are taught at           family support centers, HeadStart agencies, health clinics, and other           non-profit community organizations, and compliment the programs offered           by the agencies to their clients. Share Our Strength provides partner           agencies with a proven turn-key program, and a national office which           ensures development and maintenance at both the local and national levels.           The following classes are currently being offered in Colorado, Delaware,           Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire,           New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, Virginia,           Washington, and Washington DC:         
*Eating Right -***For Low Income Families***Kids Up Front -***For At-Risk Children 8-12***Eating Well -***For People With HIV and AIDS***Side By Side -*******For Parents and           Children Together***Your Money, Your Choices -***Financial           Planning****
***Best Practices***: Share our Strength and **Head           Start** have engaged in a pilot project entitiled the *SOS/Head           Start Partnership to Promote Healthy Eating*. More than 80 Operation           Frontline classes have been held in Head Start centers across the country,           with a goal of building the *Eating Right* adult curriculum into           Head Start's outreach efforts to parents. 
Operation Frontline has had several successful partnerships with USDA           including:         
**CSREES**: EFNEP agents have taught classes in 8 states.           In Seattle, EFNEP agents talk to participants about how they can access           and derive the most benefits from the Food Stamp program. **WIC**:           Classes have been held at WIC centers in 4 states and the District of           Columbia. In Chicago, Operation Frontline partners with Near North Health           Service Corporation, a WIC grantee agency which provides healthcare           and support services to underserved low income communities. **Team           Nutrition**: The Rhode Island Team Nutrition Institute provided           funding to develop the curriculum for Side by Side, a four-week           program that brings parents and children into the kitchen to learn about           healthy eating. 
***Deadlines:*** None. Classes are run all year           round. 
***Contact:*** Kristen Curran, Operation Frontline           Manager [email protected]           Share Our Strength; 733 15th Street, NW; Washington, DC 20005           (202) 393-2925 (phone); (202) 347-5868 (fax) http://www.strength.org
**Family Economics Program/Cooperative Extension System**
***Why This Resource Is Useful:*** This program           provides consumer education; teaches personal financial management skills           to youth, limited-resource families, and young families; and promotes           comprehensive financial planning throughout the life cycle. Some county           Extension offices also help families in financial crises through one-on-one           consultation.****
***Eligibility:*People.**
***Program Description:***Cooperative, State Research           Education and Extension Service links the teaching, research, and extension           activities of 103 land-grant universities and the U.S. Department of           Agriculture to improve the quality of life for all Americans. Research           conducted largely through the land-grant universities is delivered to           people via the Cooperative Extension System (CES). CES is a public-funded,           non-formal educational system that extends research-based information****to nearly 3,150 county offices. Its mission is to "help people           improve their lives and communities through learning partnerships that           put knowledge to work." Among CES's key objectives is improving the           consumer skills of our Nation's individuals and families. 
The Family Economics (FE) Team of the CSREES Economic and Community           Systems Unit provides leadership to state, regional, and county-level           educators who deliver basic consumer education; teach personal financial           management skills to youth, limited-resource families, and young families;           and promote comprehensive financial planning throughout the life cycle.           Some county Extension offices also help families in financial crises           through one-on-one consultation. Issues receiving increased attention           are basic life skills leading to job retention for welfare-to-work individuals,           saving for retirement, personal finance education for youth and employees,           and electronic benefits transfer for the "unbanked." 
***Deadlines:*** There are no deadlines for these           services. 
***Contacts***:
All state-level Cooperative Extension offices are listed at the following           Web site:         
http://www.pwd.reeusda.gov/pwd/pcontactlist.asp
Or contact the national coordinating office at:         
Dr. Jane Schuchardt, National Program Leader, Family Economics         
USDA CSREES Family Economics Team1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington,           DC 20250-2217           Phone: (202) 720-5119; E-mail:[email protected]
**Asset Development: Individual Development Accounts (IDA's)**
***Why This Resource Is Useful:***IDA's           work to create economic independence and mobility for low-income individuals**.**
***Eligibility:*****Nonprofit           organizations, Government agencies, Tribes**. One or more not-for-profit           501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations; or a state or local government agency           or tribal government, may submit an application jointly with a not-for-profit           organization. The Assets for Independence Act provides for a matching           requirement of 1:1 private and public (non-Federal) funds to Federal           dollars issued under each grant. The maximum Federal grant is $500,000           for a five year project with up to 7.5 percent of grant funds available           for project administration and support services. Funds are available           on a competitive basis.
***Description:*** Assets for Independence AFIA,           under Title IV of the Community Opportunity Accountability, and Training           and Education Services Act of 1998, establishes the Assets for Independence           Demonstration Program (IDA Program). This legislation supports the work           that States and community-based organizations are doing in support of           IDA's and other asset-based development strategies. IDA's are dedicated           savings accounts that can be used by eligible participants for purchasing           a first home, paying for post-secondary education, or capitalizing a           business. These IDA's are comprised of participant savings from earned           income and are matched by deposits of up to $8 dollars for each dollar           saved. These investments have the potential to bring a new level of           economic and personal security to families and communities. The intent           of the demonstration is to encourage participants to develop and reinforce           strong habits for saving money.
***Best Practice:***The Community Action Project           of Tulsa County (CAPTC) is a comprehensive anti-poverty agency in Tulsa,           Oklahoma. CAPTC's mission is to help individuals and families in economic           need achieve self-sufficiency through emergency aid, medical care, housing,           community development, education, and advocacy in an atmosphere of respect.           The target population includes individuals with income below 150 percent           of the Federal poverty line. Participants must deposit between $10 and           $62.50 each month. In addition, participants may make a larger deposit           from their Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) rebate annually. Once participants           open their accounts, they are required to attend three Economic &           Financial Literacy meetings over the course of 4 months at Oklahoma           State University Cooperative Extension Service. Additionally, participants           saving for home purchase or business start-up are required to attend           sessions specifically addressing these topics. Contact for information:           Jennifer Robey, CAPTC, 125 N. Greenwood, 3rd Floor, Tulsa,           OK 74120. 
***Deadlines:*** Please consult the contact           below for deadlines.
***Contacts:*** Dick Saul, Department of Health           and Human Services, Office of Community Services
200 Independence Ave, SW, Washington, DC 20201, Phone: (202) 401-9341
Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED)
777 North Capital Street, NE, Ste. 410, Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (202) 408-9788; Fax: (202) 408-9793; E-mail: [email protected];           Web site: http://www.cfed.org/
**Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)**
***Why This Resource Is Useful:***The           EITC provides a cash benefit tax relief and a work incentive to low-income           working families.******
***Eligibility:*****People.**           To qualify for EITC, the participant must meet basic income requirements           which include (1) with no qualifying child: income of $10,030 or less           per year; (2) with one qualifying child: income of $26,473 or less per           year; (3) with more than one qualifying child: income of $30,095 or           less per year; (4) file a joint return if you are married; (5) age of           25-65 and not be counted as a dependent of someone else; (6) have resided           in the United States for at least half of the year; (7) have a Social           Security number issued by the Social Security Administration.
***Description:*** The Earned Income Task Credit           (EITC) was enacted in 1975 provide the Nation's low-income working families           with tax relief and an incentive to work. The EITC can provide a cash           benefit, even to families whose incomes are so low that they do not           owe taxes. As of 1996, the EITC could provide as much as $3,500 to working           families with income below $28,000. To receive the credit, workers submit           a "Schedule EIC" at the time they file their taxes. Employees may receive           benefits as a supplement to their regular paychecks through the "advance           payment" program. Federal law mandates that all employers notify their           employees about EITC and offer them the option to receive credit through           their paychecks. One can receive the EITC in one payment at the end           of the year when the participant files his or her taxes, or one may           receive partial credit throughout the year directly through the participant's           paycheck. Currently, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities has           an EITC training schedule and educational packet. 
Best Practices: County Extension offices can inform people of programs           ongoing in the county to assist with EITC applications.
***Deadlines:***Applications for the EITC must           be filed along with the applicant's Federal tax return each year.******
***Contacts:***U.S. Department of the           Treasury, 1500 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20220
Phone: (202) 622-1100 Web site: http://www.irs.gov/prod/ind_info/eitc4.html
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities           820 1st St., NE, Suite 510, Washington, DC 20002, Phone: (202) 408-1080 
All state-level Cooperative Extension offices are listed at the           following Web site: http://www.pwd.reeusda.gov/pwd/pcontactlist.asp
Or contact the national coordinating office at:
CSREES Family Economics Team
 Dr. Jane Schuchardt, National Program Leader, Family Economics
(202) 720-5119 Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension           Service           United States Department of Agriculture, 
1400 Independence Ave., SW. ,Washington, DC 20250-2217 email: [email protected]
**Extension System Welfare-to-Work Support Services**
***Why This Resource Is Useful:*** The Extension           System is a Federal, state and county partnership that offers education           to help people improve their lives. States and counties determine their           own programs. Welfare-to-work programs through Extension vary according           to the needs of their communities. It is important to contact county           and state Extension professionals when looking for welfare-to-work educational           opportunities.******
***Eligibility:*People**
***Description**:* CSREES links the teaching,           research, and extension activities of 103 land-grant universities and           the U.S. Department of Agriculture to improve the quality of life for           all Americans. Research conducted largely through the land-grant universities           is delivered to people via the Cooperative Extension System (CES). CES           is a public-funded, non-formal educational system that extends research-based           information****to nearly 3,150 county offices. Its mission           is to "help people improve their lives and communities through learning           partnerships that put knowledge to work." Among CES's key objectives           is improving the consumer skills of our Nation's individuals and families.
***Best Practices:*** Extension offers many           and varied opportunities in education and training to improve individuals'           ability to move into the work force and leave welfare.
***Contacts:*** Local county-level offices are           usually listed in the phone book under the county's name. All state-level           Cooperative Extension offices are listed at the following Web site:           
http://www.pwd.reeusda.gov/pwd/pcontactlist.asp
For more information, contact:
University of Maryland, Department of Family Studies
Bonnie Braun, Ph.D., CFCS Extension Family Life Specialist
1204 Marie Mount Hall
College Park, Maryland 20742-7515
(301) 405-3581 (301) 314-9161 (fax)
[email protected]

Or contact the national coordinating office at:
CSREES Family 4H and NutritionCooperative State Research, Education,           and Extension Service           United States Department of Agriculture           1400 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20250-2225
(202) 720-2908. 
**Department of Veterans' Affairs Homeless Programs**
***Why This Resource Is Useful:***Veterans           Affairs provides assistance to homeless veterans and their dependents.           Assistance includes medical care and economic benefits. Funds are available           to organizations that provide transitional housing and other support           services if 75 percent or more of their clients are homeless veterans.**
***Eligibility:*Nonprofit           organizations, People, Government agencies**. Eligibility varies.           Please contact the homeless coordinator at your nearest VA medical center           or VA Regional Benefits Office.
***Description:***VA is the only Federal agency           that provides substantial hands-on assistance directly to homeless people.           Limited to homeless veterans and their dependents, VA's program is the           largest integrated network of homeless programs in the country. These           programs include aggressive outreach to homeless veterans; clinical           assessments and referral for medical treatment for both physical and           psychiatric disorders, including substance abuse. Following are a few           of VA's programs that provide assistance to service providers:- **Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program**.             Provides grants and per diem payments to assist public and nonprofit             organizations in establishing and operating new supportive housing             and supportive service centers for homeless veterans. Grant funds             may also be used to assist organizations in purchasing vans to conduct             outreach or provide transportation for homeless veterans. Since FY1994,             VA has awarded 127 grants under this program, totaling more than $26             million.
- **Project CHALENG (Community Homelessness Assessment, Local             Education, and Networking Groups) for Veterans.**This nationwide             initiative links the VA with other Federal, state, local, and nonprofit             organizations to assess the needs of homeless veterans, develop action             plans to meet needs, and develop directories of local community resources             for use by homeless veterans.****
- Acquired Property Sales for Homeless Providers Program.              Homeless service providers may purchase at a discount of 20 to 50             percent properties that the VA has obtained through foreclosure of             VA-insured mortgages. To date, 116 properties have been sold, and             58 have been leased to nonprofit organizations to provide housing             for the homeless.****
- HUD-VA Supported Housing Program . Provides             permanent housing and ongoing case management services for harder-to-serve             homeless veterans.
- **VA's Supported Housing Program.** VA staff work             with private landlords, public housing authorities, and nonprofit             organizations to find creative housing arrangements.****
- Stand Downs.  Provide a safe haven of             1 to 3 days for homeless veterans and a variety of services, including             a way for community-based homeless providers to reach more homeless.

***Contacts:*******Homeless Veterans           Programs Office (Room 075D)
Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington,           DC
Phone (202) 273-5764; Fax (202) 273-9472; E-mail: [email protected]****
**Website:**http://www.va.gov/health/homeless/AssistProg.htm
**Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)**
***Why This Resource Is Useful***: This program           provides metropolitan cities and urban counties (called "entitlement           communities") with annual direct grants that they can use to revitalize           neighborhoods, expand affordable housing and economic opportunities,           and/or improve community facilities and services.****
***Eligibility:*****Government           Agencies, Non-profits, Businesses, People**.          Recipients of CDBG entitlement funds include local governments with           50,000 or more residents, other local governments designated as central           cities of metropolitan areas, and urban counties with populations of           at least 200,000 (excluding the population of entitled cities). Local           governments may carry out all activities themselves or award some or           all of the funds to private or public nonprofit organizations as well           as for-profit entities. A separate component of CDBG--the State CDBG           Program--provides program funds to the states, which they allocate among           localities that do not qualify as entitlement communities.********
*Description:* Since 1974, CDBG's have been the backbone of           improvement efforts in many communities, providing a flexible source           of annual grant funds for local governments nationwide--funds that they,           with the participation of local citizens, can devote to the activities           that best serve their own particular development priorities, provided           that these projects either (1) benefit low- and moderate-income persons;           (2) prevent or eliminate slums or blight; or (3) meet other urgent community           development needs. The CDBG Entitlement Communities program provides           assistance to almost 1000 of the largest localities in the country.        
Grantees may use CDBG funds for activities that include (but are           not limited to): Acquiring real property for public purposes; reconstructing           or rehabilitating housing and other property; building public facilities;           helping people prepare for and obtain employment through education and           job training; assisting for-profit businesses for special economic development           activities; providing public services for youths, seniors, or the disabled;           carrying out crime reduction; assisting low-income homebuyers; enforcing           local building codes; paying for planning and administrative expenses,           such as costs related to developing a Consolidated Plan and           managing CDBG funds.****
***Best Practices:*** Larger cities such as New           York City and Boston allocate $500,000 and $800,000, respectively, in           annual CDBG funds for community gardening efforts. Smaller cities like           Yonkers, NY, and East Lansing, MI, allocate $25,000 and $7,000, respectively,           to help support their community gardening programs. 
***Deadlines:*** None. The program year can begin           anytime from January 1 to October 1; consolidated plans are reviewed           within 45 days after submission. 
***Contact**:* The Office of Block Grant Assistance           in HUD's Office of Community Planning and Development (CPD) administers           the program. Contact: Entitlement Communities Division, Room 7282, 451           7th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20410, (202) 708-1577. http://www.hud.gov/cpd/cdbg.html
 For other program information, contact Community Connections (1-800-998-9999).           
********Chapter 3: Federal Nutrition Safety Net--*Strengthening         the Federalnutrition assistance safety net by supporting the full         and efficient use of programs such as food stamps, WIC, school meals,         summer feeding, and TEFAP commodities.***
**Summary**
Promoting food security for all American communities is a challenge           that requires the combined efforts of individual citizens, the private           sector, and the government at the local, state, and Federal levels.           Federal nutrition assistance programs, such as the Food Stamp Program,           Child Nutrition Programs, and Commodity Programs, are a vital part of           this strategy. Working with our state partners, Federal nutrition programs           represent a nutrition insurance safety net for millions of low-income           Americans. The Federal nutrition safety net, in coordination with nonprofit           food recovery and donation and local food production, provides the foundation           for the most universal and comprehensive form of anti-hunger food assistance.           One of every six Americans was served by the Department's nutrition           assistance programs in FY 1998. This chapter provides basic briefings           for federal and nonprofit programs relating to nutrition assistance           and education, feeding programs, food recovery, donations, and gleaning           for children, adults and the elderly. 
**Food Stamp Program**
***Why This Resource Is Useful**:* The Food Stamp           Program supplements low-income households' ability to purchase nutritious           food and is the foundation of USDA's nutrition safety net. ****
***Eligibility:* People.** The program is open           to eligible households. Food stamp eligibility and allotments are based           on household size and income, assets, and other factors. A household's           gross monthly income cannot exceed 130 percent of the Federal poverty           guidelines and its net income cannot can not exceed 100 percent of the           guidelines. All undocumented immigrants and many legal immigrants are           ineligible for food stamps benefits. A household is defined as a person,           or a group of people living together, who are not necessarily related           but who purchase and prepare food together. The allotment is based on           he cost of the Thrifty Food Plan, a low-cost model diet plan. 
***Description:***The Food Stamp Program is the           cornerstone of USDA's nutrition assistance programs. The program helps           low-income households increase their food purchasing power and obtain           a better diet. The current structure provides monthly coupons to eligible           low-income families which are redeemable at retail food stores or through           Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT). EBT allows a household to use a           debit card rather than coupons and can enhance program integrity by           creating an electronic record of food stamp transactions. The Food Stamp           Program is targeted towards those most in need. Most participating households           include children or an elderly member. Households may apply for benefits           at local social service offices and will be asked to provide information           about their financial circumstances. Once certified, most households           will continue to receive food stamps for 6 months or more. The Food           Stamp Program served an average of 17.7 million people in fiscal year           1999. 
***Best Practices:*** States and local offices           have instituted a number of practices to improve access to the Food           Stamp Program. The practices are varied and generally designed to meet           the needs of the population that a specific state or county serves.           Some practices, however, may be implemented across most states and/or           local offices, such as extended office hours to improve accessibility           for the working poor, walk-in procedures to minimize the wait to see           an eligibility worker, and drop boxes to help clients report changes.           FNS is working with States to compile and share best practices.         
****
*****Deadlines:***Food stamp benefits may           be obtained at any time during the year. 
***Contacts:***The program is managed directly           in each state by an agency of state government; a list of state food           stamp hotlines can be found at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/MENU/CONTACTS/hotlines.htm
National information can be obtained through the USDA Food and Nutrition           Service***:***
Food Stamp Program, FNS, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302         
For detailed program information: (703) 305-2026         
For General Food Stamp Information: 1-800-221-5689: Web site: www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/
WIC: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants,           and Children 
*Why This Resource Is Useful:*The WIC Program provides nutritious           food, nutrition education, and referrals to other healthcare and assistance           programs to low-income mothers, as well as their infants and young children.           
***Eligibility:*****People.** To           be eligible for WIC, an applicant must meet state residency requirements,           meet an income standard below 185 percent of poverty (or be a member           of a family in which certain members receive food stamps, Medicaid or           TANF), and have been determined by a health professional to be at nutritional           risk. 
***Program Description:***WIC is a grant program           whose goal is to improve the health of low-income, at- risk pregnant,           postpartum, and breast-feeding women, infants and children up to 5 years           old, by providing supplemental foods, nutrition education, and access           to health care. In most States, WIC participants receive vouchers that           allow them to purchase a monthly food package specially designed to           supplement their diets. The foods provided are high in protein, calcium,           iron, and vitamins A and C. WIC foods include iron-fortified infant           formula and infant cereal; iron-fortified adult cereal; vitamin C-rich           fruit or vegetable juice; eggs, milk, and cheese; and peanut butter,           dried beans, or peas. Special therapeutic formulas and foods are provided           when prescribed by a physician for a specified medical condition. A           few state agencies provide food directly to participants, but most states           provide WIC vouchers that can be redeemed at authorized food stores           for approved foods. WIC provides each state with a grant of funds to           serve its WIC population. Because of the documented success of the WIC           Program in improving the nutritional well-being of participants, it           has expanded significantly. In FY 1999, WIC served about 7.3 million           people each month. The appropriation for the WIC program in FY 2000           was $4.0 billion.         
****
***Best Practice:***The Cornerstone program of           the Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Community Health           and Prevention WIC Program is a management information system developed           and implemented to facilitate the integration and delivery of maternal           and child health services and to measure outcomes. Built on the need           for an advanced system that could effectively monitor these aspects           of the WIC Program, Cornerstone helps improve the operation of Family           Case Management, Prenatal Care, Pediatric Primary Care, Breast and Cervical           Cancer Screening, Diabetes Control, and Childhood Immunization programs.           An additional module for tracking services for children with developmental           disabilities is also being developed and will be implemented in the           near future. 
***Deadlines:*** None. Enrollment is all year round.****
***Contacts:***The program is managed directly           in each state, territory, or Indian Tribal Organization by the health           department or comparable entity of state, territorial, or tribal government.           However, national information can be obtained through USDA's Food and           Nutrition Service at the following address*:*****Patricia           N. Daniels, National Director, Supplemental Food Programs Division,           Food and Nutrition Service-USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 540, Alexandria,           VA 22302         
 Phone: (703) 305-2746; Web site:           http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/
WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) 
*Why This Resource Is Useful:*The WIC FMNP provides coupons           to low-income, at-risk women and children to purchase fresh fruits and           vegetables at farmers' markets to help improve their nutrition and to           increase the income of small farmers. 
***Eligibility**:***People.**Women,           children, and infants over 4 months old who participate in the WIC program           are eligible for FMNP benefits. Farmers who are certified by participating           states and Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs) and sell produce at farmers'           markets are eligible to redeem the coupons. 
***Description**:* The FMNP is affiliated with           the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children,           popularly known as WIC, which is administered by USDA's Food and Nutrition           Service (FNS). The program began as a 10-state demonstration project           in 1989 and was established as regular program in 1992 by Congress.           The FMNP has two goals: (1) to make locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables           available to low-income, nutritionally at-risk women, infants and children;           and (2) to expand awareness and use of farmers' markets and to support           local farmers who use such markets. State departments of health or agriculture,           other state agencies, ITOs, and territorial governments may apply to           USDA for Federal funds to operate the FMNP. Federal funds support 70           percent of the total cost of the program. Matching funds must come from           state, local, or private sources*.*A directory of FMNP contacts           for each state can be found at http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/MENU/CONTACTS/farm/farm.HTM
***Best Practices**:*States may use their own           funds to supplement Federal benefits or to provide coupons to non-WIC           populations, such as the elderly or disabled. A number of states and           ITOs develop nutrition education materials geared to produce consumption           and many farmers' market vendors provide storage and handling instructions           or recipes to help WIC participants effectively utilize unfamiliar fruits           and vegetables. **
***Deadlines**:* FMNP state plans are due to FNS           regional offices by November 30 each year. There are no deadlines that           apply directly to FMNP participants, but the program generally operates           between the months of April and October, depending on the regional climate           and growing season.         

***Contacts**:*The program is directly managed           in each state or Indian Tribal Organization by an agency of state or           tribal government. However, national information can be obtained through           the USDA Food and Nutrition Service: Supplemental Food Programs Division,           Food and Nutrition Service-USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria,           VA 22302 Phone: (703) 305-2730; http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/CONTENT/farmers/farm.htm           National Director: Patrica N. Daniels, (703) 305-2746         
The National Directory of Farmers' Markets, which includes information           on WIC participation, can be obtained on the Web at www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets           or by calling 800-384-8704.         
Also contact: National Association of Farmers' Market Nutrition Programs,           1001 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 901, Washington, DC 20036; phone:           (202) 331-7950; fax: (202) 331-7933; E-mail: [email protected]           Website: http://www.nafmnp.org/
**The National School Lunch Program**
***Why This Resource Is Useful:*** The National           School Lunch Program ensures that all American children receive a nutritious           meal at school, each school day. It provides nutrition education in           the classroom, and opportunities for children to practice the nutrition           skills they learn. 
***Eligibility:*****People.** Any           child, regardless of family income, can obtain a nutritious meal at           a school participating in the National School Lunch Program. Children           from families with incomes at or below 185 percent of the Federal poverty           line are eligible for reduced-price meals. Children from families with           income levels at or below 130 percent of the poverty level are eligible           to receive free meals. 
***Description:*** The school lunch program provides           nutritionally balanced low-cost or free lunches to more than 27 million           children each school day. More than 95,000 public and nonprofit private           schools and residential child care institutions participate. School           districts and independent schools that choose to take part in the lunch           program get cash subsidies and donated commodity foods from USDA for           each meal they serve. In return, they must serve lunches that meet Federal           nutrition standards, and they must offer free or reduced-price lunches           to eligible children. Reimbursable lunches must meet the recommendations           of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and provide one-third of the           Recommended Daily Allowances for protein, calcium, iron, Vitamin A,           Vitamin C, and calories. All meals are eligible for reimbursement; USDA           pays the highest rate of reimbursement for meals served to children           who qualify for free meal benefits. 
***Best Practices:*** The school food service in           Hawthorne, CA, goes the extra mile to make sure every student is provided           the best nutritional choices. The school food service knows that all           the hard work put into student taste panels, special events, and greater           healthy food selections will not be effective if children do not believe           that the quality of the meals offered is high. Marketing of school meals           is a priority, and a key to the success of the Hawthorne School District's           food service program. Participation has been rising as students indulge           in healthy, great-tasting meals that reflect their own tastes and preferences.           The school district has improved customer service and access with electronic           points of sale and a family-centered enrollment process. 
***Deadlines:*** School lunch benefits may be obtained           at any time during the year. 
***Contacts:*** The National School Lunch Program           is administered by the education agency in most states. To locate the           administering agency in your state, check:         
http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Contacts/StateDirectory.htm
You can also obtain information about school lunches from the:         
Child Nutrition Division Food and Nutrition Service-USDA 3101 Park           Center Drive Alexandria, Virginia 22302 (703) 305-2746         
http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Lunch/Default.htm
**School Breakfast Program**
***Why This Resource Is Useful***: The School Breakfast           Program gives children the nutritious start they need to learn and grow.           
***Eligibility:*****People**. Any           child, regardless of family income, can obtain a nutritious breakfast           at a school participating in the School Breakfast Program. Children           from families with incomes at or below 185 percent of the Federal poverty           level are eligible for reduced-price breakfasts. Children from families           with incomes at or below 130 percent of the poverty level are eligible           for free breakfasts. 
***Description:*** At more than 68,000 schools,           6.9 million children start their day with breakfast at school through           the School Breakfast Program. Children in public schools, nonprofit           private schools, or residential child care institutions receive their           meals free or at low cost because USDA provides cash reimbursements,           and commodity foods, for every breakfast served. Breakfasts served at           school must meet the recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans,           and provide one-fourth of the daily recommended levels for calories           and key nutrients. 
***Best Practices:*** In 1999, the State of Minnesota           committed $6 million to "Fast Break to Learning"--a universal school           breakfast program aimed at feeding breakfast to all elementary school           children, at little or no charge, so that nutrition is fully integrated           into the school day. A 3-year study of schools piloting the initiative           showed dramatically sustained participation, significant improvement           in behavior, fewer visits to the nurse's office, and higher test scores.           Forty-one elementary schools now offer breakfast at school to every           student. A state targeted breakfast grant (that requires a local match           of $1 for every $3 in state aid) along with the USDA reimbursement,           provide the funding. The initiative represents a true collaboration           of local, state, and Federal resources. 
***Deadlines:*** School breakfast benefits may           be obtained at any time during the year. 
***Contact***: The School Breakfast Program is           administered by the education agency in most states. To locate the administering           agency in your state, check: http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Contacts/StateDirectory.htm
You can also obtain information about school breakfast from:         
Les Johnson, Director of Food Distribution Division         
Child Nutrition Division Food and Nutrition Service-USDA 3101 Park           Center Drive Alexandria, Virginia 22302 (703) 305-2680 Website: http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Breakfast/Default.htm
**National Food Service Management Institute**
*Why This Resource Is Useful:* This program assists Child Nutrition           Program cooperators through technical assistance and training in food           service management for school, child care, and summer feeding program           meals. ****
***Eligibility:*CNP Cooperators.****NFSMI           provides technical assistance and training to Child Nutrition Program           cooperators through a grant agreement with the Food and Nutrition Service           (FNS). These cooperators include state agency personnel who administer           the Child Nutrition Programs, school food authorities, and local school           and district office personnel including National School Lunch (NSLP)           and Breakfast Programs (SBP) staff and teachers. NFSMI also offers technical           assistance and training opportunities for state and local staff administering           the Child and Adult Care and Summer Food Service Programs.****
****
***Program Description:***Congress established           the National Food Service Management Institute (NFSMI) in 1989 at the           University of Mississippi in Oxford. The mission of NFSMI is to provide           information and services that promote the continuous improvement of           Child Nutrition Programs. The vision of NFSMI is to be a leader in providing           education, research, and resources to promote excellence in the Child           Nutrition Programs. The programs and services that NFSMI offers child           nutrition cooperators are: -  Quality publications appropriate for child nutrition personnel             at an affordable price;
-  Applied research for development of effective child nutrition management             practices;
-  Workshops and seminars for training child nutrition personnel;
-  National network of trainers; 
-  Training materials developed for states for resale;
-  Education and training standards and materials;
-  Free training and information teleconferences through Nutrition             Satellite Network;
-  Clearinghouse for information retrieval and dissemination (to include             FNS-produced materials); 
-  Technical assistance through a toll-free help line.

 In addition to the appropriated grant funds, each year Congress appropriates           funds for cooperative agreements between FNS and NFSMI. FNS and NFSMI           collaborate as to how these funds can be best used to meet the needs           of the Child Nutrition Program cooperators. In most instances, these           funds are used to conduct training and develop resource materials. CNP           Web site: http://fns1.usda.gov/cnd/
***Contacts***: U.S. Department of Agriculture,           Food and Nutrition Service, Child Nutrition Division 3101 Park Center           Drive, Room 1006 Alexandria, VA 22302, (703) 305-2746, www.fns.usda.gov
NFSMI Web site: http://www.nfsmi.org/
**Summer Food Service Program**
***Why This Resource Is Useful:*** The Summer Food           Service Program helps children get the nutrition they need to learn,           play, and grow throughout the summer months and other periods when school           is not in session. 
***Eligibility:*****People.** Children           and teenagers, 18 years and younger, may receive free meals and snacks           at approved sites in low-income areas. Meals and snacks are also available           to persons with disabilities, over age 18, who participate in eligible           educational programs. At most sites, children receive either one or           two reimbursable meals each day. Camps and sites that primarily serve           migrant children may serve up to three meals to each child, each day.           
***Description:***The Summer Food Service Program           was created to ensure that children in lower-income areas could continue           to receive nutritious meals during long school vacations, when they           do not have access to lunch or breakfast at school. However, in many           communities, the program is unavailable or underutilized. Although nearly           14 million children depend on nutritious free and reduced-price meals           at school for 9 months out of the year, only about 2.3 million receive           summer meals. Schools, public agencies, and private nonprofit organizations           that sponsor the program receive payments from USDA for serving healthy           meals and snacks to children at approved sites in low-income areas.           All sponsors receive training before starting the program to learn how           to plan, operate, and monitor a successful food service program. 
***Best Practices:*** The City of Sacramento, CA,           and the nonprofit Sacramento Hunger Commission demonstrate how public-private           partnerships can work together so that more children have access to           nutritious summer meals. During its first 10 years as a program sponsor,           the City of Sacramento saw modest increases in participation. In 1993           the city government launched a partnership with the Sacramento Hunger           Commission. Since then, the number of lunches served has increased from           less than 129,000 to more than 310,000 in 1998, and the average daily           participation has grown 144 percent. More and more residents and community           agencies--like the county recreation departments, Boys and Girls Clubs,           Head Start, Healthy Start, and Police Athletic Leagues--have been contributing           their time and resources to promote and expand the Summer Food Service           Program. 
***Deadlines:*** Potential sponsors must apply           annually. Applications must be submitted by June 15, or even earlier           if required by the administering agency. 
***Contacts*****:** The Summer Food           Service Program is administered by the education agency in most states.           In some States, the health or social service department or an FNS regional           office may be designated. To locate the administering agency in your           state, check:         
http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Summer/Contacts/StateAgencies.htm
You can also obtain information about summer meals from:         
Child Nutrition Programs Division, Food and Nutrition Service-USDA,           3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, Virginia 22302, (703) 305-2680 Les           Johnson, Director of Food Distribution Division http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Summer/AboutSFSP/Default.htm
**Nutrition Program for the Elderly**
***Why This Resource Is Useful:***The Nutrition           Program for the Elderly (NPE) provides nutrition assistance to the elderly.******
***Eligibility:*People.****Age is the           only factor used in determining eligibility. People age 60 or older           and their spouses, regardless of age, are eligible for NPE benefits.           There is no income requirement to receive meals. ****
***Description:***
The Nutrition Program for the Elderly (NPE) provides elderly persons           with nutritious meals through Meals-on-Wheels programs or in senior           citizen centers and similar settings. The NPE is administered by the           U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and receives about           a quarter of its total financial support and commodity foods from USDA           under provisions of the Older Americans Act of 1965. USDA provided reimbursement           for more than 21 million meals a month in FY 1999. Congress appropriated           $140 million to USDA for NPE in 2000.****
Each recipient can contribute as much as he or she wants towards the           cost of the meal, but meals are free to those who cannot make any contribution.           Under NPE, USDA provides cash reimbursements and/or commodity foods           to organizations that provide meals through DHHS programs. Meals served           must meet a specific percentage of the Recommended Dietary Allowances           in order to qualify for cash or commodity assistance.****
***Deadlines:***None ****
***Contacts*:**The program is directly managed           in each state by an agency of state government. However, national information           can be obtained through the USDA Food and Nutrition Service: 
Food Distribution Division         
Food and Nutrition Service-USDA         
3101 Park Center Drive         
Alexandria, VA 22302         
(703) 305-2680 
Department of Health and Human Services - Administration on Aging         
200 Independence Ave, SW; Washington, DC 20210, (202) 619-2005 or 1-800-696-6775           http://www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/MENU/APPLICANTS/ELDERLY/npehom.htm
**Afterschool Care Snacks for At-Risk Children**
***Why This Resource Is Useful:*** After-school           snacks give children a nutritional boost and draw them into supervised           activities that are safe, fun, and filled with learning opportunities.           
***Eligibility:*****People.** School-aged           children through age 18, who participate in programs that provide structured           educational or enrichment activities after the end of their school day,           are eligible for afterschool care snacks. 
***Description:***Nutritious snacks for children           in afterschool care programs are available to school districts in the           National School Lunch Program, and to public or private nonprofit community           organizations through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).           Afterschool care programs must provide educational or enrichment activities           for school-age children in a structured, supervised environment. USDA           payments for snacks are targeted at school districts and organizations           that sponsor afterschool care programs in low-income areas. **
***Best Practices:*** Project Hope makes afterschool           time at Desert Horizon Elementary School meaningful, rewarding, and           fun for each child. The program, for school-age children in kindergarten           through eighth grade in Phoenix, AZ, focuses on each child's sense of           self-value, confidence, and respect for others. The snack program provides           food at a time when most children are hungry and have no where else           to go for a healthy snack. Snacks are served family-style to provide           a homelike atmosphere. Frequently, teachers help children make their           own snacks, conduct taste tests, and hold discussions about where food           comes from and the benefits of the nutrients found in the snacks. 
***Deadlines**:* Afterschool care snack benefits           may be obtained at any time during the school year. 
***Contacts**:* Afterschool care snacks are available           through the CACFP administering agency and the state agency that administers           the National School Lunch Program. To locate the administering agency           in your state, check: http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Contacts/StateDirectory.htm.         
You can also obtain information about afterschool care snacks from           the:         
Child Nutrition Division         
Food and Nutrition Service-USDA         
3101 Park Center Drive         
Alexandria, Virginia 22302 (703) 305-2680         
Les Johnson, Director of Food Distribution Division         
http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Afterschool/default.htm
**Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)**
***Why This Resource Is Useful**:* CACFP provides           nutritious meals and snacks to children and adults, and plays a vital           role in improving the quality and affordability of day care. Homeless           children living in shelters can also receive CACFP meals. 
***Eligibility**:***People.** Children           age 12 and younger are eligible to receive up to two meals and one snack           each day at a day care home or center through CACFP. Children who reside           in homeless shelters may receive up to three meals each day. Migrant           children age 15 and younger, and persons with disabilities regardless           of their age, are also eligible for CACFP. Children through age 18 who           participate in afterschool care programs in low-income areas are eligible           for one snack each day. Adult participants must be functionally impaired           or age 60 or older, and enrolled in an adult care center where they           may receive up to two CACFP meals and one reimbursable snack each day.           
***Description**:*CACFP benefits children and           adults with nutritious meals and snacks and, with the licensing or approval           required to participate in the program, better quality day care. Public           or private nonprofit centers, Head Start programs, family day care homes,           and some for-profit centers and homeless shelters get cash subsidies           and donated commodity foods from USDA for serving meals and snacks that           meet Federal guidelines. The meal reimbursements enable day care facilities           to keep their fees lower, thus helping to make day care more affordable           for many low-income families. USDA provides different levels of reimbursement           for center and home-based day care. Meals served to children and adults           from families with incomes at or below 185 percent of the Federal poverty           level are reimbursed at higher payment rates. Higher payments are also           paid to day care homes in low-income areas and to low-income day care           home providers. 
***Best Practices:***Child nutrition programs           like CACFP are one way we promise our children that we will work for           their improved health and better future. CACFP combines resources, training,           and accountability to support quality child care in almost a quarter           of a million licensed and approved child care centers and family day           care homes. With the incentives created by welfare reform for families           to move from welfare to work, we have made a strong commitment to improve           child care in America so that it serves the whole child and reaches           all children, particularly low-income children.         
Through CACFP, 2.5 million children and 58,000 adults receive nutritious           meals and snacks, each day, as part of their day care.         
***Deadlines**:* CACFP benefits may be obtained           at any time during the year. 
***Contacts:*** CACFP is administered by the state           education agency in most states. To locate the administering agency           in your state, check: http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/care/Contacts/StateDirectory.htm.         
You can also obtain information about CACFP from:         
Child Nutrition Programs Division; Food and Nutrition Service-USDA;           3101 Park Center Drive;         
Alexandria, Virginia 22302; Stan Garnett, Director of Child Nutrition           Division; (703) 305-2590         
http://fns1.usda.gov/cnd/Care/CACFP/cacfphome.htm
**The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)**
***Why This Resource Is Useful:*** TEFAP allows           anti-hunger organizations like food banks to provide nutritious food           to low-income individuals and families. 
***Eligibility:* People**. Each State sets its           own income limits for household eligibility to receive TEFAP food for           home use.****
***Description:***The Emergency Food Assistance           Program (TEFAP) provides food assistance to needy Americans through           the distribution of USDA commodities. Under TEFAP, commodity foods are           made available by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to states for distribution           to organizations that provide them to low-income households for consumption,           and to organizations that use them in congregate meal service for the           needy, including the homeless. States provide the food to local agencies           that they have selected. TEFAP first began in 1981 when there were large           amounts of surplus commodities available for distribution. In response           to the decrease in the amount of surplus commodities, the 1988 Hunger           Prevention Act required the Secretary of Agriculture not only to distribute           surplus foods, but also to purchase additional food for further distribution           to needy households. Congress appropriated $98 million for the purchase           of TEFAP commodities and $45 million in administration and distribution           funding for fiscal year 2000. 
***Best Practice:***TEFAP has provided billions           of pounds of food since its beginning. More than 1 billion pounds, valued           at $846 million, was distributed at the program's height in 1987. In           1999, more than 361 million pounds of food, worth more than $225 million,           was distributed. 
***Deadlines:*** None****
***Contact:***The program is directly managed           in each state by an agency of state government. ****However,           national information can be obtained through the USDA Food and Nutrition           Service(FNS): 
Les Johnson, Director         
USDA, Food Distribution Division, Food and Nutrition Service         
3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302, Phone: (703) 305-2680;         
Website: http://www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/MENU/APPLICANTS/EMERGENCY/efaphom.htm
For more information, please request the state TEFAP distributing agency           directory****from FNS.****
**Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)**
***Why This Resource Is Useful:***This program           provides nutritious food supplements/assistance for many Tribal groups           struggling to eliminate hunger. 
***Eligibility:*****People, Tribes**.           To participate in FDPIR, the household must meet Federal income requirements,           have assets within specified limits, and be located near or on an Indian           reservation. 
***Description:***This program provides commodity           foods to low-income households, including the elderly, living on Indian           reservations, and to Native American families residing in designated           areas near reservations. Each participating household receives a monthly           food package that weights 50-75 pounds and contains a wide variety of           foods. Many Native Americans participate in the FDPIR as an alternative           to the Food Stamp Program, usually because they do not have easy access           to food stores. An average of nearly 120,000 Native Americans received           food through FDPIR each month in 1997. The program is administered at           the Federal level by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service in cooperation           with 98 Indian Tribal Organizations and 6 state agencies. USDA donates           a variety of commodities to help participants maintain a balanced diet.           These commodities include canned meats and fish products; vegetables,           fruits and juices; dried beans; peanuts/peanut butter; milk, butter           and cheese; pasta, flour and grains; corn syrup, vegetable oil, and           shortening.**
***Best Practices:*** The Mountain Plains Region           Advisory Committee, composed of directors and staff from six Tribes           in the region, created of a series of seven videotapes, made in cooperation           with the media director at Salish Kootenai College on the Flathead Reservation           in Montana. The videos feature instruction on proper handling, storage,           and use of commodities as well as presenting an effective cooking demonstration.           Designed to be shown in the waiting areas of commodity warehouses, the           videos have proven to be so popular that program participants are bringing           family members with them just for a viewing when picking up commodities.           In addition, other facilities, such as diabetes clinics, have expressed           an interest in having the videos shown in their waiting areas. This           was an important first step in developing a professional partnership           with other health organizations on the reservations. 
***Deadlines:*** Applications are accepted year-round.****
***Contacts***: The program is directly managed           in each state by an agency of state government. However, national information           can be obtained through the USDA Food and Nutrition Service***:***
Les Johnson, Director         
USDA, Food Distribution Division, Food and Nutrition Service         
3101 Park Center Drive Alexandria, VA 22302, Phone: (703) 305-2680;         
Web site: http://www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/MENU/SCHOOLS/INDIAN/fdpirhom.htm
**Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)**
***Why This Resource Is Useful:***
The CSFP provides nutritious foods to low-income pregnant and breastfeeding           women, postpartum new mothers, infants, children, and the elderly. 
***Eligibility:*****People.** Women,           infants, children, and the elderly must reside in one of the eligible           states or on one of the Indian reservations that participate in CSFP.           Women, infants, and children must meet income eligibility requirements           established by the state, while elderly persons must have income at           or below 130 percent of the Federal poverty income guidelines. States           may also establish local residency requirements based on designated           service areas. States may also require that participants be at nutritional           risk. Risk assessment can be based on a variety of measures, including           height and weight measurements and blood tests. Examples of nutritional           risk conditions include anemia and inappropriate weight for height.           
***Description:*** Along with nutrition education           information, participants receive monthly food packages targeted to           the nutritional needs of their specific group, such as pregnant or postpartum           women, infants, children, or the elderly. Food packages include a variety           of foods such as infant formula and cereal, nonfat dry and evaporated           milk, juice, farina, oats, ready-to-eat cereal, rice, pasta, egg mix,           peanut butter, dry beans or peas, canned meat or poultry or tuna, and           canned fruits and vegetables. Congress appropriated $88.3 million for           CSFP in fiscal year 2000. For FY 1999, the appropriation was $86 million.           More than 380,000 people each month participated in the program in FY           1999, including more than 269,000 elderly people and more than 112,000           women, infants, and children. 
***Deadlines:*** State agencies must submit a state           plan, or state plan amendments, by August 15 to be able to participate           in the following fiscal year. 
***Contacts:***The program is administered by           state agencies such as departments of health, social services, education,           or agriculture. State agencies store the food and distribute it to public           and nonprofit private local agencies. However, national information           can be obtained through the USDA Food and Nutrition Service: 
Food Distribution Division         
Food and Nutrition Service-USDA         
3101 Park Center Drive         
Alexandria, VA 22302 (703) 305-2680         
http://www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/MENU/APPLICANTS/SUPPLEMENTAL/csfphom.htm
For more information, please ask the Food and Nutrition Service for           the state CSFP distributing agency directory.         
**_____________________________________________**
**Chapter 4: Food Recovery and Donations--**
***Bolstering supplemental food provided by nonprofit groups           by aiding food recovery, gleaning, and food donation programs*.**
**Summary**
Although the level of food security provided by the Federal nutrition           safety net may be adequate to provide the foundation for community food           security, the nonprofit sector in recent years has developed a very           structured food assistance system which includes food recovery, gleaning,           food donations, and other forms of nutrition assistance. The organizations           that comprise this aspect of community food assistance include food           banks, shelters, food pantries, religious organizations, brown bag clubs,           and many other community-based grass-roots anti-hunger efforts. These           organizations provide millions of pounds of supplemental food at the           local level for our Nation's poor and hungry. Recently, many of these           organizations have reported an increase in the demand for food by the           working poor and many low-income families dealing with the complex realities           of welfare reform. 
**Nonperishable, Processed Food Collection: Food Banks**
***Why This Resource Is Useful:*** Food Banks           across America distribute food both to organizations which feed the           hungry, and directly to those in need. 
***Eligibility:*****Nonprofit organizations,**           Local charitable hunger-relief agencies, including food pantries, soup           kitchens, women's shelters, Kids' Cafes, and other organizations that           provide emergency food assistance**.**
***Description:*** Most Food Banks are members           of America's Second Harvest, the largest hunger-relief organization           in the United States. Founded in 1979, Second Harvest's mission is to           feed hungry people by soliciting and distributing food and grocery products           through a nationwide network of certified affiliate food banks, and           to educate the public about the nature of hunger in America. The Second           Harvest Foodchain network of over 300 regional food banks serves all           50 states and Puerto Rico by distributing food and grocery products           to approximately 50,000 local charitable hunger-relief agencies. Last           year, Second Harvest distributed 1 billion pounds of food and grocery           products, providing emergency food assistance to more than 26 million           hungry Americans, including 8 million children and 4 million seniors.****
***Best Practices:***-  Kids' Café.   In 1989, Second Harvest Food             Bank of Coastal Georgia opened the first soup kitchen in the nation             exclusively for children. Four years later, Second Harvest officially             launched a national program called Kids' Café. Kids' Café             is now the Nation's largest charitable meal service of its kind. Second             Harvest food banks operate nearly 200 Kids' Cafes in more than 50             U.S. cities. Each Kids' Café also provides valuable training             in nutrition, and more than 70 percent of Kids' Cafes provide tutoring             and homework assistance. 
-  Community Garden Program  ­ South Plains Food             Bank, Lubbock, Texas. Lubbock Green is a community garden program             targeted at women which provides land, tools, water, seeds, and education             for clients to grow fresh food to feed their families. A new component,             the Market Garden, was established in 1997 to help low-income families             to grow enough food to feed their families and still have enough excess             to market. 

***Deadlines:*** These services can generally be           accessed throughout the year, although local affiliated programs may           have their own yearly or monthly deadlines for select services. 
***Contacts***: Locations of local food banks are           listed in appendix B of the*Citizens' Guide to Food Recovery*           available at the Web site:         
http://www.fns.usda.gov/fns/MENU/gleaning/SUPPORT/CitzGuide/CONTENT.HTM
America's Second Harvest, 116 South Michigan Avenue, Suite 4, Chicago,           Illinois 60603         
Phone: (312) 263-2303 x116; Web site: www.secondharvest.org
**Perishable and Prepared Food-Rescue**
***Why This Resource Is Useful:*** This organization           assists those involved in or wishing to begin perishable and prepared           food rescue programs or donations, and matches donors to member programs           that will use the gleaned or rescued food. 
***Eligibility:*****Any interested party**
***Description:*** Foodchain was previously the           largest food-rescue operation in the country. In April 2000, Foodchain           merged with America's Second Harvest; the organization now includes           over 300 member programs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia,           and Puerto Rico. A network of prepared and perishable food rescue programs,           Foodchain opened its doors in November 1992 with a staff of one. Membership           requires organizations to comply with the network's food safety and           donation guidelines. In 1997, Foodchain programs distributed more than           150 million pounds of food to 12,000 agencies. The organization provides           technical assistance and marketing support, and matches donors to member           programs. 
Generally, member programs operate in one of three ways: (1) Facilitating           foodservice operations directly donating food to nonprofit groups; (2)           physically picking up and distributing food to feeding sites; and (3)           picking up and re-processing food centrally before re-distributing it.           
America's Second Harvest is also playing a leading national role in           expanding its "Community Kitchens" Initiative , which trains the unemployed           in professional kitchen skills while they re-prepare donated food into           balanced meals. (Please see the Community Kitchens entry in Chapter           2 for more information.) 
***Deadlines:*** These services can generally be           accessed throughout the year, although local affiliated programs may           have their own yearly or monthly deadlines for select services. 
***Contact:*** Locations of local America's Second           Harvest/Foodchain affiliate programs and other food rescue programs           are listed in appendix B of the*Citizens' Guide to Food Recovery*           available at the Web site: http://www.fns.usda.gov/fns/MENU/gleaning/SUPPORT/CitzGuide/CONTENT.HTM
National Contact: America's Second Harvest,         
 116 South Michigan Avenue         
 Suite 4, Chicago, Illinois 60603         
 Phone: (312) 263-2303 x116;         
 Web site: www.secondharvest.org
**Perishable Produce Rescue or Salvage:**
**From the Wholesaler to the Hungry**
***Why This Resource Is Useful:*** From the Wholesaler           to the Hungry helps cities establish programs to direct large donations           of fresh fruits and vegetables to community agencies. 
***Eligibility:*****Nonprofit organizations.**           Any U.S.-based nonprofit food distribution program that, (1) distributes           food to agencies (not individuals); (2) has IRS 501(c)(3) certification;           (3) makes food available to a broad spectrum of community agencies without           regard to the agencies' functions or membership in terms of religious,           ethnic, racial, age, or gender characteristics. Any program that serves           individuals directly is **not** eligible.****
***Description:*** In 1987, Mickey Weiss,           a retired produce wholesaler, was visiting his son at the Los Angeles           Wholesale Market. He watched as a forklift hoisted 200 flats of ripe,           red raspberries, raspberries that had not been sold that day, and crushed           them into a dumpster! Weiss' retirement didn't last long. Working out           of donated office space at the market, he enlisted student volunteers           to call community kitchens, while he persuaded friends in the produce           business to "put good food to good use." To make his dream a reality,           he formed a team that included the Los Angeles Wholesale Produce Market           and the Los Angeles County Department of Agriculture. Today, Mickey           Weiss' Charitable Distribution Facility distributes more than 2 million           pounds of produce a month to emergency feeding programs throughout southern           California. In 1991, Susan Evans and Peter Clarke joined forces with           Weiss. Wanting to replicate his concept nationwide, they designed a           systematic consultation process to help cities begin their own fresh           produce operations. They offer free technical advice and have helped           launch 86 programs across the country. 
***Deadlines:*** These services are accessible           throughout the year. There are no deadlines. 
**National Contact**: Peter Clarke and Susan Evans, From           the Wholesaler to the Hungry, Institute for Health Promotion and Disease           Prevention, University of Southern California School of Medicine, 1540           Alcazar Street, CHP 208, Los Angeles, CA 90089-9008, (323) 442-2613,           fax (310) 395-4078. 
Locations of local affiliate programs are listed in appendix B of the*Citizens' Guide to Food Recovery* available at the Web site:         
http://www.fns.usda.gov/fns/MENU/gleaning/SUPPORT/CitzGuide/CONTENT.HTM
**Field Gleaning:****Society of St. Andrew**
***Why This Resource Is Useful:***The Society           of St. Andrew takes excess produce from farmers or packers; this food           is given to food banks, soup kitchens, and food pantries free of charge.           
***Eligibility:*****Nonprofit Organizations**
***Description:*** The Society of St. Andrew,           which is the Nation's leading field gleaning organization, rescues over           20 million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables yearly that would normally           be discarded. The produce is taken as a charitable donation at growers'           packing and grading sheds or gleaned directly from farmers' fields.           Produce is delivered to food banks, soup kitchens, and food pantries           free of charge through the national Potato Project program and local           gleaning networks. Since 1979, the Society has gleaned 200 million pounds           of fresh fruits and vegetables that were then distributed to feeding           agencies throughout the United States. The Society has offices in Virginia,           North Carolina, Mississippi, Texas, and Florida. (See appendix B.) 
***Deadlines:*** These services can generally be           accessed throughout the year, although local affiliated programs may           have their own yearly or monthly deadlines for select services. 
***Contact:*** Locations of local Foodchain affiliate           programs are listed in appendix B of the*Citizens' Guide to Food           Recovery* available at the Web site:         
http://www.fns.usda.gov/fns/MENU/gleaning/SUPPORT/CitzGuide/CONTENT.HTM
National contact: Society of St. Andrew, 3383 Sweet Hollow Road, Big           Island, Virginia, 24526, Phone: (800) 333-4597. 
**USDA Food Recovery and Gleaning Initiative**
***Description**:* USDA has made food recovery           and gleaning a top priority. The Department is seeking to encourage,           energize, and provide technical assistance to existing and new private,           nonprofit, and corporate food recovery and gleaning efforts. Under this           initiative, the Department co-sponsored, along with national nonprofit           groups, the first-ever National Summit on Food Recovery and Gleaning.           This conference set a national goal of increasing by 33 percent the           amount of food recovered and gleaned by the year 2000 (over the 1998           base-line of 1.5 billion pounds)-- an additional 500 million pounds           of food a year--enough to provide about 450,000 people with the equivalent           of three additional meals a day. USDA also provided guidance to state           agencies that administer The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)           on how they can use TEFAP administrative funds to support the processing,           transportation, and packaging of foods donated through food recovery           and gleaning projects. Since the program's inception, USDA has sponsored           or facilitated field gleaning projects in 29 states; these projects           collected and distributed over 2 million pounds of fresh produce. There           are four main grant and fund providers under this program. Each is listed           below. 
***Contacts:***
**1. National Hunger Clearinghouse: World Hunger Year--**The           National Hunger Clearinghouse is a program of World Hunger Year under           contract with USDA. Its major emphases are gleaning and food recovery           and answering the USDA Food Recovery Hotline: "1-800-GLEAN-IT"; however,           the mission is much broader, providing information about numerous efforts           to fight hunger across America. Included is information on hunger, nutrition,           food security, sustainable agriculture, model anti-poverty programs           promoting self-reliance, and volunteer opportunities. The Clearinghouse           database already has thousands of organizations listed, from soup kitchens           to restaurants. **Contact:** the National Hunger Clearinghouse,           World Hunger Year, 505 Eight Avenue, 21st Floor, New York,           NY 10018, 1-800-GLEAN-IT, or (212) 629-8850, ext. 151; fax (212) 496-9274.           E-mail: [email protected]
2. **USDA Farm Service Agency--**Each state office of           the Farm Service Agency has appointed one staff member to coordinate           field gleaning activities state-wide and to help food recovery and gleaning           groups connect with farmers, ranchers, and orchard owners. **Contact:**           your state coordinator (see appendix A, link to www.ree.usda.gov/food-security/foodshp.htm           , or call the national coordinator: Sue Rourk King, (816) 926-6189,           fax (816) 926-6189). 
**3. Cooperative Extension Service (CES) -**-This system           is composed of USDA-affiliated programs at the land-grant universities           in each state. CES helps diverse agencies and community- based groups           work together to establish local hunger programs, promote food safety           and proper nutrition, and aid food recovery and gleaning programs.         
**Contact:** List of state or local coordinators at http://www.pwd.reeusda.gov/pwd/pcontactlist.asp
**4. USDA Community Food Security Initiative**- This           initiative provides Federal support to grassroots community food security           efforts, including food recovery and gleaning activities. This initiative           can provide information on all resources of the Federal government,           including USDA, that can be used for food recovery and gleaning activities.           **Contact**: Joel Berg, (202) 720-5746 or [email protected].         
http://www.reeusda.gov/food_security/foodshp.htm
**Kids Cafes**
***Why this Resource Is Useful:***Children who           might not have enough to eat at home can receive a nutritious meal,           afterschool supervision, and educational assistance all in a safe and           friendly atmosphere. ****
***Eligibility:* Any Interested Party.**There           are children in need in virtually every community in America.****
****
***Description:*** Kids Cafe, a program of America's           Second Harvest, is the Nation's largest charitable meal service and           nutrition education program exclusively for needy children. The program           helps to alleviate the problem of childhood hunger by providing safe           havens where kids can go to get a square meal. Kids Cafes serve children           of all ages and are located in places where they naturally congregate           after school, such as Boys & Girls Clubs, religious institutions,           and community recreation centers. By example and education focusing           on wholesome meals, the goal of Kids Café is to feed and educate           today's needy children to better enable them to become self-sufficient           adults of the future. 
Currently, nearly 200 Kids Cafe sites are operating through the efforts           of 55 America's Second Harvest food banks in 21 states. To expand the           reach of the Kids Cafe program, ConAgra's Feeding Children Better program           has become the national sponsor and is committed to opening 75-100 new           Kids Cafe sites over the next 3 years.****
***Best Practice:***San Francisco's first Kids           Café, located in the Bayview Hunters Point Community Center,           serves a neighborhood that has one of the highest rates of childhood           poverty in the city. By opening the Cafe in the community center, the           San Francisco Food Bank is able to add an essential service to an already           vital and unique program. The Kids Cafe not only provides nearly 100           kids with a well-balanced evening meal, but also offers the opportunity           for kids to learn about cooking, nutrition, and food safety. The Bayview           Hunters Point Community Center provides children with afterschool programming           in science and technology, art, dance, ceramics, and academic tutoring.           Now, the kids who visit the center can also sign up to be amateur chefs,           helping to prepare and serve meals. 
***Deadlines:***Kids Cafes can be established           any time of year, contact your closest America's Second Harvest Food           Bank to generate interest and establish the best time for your community.****
***Contacts:*** For information about local Kids           Cafes, contact an America's Second Harvest Food Bank in your area. A           listing of food banks is available online at http://www.secondharvest.org/foodbanks/foodbanks.html
National Office: America's Second Harvest           116 S. Michigan Ave., #4           Chicago, IL 60603           ph: (312) 263-2303 Mary Joe Schnell, Program Director (ext. 164)         
http://www.secondharvest.org/
__________________________________________
Chapter 5: Community Food Production and Marketing -*-Improving           community food production and marketing by aiding projects that grow,           process and distribute food locally.*
Summary**
USDA community food production and marketing activities assist projects           that grow, process, and distribute food locally. As is often the case           in food-insecure communities, few community residents have the skills,           orientation, or tools needed to produce their own food and many must           travel significant distances ­ often without the help of appropriate           transportation -- to purchase the freshest foods at the lowest prices.           USDA community food production and marketing efforts often play critical           roles in improving community food security by linking low-income individuals           and families with low-cost food resources. Such activities also can           allow even the lowest-income families to produce and utilize nutritious,           affordable food. 
**{Note: The WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program -- the           largest single program directing aiding farmers' markets, is listed           in this guide under: "Chapter 3: Federal Nutrition Safety Net"}**
**Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP)**
***Why This Resource Is Important:*** Money           is available to help state agencies market agricultural products.
***Eligibility***: **State agencies**.
***Description***: The USDA's FSMIP provides           matching funds, on a competetive basis, to state departments of Agriculture           or similar state agencies to conduct studies or develop innovative approaches           related to the marketing of agricultural products. Federal funds in           the amount of $1.2 million have been provided for this program in the           Department of Agriculture budget in recent years.
FSMIP funds can be requested for a wide range of research and service           work aimed at improving the marketing system or identifying new market           opportunities for food and other agricultural projects. States are especially           encouraged to develop projects that will benefit small, limited-resource           farmers, including projects involving partnership arrangements with           producer groups and community-based organizations interested in pursuing           local or regional food-system strategies.
Funding is not authorized for advertising or promotion. Nor is FSMIP           designed to support long-term, basic research or, with limited exceptions,           to purchase equipment or facilities. 
***Best Practices:*** New York--$42,500 was           awarded in 1999 to assist small farms in central New York in marketing           specialty meat and poultry products, including the establishment of           a producers' marketing association.
California--$50,000 was awarded in 1998 to identify alternative           market opportunities for wild salmon and to develop innovative marketing           strategies for small, independent fishermen and dockside seafood buyers.
Montana--$90,000 was awarded over a two-year period to investigate           the market potential for flour and products made from Indian Ricegrass,           to provide the Great Plains region with a new, high-value grain crop.           
***Deadlines:*** Funds are allocated on the           basis of two rounds of competition annually, with approximately one-half           of the FSMIP appropriation involved in each round. While submission           deadlines vary from year to year, proposals generally must be received           by late January for consideration during the first round of fund allocations           and by early May. Successful applicants can expect to have project approvals           in place by May 15 for first-round applications and by September 1 for           second-round allotments.
***Contacts***: Lists of past projects and funding,           and other information can be viewed on the Internet at www.ams.usda.gov/tmd/fsmip.htm
For more information, contact:
Larry V. Summers, FSMIP Staff Officer          Transportation and Marketing Programs          Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA 
P. O. Box 96456, Room 4006-S, Washington, D.C. 20090-6456           Phone: (202) 720-2704 Fax: (202) 690-4948 E-mail: [email protected]or           [email protected]
**Loans for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers**
***Why This Resource Is Useful*:** The USDA           Farm Service Agency (FSA) provides direct and guaranteed loans to beginning           farmers and ranchers who are unable to obtain financing from commercial           credit sources**.**
******
***Eligibility*: People**. A beginning           farmer or rancher is an individual or entity who (1) has not operated           a farm or ranch for more than 10 years; (2) meets the loan eligibility           requirements of the program to which he/she is applying; (3) substantially           participates in the operation; and, (4) for farm ownership (FO) loan           purposes, does not own a farm greater than 25 percent of the average-size           farm in the county. (Note: all applicants for direct FO loans must have           operated a farm for at least 3 years.) If the applicant is a business           entity, all members must be related by blood or marriage, and all stockholders           in a corporation must be eligible beginning farmers.****
**Maximum Loan Amounts*:***
***-***Direct FO or operating loan (OL):           $200,000 -Guaranteed FO or OL: $700,000 
***Description:***
 FSA has a special downpayment FO loan program to assist beginning           farmers and ranchers to purchase a farm or ranch not valued at over           $250,000. This program also provides a means for retiring farmers to           transfer their land to a future generation of farmers and ranchers.           The applicant must make a cash downpayment of 10 percent. Up to 30 percent           may be provided by FSA in the form of a 10-year, 4 percent fixed-rate           loan. The remaining balance may be obtained from a commercial lender           or private party. FSA can provide up to a 95 percent guarantee if financing           is obtained from a commercial lender. Applicants unable to qualify for           a guaranteed loan may be eligible for a direct loan from FSA, which           also provides borrowers with supervision and credit counseling. 
 A Joint Financing Plan is available for beginning farmers or ranchers           and other applicants. In this program, FSA lends up to 50 percent of           the amount financed, and another lender provides 50 percent or more.           FSA will charge a reduced interest rate on the loan.
 FSA conducts Sales of Inventory Farmland. FSA advertises****acquired farm property within 15 days of acquisition. Eligible           beginning farmers and ranchers are given first priority to purchase           these properties at the appraised market value for the first 75 days           after acquisition. If more than one eligible beginning farmer or rancher           offers to purchase the property, the buyer is chosen randomly.
***Contacts:*** Applications for direct loan           assistance may be made at the FSA county office serving the county where           the operation is located. Local FSA offices are listed in the telephone           directory under U.S. Government, Department of Agriculture, Farm Service           Agency. For guaranteed loans, applicants must apply to a commercial           lender who participates in the Guaranteed Loan Program. Local FSA offices           have lists of participating lenders. 
*Information on FSA beginning farmer loans and grants is available           from:*U.S. Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency, Washington,           DC 20250 http://www.fsa.usda.gov/dafl/flphome.htm
State FSA offices can be found at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/edso/
**Small Farm Program**
***Why This Resource Is Useful***: The USDA           Small Farm Program provides information and support to the small farm           community.
***Eligibility:*****People**.
***Description:*** The goal of the Small Farm           Program is to improve the income levels and the economic viability of           the small farm enterprises through partnerships with the Land Grant           System, public, and private sectors by encouraging research, extension,           and education programs to meet the specific needs of small farmers.           Through newsletters, publications, conferences, and other methods of           information distribution, the Small Farm Program can increase and spread           the knowledge needed to help small farms survive and prosper.
***Best Practices***: The Small Farms Program           has several publications available, including:
**-Getting Started in Farming on a Small Scale (USDA publication)                     -Overview of Small Farm Programs at the Land Grant Colleges and Universities          -Directory of State Small Farm Program Coordinators          -Small Farm Digest (USDA newsletter)          -Proceedings of the National Small Farm Conference (1996)          -Getting Help for Your Small Farm from USDA (USDA brochure on Small           Farm Program)**
Factsheets on:**Aquaculture, Asparagus, Beekeeping, Blueberries,           Brambles, American Ginseng, Specialty Corn, Angora Goats, Cashmere Goats,           Dairy and Meat Goats, Dessert Vines, Specialty Flowers, Foliage Plants,           Earthworm Production, Exotic Fruits, Herbs, Exotic Livestock, Mushrooms,           Shiitake Mushrooms, Specialty Mushrooms, Northern Nuts, Organic Farming,           Peppers, Specialty Potatoes, Poultry, Pumpkins, Sheep, Strawberries,           Specialty Vegetables, Wildflowers, and Woodlots.**
Publications can be downloaded off the Web, or requested by mail           or e-mail.
The Small Farms Resource Guide is available at http://www.reeusda.gov/agsys/smallfarm/guide.htm           or by calling (202) 401-4385; 
***Contact***: Small Farm Toll-free Number:           1-800-583-3071 Website: http://www.reeusda.gov/agsys/smallfarm/
E-mail:[email protected]
For any questions concerning the Small Farm Program, please write           or call: Denis Ebodaghe          National Program Leader - Small Farms          USDA-CSREES, Stop 2220; Washington, DC 20250-2220          Phone: (202) 205-0467 Fax: (202) 401-5179 E-mail: [email protected]
**Farmer Direct Marketing**
***Why This Resource Is Useful***: Direct marketing           helps small farmers develop new ways to market their products, including           direct selling to restaurants and institutions, agri-tourism, pick-your-own           farms, and farmers' markets.****
***Eligibility*: People.**Small and medium-size           farmers, especially minorities, should be aware of direct marketing           options and may be eligible for assistance.****
****
***Description:*** Direct marketing continues to           grow in the U.S. as a method for small and medium-sized producers to           increase their profits. All forms of direct marketing: farmers' markets,           public markets, roadside stands, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA),           and pick-your-own operations are becoming increasingly popular with           consumers who seek fresh and healthy agricultural products.****
The goal of the Wholesale and Alternative Markets program (W&AM)           is to promote regional economic development and improve market access           for the small to medium-size farmer, thus enhancing the overall effectiveness           of the food marketing system and providing better-quality products to           the consumer at reasonable cost.  The program focuses on wholesale,           farmers', assembly, and public markets. W&AM plans and designs facilities,           processes, and methods in cooperation with state and local governments,           universities, farmer groups, and other segments of the U.S. food industry.****
***Best Practice:*** Thomasville,*GA., Regional           Market Facility Study* - This study was conducted in cooperation           with the Georgia Department of Agriculture to evaluate the feasibility           of upgrading the present market or building a new facility for the collection           and assembly of produce grown in southern Georgia. This auction market           provides access to the mass market for small- and medium-sized farmers           in 67 counties in Florida, Alabama, and Georgia.****
***Contacts:*** For general Information: See the           USDA AMS Web page at http://www.ams.usda.gov/directmarketing           or call 1-800-384-8704 For more information about direct marketing programs           at USDA, please contact: Errol Bragg, Agricultural Marketing Specialist           **or**
Velma Lakins, Agriculture Information Specialist         
Wholesale and Alternative Markets-USDA         
P .O. Box 96456 Room 2649-S, 1400 Independence Ave., SW,         
Washington DC 20090-6456         
 Phone: (202) 720-8317, Fax: (202) 690-0031, E-mail: [email protected]
**Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)**
***Why This Resource Is Important***: By joining           a CSA farm, one can support local farmers while receiving delicious,           healthy and fresh produce all season long. 
***Eligibility***: **People.**
***Description***: In its most basic form the CSA           farm produces vegetables for a group of subscribers who pay in advance           to become farm members, and then receive a share of the harvest. Typically           the farm members receive their share once a week, sometimes coming to           the farm to pick up their share; other farms deliver to a central point.           A "share" is usually enough to feed a family of four meat eaters, or           two people on a vegetarian diet. Sometimes "half shares" are available.           The price of a share for a season varies widely; depending on each farm's           costs of operation, total months of distribution, variety of crops available           and productivity of the soil. Many CSA farmers encourage members to           get involved, so that subscribers can work alongside their farmer to           learn more about how he or she grows food. For farmers, CSA offers a           fair, steady source of income and a chance to talk directly with their           customers.         
Most CSAs offer a diversity of vegetables, fruits, and herbs in season.           Some provide a full array of farm produce including shares in flowers,           eggs, meat, milk, honey, baked goods, and even firewood. Some farms           offer a single commodity, or team up with others so that members receive           goods on a more nearly year-round basis. Some are dedicated to serving           particular community needs, such as helping to enfranchise homeless           persons. Each CSA is structured to meet the needs of the participants,           so many variations exist, including the level of financial commitment           and active participation by the shareholders; financing, land ownership,           and legal form of the farm operation; and details of payment plans and           food distribution systems.         
Understanding the challenges facing family farmers in their own community           makes people true partners in the local food system. By direct sales           to community members, who have provided the farmer with working capital           in advance, growers receive better prices for their crops, gain some           financial security, and are relieved of much of the burden of marketing.           
***Deadlines***: CSA seasons occur at the same           time as harvest seasons, so due dates for joining CSA's will depend           on the climate of your region. 
***Contacts***: To find out more about Community           Supported Agriculture, including how to find and join a CSA near you,           go to: http://www.reeusda.gov/csa.html
***or contact:*** Robyn Van En Center          Wilson College Center for Sustainable Living          1015 Philadelphia Ave          Chambersburg, PA 17201          phone 717-261-2880; fax 717-264-1578          e-mail [email protected]thttp://www.csacenter.org
**Farmers' Markets**
***Why this Resource Is Useful:*** Farmers' Markets           provide fresh produce to often under-served low-income communities and           economic benefits to small farmers. 
***Eligibility:*Any Interested Party**.******
***Description:*** Setting up or participating           in a farmers' market is easy (see page on Direct Farmer Marketing for           possible USDA assistance), and the advantages are numerous; farmers           gain direct access to markets to increase farm income, consumers gain           access to food. Through a well-placed farmers' market, urban communities           where fresh, nutritious foods are scarce can gain easy access to locally           grown, farm-fresh produce. Farmers' markets also help to promote nutrition           education, wholesome eating habits, and better food preparation, as           well as boosting the community's economy. Sales at farmers' markets           will total $1 billion this year, with most of the money going directly           to small family farmers. 
USDA works closely with state departments of agriculture encouraging           the increased development of farmers' markets to assist the small grower.           Particular emphasis is placed on minority farmers and providing access           to fresh fruits and vegetables to the urban, under-served consumer.           One way USDA is accomplishing these goals is through the USDA-operated           farmers' market, which is held weekly at department headquarters.****
***Best Practice*:**As an alternative to conventional           market entrance fees, USDA requires vendors selling at USDA-sponsored           farmers' markets in Washington D.C., to participate in a food gleaning           program. This strategy works effectively through a partnership with           the DC Central Kitchen to collect all food donated by farmers at the           close of each market day. In 1998, gleaning operations at USDA-sponsored           farmers' markets in Washington, DC, facilitated the donation of more           than 16,000 pounds of food to DC Central Kitchen. In the brochure How           to Establish a Farmers' Market on Federal Property, USDA discusses           ways to combine farmers' markets and gleaning initiatives. 
***Contacts:***
USDA-Sponsored Farmers' Markets         
Jennifer-Claire Klotz         
Wholesale and Alternative Markets-USDA         
P.O. Box 96456 Room 2644-S,         
1400 Independence Ave., Washington DC 20090-6456         
Phone: (202) 690-4077; Fax: (202) 690-0031, E-mail: [email protected]
Information on farmers' markets, including the National Directory of           Farmers' Markets, can be obtained on the Web at www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets           or by calling (800) 384-8704.         
**Community Gardens****
***Why This Resource Is Useful:***Community gardens           provide fresh produce, local production and marketing, and community           development for all forms of community, but especially for low-income           communities.******
***Eligibility:*Any interested party**
***Description:***A community garden is any shared           space where people come together to grow vegetables, flowers, or any           plants. Through community gardening, individuals can produce fresh vegetables,           beautify their neighborhoods, and make changes in their own communities           in tangible, effective ways. Community gardens have a long history of           success in all sorts of areas, even in the most dense cities. Whether           planting a few seeds in a window box, or organizing the transformation           of a trash-filled vacant lot into a space for an entire neighborhood           to grow food, community gardening can be a worthwhile and plausible           project for anyone. The most direct benefit of community gardening is           the production of fresh, nutritious produce; however, many gardens become           centers for education, food assistance programs, local marketing, and           small business development.         
Community gardens often come in three forms: Public Community Gardens,           School Gardens, and Special-Use Gardens. Unlike public community Gardens           which utilize a common public plot divided up among community residents           on a first-come, first-serve basis, Special-use gardens are created           for a specific group of users and access is not necessarily open to           all community members. Examples of special-use gardens include gardens           in senior or community centers, AIDS housing facilities, public housing           developments etc.         
If you want to start or expand a community or school garden, USDA and           your state Cooperative Extension System Master Gardener programs can           help you find a garden location, test the soil, select plants, and provide           training on how to engage volunteers. USDA can also integrate your garden           into other programs and connect you to sources for funding, seeds, and           other resources.         

***Best Practices***: New Haven, Connecticut Livable           Cities Initiative - USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)           is working with Urban Solutions, a nonprofit environmental group that           employs 60-70 inner city youths during the summer months to clean up           neighborhoods and develop the vacant lots that resulted from the destruction           of condemned buildings as part of the New Haven Livable Cities Initiative.           
**Contacts**:         
To obtain help with gardening, call (202) 720-2593 http://gardening.usda.gov/
The USDA has appointed a Community Gardening Coordinator for every           state. To find your states coordinator, go to www.reeusda.gov/food_security/foodshp.htm
***or*** contact Joel Berg at 202-720-5746; [email protected]
Additional Contact: American Community Gardening Association (ACGA)           100 N. 20th St., 5th Floor,**Philadelphia,           PA 19103-1495 Phone: (215) 988-8785 Web site: www.communitygarden.org
National Arboritium: 202-245-2726
**Food Cooperatives:**
**Financial and Technical Assistance to Farmer Cooperatives**
***Why This Resource Is Useful***: Food cooperatives           provide opportunities for community food production and marketing.
***Eligibility***: **People, Nonprofits**.           Farmer cooperatives, groups of farmers interested in forming cooperatives,           and nonprofit corporations and institutions of higher education that           assist existing cooperatives and the development of new ones.
***Description***: The Rural Business - Cooperative           Service (RBS) agency of USDA Rural Development provides technical assistance,           seed money, and information to food-related farmer cooperatives nationwide           for a variety of purposes. This program has provided aid to producers           interested in organizing farmers' markets on a cooperative basis, and           has provided technical assistance to existing farmers' markets on economic           issues.
***Best Practices:***
RBS provided $155,000 in grants and loans to the Smith Island Crab           Meat Cooperative Inc., in Tylerton, MD, to purchase a state-of-the-art           facility and equipment to meet state seafood processing requirements.           The funding was used to purchase a building, stainless steel tables           and counter tops, ice machines, cement floors, scrubable walls and ceilings,           and proper storage facilities where 15 people process fresh seafood           that is sold locally.
RBS provided a $40,000 loan to a group of potato farmers based in           Presque Isle, ME, to found a cooperative to sell potatoes in local and           regional markets. The Maine Specialty Potato Farmers' Cooperative markets           a number of different varieties of potatoes in the state and along the           east coast, and also by mail though its "Potato of the Month Club."
RBS provided a $75,000 grant to a meat production and shipping cooperative           on the "Big Island" of Hawaii to expand its operations into specialty           meat products production. The Hawaii Cattle Producers Cooperative Association           was able to open a wholly owned subsidiary that offered its members           value-added processing of meat products that were generally not exported           to market. The Kona Specialty Meats company creates meat products such           as sausage and beef jerky that is sold through a retail chain on the           island.
***Deadlines***: Vary depending on the type           of loan or grant program. There is no deadline for non-monetary, technical           assistance.
***Contacts:*** For the nearest Rural Development           office, go to http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/csdir.htm           or look in the phone book under "U.S. Government Listings-U.S. Department           of Agriculture, Rural Development." ***Or contact***:           U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Rural Business -           Cooperative Service, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, DC 20250-3201;           phone: (202) 690-4730.
**Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program****
***Why This Resource Is Useful:***SARE           provides grants to improve the environmental and economic sustainability           of farming and ranching.
***Eligibility:*****Any interested party.**           Universities, nonprofit organizations, government agency staff, and           agricultural producers are eligible for SARE grants. Proposal guidelines           for each of the grants programs are available from the regional SARE           offices or the national program office.
***Description:*** The Sustainable Agriculture           Research and Education (SARE) program provides grants to increase knowledge           about practices that are economically viable, environmentally sound,           and socially responsible, and to help farmers and ranchers adopt those           practices. Extensive information is available on the SARE Web site at           http://www.sare.org/
SARE's regional offices administer three grant programs. Two of           SARE's grant programs, Producer Grants and Research and Education Grants,           may be used for on-farm research to explore diversification and marketing           opportunities. SARE Research and Education Grants generally ranging           from $30,000 to $200,000 fund projects that usually involve scientists,           producers, and others in an interdisciplinary approach. Typically $1.2           to $1.4 million is available for each region. SARE Producer Grants are           for producers wanting to test an idea. Many producer projects involve           on-farm trials with crops or livestock, but some have focused on marketing           or educational activities. Usually, $150,000 to $200,000 is available           for each region. 
SARE Professional Development Grants are used for a variety of professional           development activities to spread the knowledge about sustainable concepts           and practices gained from SARE projects, ranging from conducting workshops           to creating educational videos to hosting on-farm training sessions           for extension workers and conservation professionals. Successful proposals           have ranged from $10,000 to $100,000 and from single- state to multi-state           projects. Typically, $300,000 to $400,000 is available for each region           for grants.
***Best Practice***: Producing and Processing           Sweet Sorghum in the Upper Midwest: A Wisconsin farmer who raised crops           and livestock on 170 acres decided to scale back to grow high-value           crops on fewer acres. As part of his new approach, this producer-grant           recipient learned how to successfully grow sweet sorghum in Wisconsin's           short growing season. The producer now sells sorghum syrup, as well           as pumpkins, sweet corn, and broom corn for handmade brooms at local           farmers' markets.
***Deadlines:***All grant programs have only           one application period per year. However, each grant has its own application,           deadline, and focus. Each region solicits proposals and awards grants*.*
***Contacts:***
****Jill S. Auburn****, SARE Director,           USDA-CSREES, Stop 2223, 1400 Independence Ave.
SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-2223; (202) 720-5203; (202) 720-6071           (fax), [email protected]
For more info and your region's SARE contact: http://www.sare.org/
**The Self Help and Resource Exchange (SHARE) Program**
**and Food Co-ops**

***Why This Resource Is Useful***: SHARE and           Food co-ops provide healthy food at reduced rates, while fostering cooperation           among community residents. Food co-ops can also generate extra income           for members.
***Eligibility:*****People, Nonprofits.**           Examples of the types of organizations sponsoring SHARE include: Community           action agencies, food banks, social service providers, and religious           organizations. SHARE participants are those willing to help themselves           and their communities. More than half of SHARE's participants fall within           150 percent of the Federal poverty guidelines and live on fixed incomes.           
Anyone can join a food co-op; some food co-ops require members to           volunteer a minimal number of hours per week or month.
***Description:*** By donating just 2 hours           a month to a community enhancing activity, SHARE participants save 50           percent on a monthly food package ($14 for $30 worth of meat, fresh           fruit, vegetables and staples such as pasta, rice and beans). SHARE           participants decide how to complete the volunteer service. Coaching           Little League, volunteering at a hospital, rehabilitating a playground,           volunteering at the SHARE warehouse or a host site -- these are just           a few examples of the ways SHARE participants choose to make a difference           in their communities.
Food packages are distributed through a network of 18 regional U.S.           affiliates and 5,415 community-based organizations (SHARE host sites)           comprised of churches, schools, senior centers, and other civic groups           and organizations. Active in 22 states, SHARE affiliates work with these           and other social organizations to distribute this low-cost food. Each           month, more than 250,000 U.S. families help their communities and take           advantage of significant savings on food through SHARE.
Food co-ops are retail stores, owned by a group of members who adhere           to a set of cooperative principles. Food co-ops are open for anyone           to join, and membership allows you to assist in the decision making           process, determining what functions the co-op can serve. Profit from           the store accrues back to the members. An efficient food co-op can:- Provide wholesome food at the lowest possible prices;
- Promote an environmentally sound, economically viable, and socially             just food production and distribution system;
- Educate its members and its community about food, nutrition,             and the socio-economics of food production and distribution;
- Educate its members and its community about co-operative values.

***Best Practices***:
***Contact***: To find the SHARE office nearest           to you, call (888)742-7372. 
Web site:. http://www.worldshare.org/join/Affiliates.html
For a directory of food co-ops in the U.S. and Canada, go to http://www.prairienet.org/co-op/directory/index.html
______________________________________________
**Chapter 6: Education and Awareness--*Boosting education           and awareness by increasing efforts to inform the public about nutrition,           food safety, and community food security***.
Summary 
USDA engages in a wide variety of education and awareness activities           aimed at increasing public knowledge about nutrition, food safety, and           community food security. Public education activities have been an intrinsic           function of the Department since its founding by Abraham Lincoln in           1862. In reference to community food security, these activities help           give Americans the tools to make wise choices ­ and take appropriation           actions --- to improve the nutritious levels of their diet, the safety           of their food, and the structures in their community to combat hunger.           
**Team Nutrition**
***Why This Resource Is Useful***
Team Nutrition involves schools, parents, and the community in efforts           to continuously improve school meals and to promote the health and education           of children.****
***Eligibility:***-  All schools participating in the National             School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs are eligible to enroll             as Team Nutrition Schools.
- All children in these schools as well as the surrounding community             are eligible to benefit from the nutrition education information provided             to and through the school.****

***Program Description:***
Team Nutrition uses three strategies to change behavior:- *Training and Technical Assistance* focuses on             four behavior outcomes for school and child care food service professionals:             (1) planning and preparing healthy meals that appeal to ethnic and             cultural taste preferences in all Child Nutrition Programs; (2) linking             meals programs to other educational activities, such as learning in             the classroom and developmental progress in child care; (3) providing             nutrition expertise and awareness to the school or child care community;             and (4) using sound business practices to assure the continued availability             of healthy meals and the financial viability and accountability of             school meal programs.
Nutrition Education
 promotes comprehensive, behavior-based             messages and education to enable children to make healthy eating and             physical activity choices. Social cognitive theory is the foundation             for efforts to help children understand how eating and physical activity             affect the way they grow, learn, play and feel today as well as the             relationship of their choices to lifelong health.
School and Community Support 
focuses on agencies             and organizations that actively support Team Nutrition goals and on             decision makers within school systems such as school administrators,             principals, teachers, and boards of education who can help create             a healthy school environment for children.

***Contacts:***
U.S. Department of Agriculture         
Child Nutrition Division         
Food and Nutrition Service         
3101 Park Center Drive         
Alexandria, VA 22302         
(704) 305-2590         
website: www.fns.usda.gov/tn 
*or contact:* Les Johnson,           Director of Food Distribution Division, 703-305-2680         
**USDA Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program (FSNEP)**
***Why This Resource Is Useful**:*
Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program develops programs which educate           food stamp recipients about how to use their food stamps wisely to build           healthy and economical diets. 
***Eligibility:*****FSP state agencies**.           
***Description:***
The FSP works to fulfill USDA's and the Community Food Security Initiative's           goal of reducing hunger and food insecurity in partnership with cooperating           organizations by providing assistance in purchasing food and building           a healthy diet, and a healthy future.         -  State agencies may enhance their FSP by creating state plans for             nutrition education to further empower recipients with information,             education, and skills to improve diets and health through community-based             FSP nutrition education programs. Forty-six state agencies offer a             program of nutrition education to FSP  recipients.             USDA reimburses states for half of their FSP nutrition education expenditures.	          
-  FSP nutrition education projects aim at encouraging states to provide             nutrition messages that focus on reinforcing the link between food             security and a healthy diet by providing nutrition education and material             to a large number of households. The ultimate goal is to enhance food             and nutrition security for low-income families.
-  State agencies with FSP nutrition education projects cover five             Core elements which include: Food Security, Food Safety, Shopping             Behaviors/Food Resource Management, Dietary Quality, and System and             Environmental Change.

Total Federal expenditures for FSP nutrition education funding in 1999           were $74 million. Fiscal year 2000 nutrition education expenditure is           projected at $96 million. For more information on funding and eligibility,           please contact USDA.         
***Best Practices:*** State agencies use a variety           of approaches, the most effective of which are those that not only increase           knowledge, but also change diets. One currently successful method used           by states is social marketing, in which nutrition messages are delivered           to audiences in the context of their cultural orientation and values.         
***Deadlines:***State agencies submit state plans           by August 15 for the coming fiscal year.         
***Contacts:***The program is managed directly           in each state by the state human or social services agency. National           information can be obtained through the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.         
U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service         
Food Stamp Program         
3101 Park Center Drive Alexandria, VA         
(703) 305-2026 
For General Food Stamp Information: 1(800) 221-5689 
**The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP)**
***Why This Resource Is Useful****:*EFNEP           programs teach individuals to make choices in their everyday lives which           can make their families and communities more food secure.****
***Eligibility:*People*.***
******
***Program:*** The Cooperative Extension System's           Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) currently operates           in all 50 states and in American Samoa, Guam, Micronesia, Northern Marianas,           Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. It is designed to assist people           with limited resources to eat nutritionally sound diets, and to contribute           to their personal development and the improvement of the total family           diet and nutritional well-being. Through an experiential learning process,           adult program participants learn how to make food choices to improve           the nutritional quality of the meals they serve their families. They           increase their ability to select and buy food that meets the nutritional           needs of their family. They gain new skills in food production, preparation,           storage, safety and sanitation, and they learn to better manage their           food budgets and related resources such as food stamps. **
The delivery of EFNEP youth programs takes on various forms. EFNEP           provides nutrition education at schools as an enrichment of the curriculum,           in afterschool care programs, through 4-H EFNEP clubs, day camps, residential           camps, community centers, neighborhood groups, and home gardening workshops.           In addition to lessons on nutrition, food preparation and food safety,           youth topics may also include fitness, avoidance of substance abuse,           and other health-related topics. **
***Best Practices***:****In Idaho,           the new Welfare Reform Act has many welfare recipients scared and confused           about how they are going to manage without welfare payments for themselves           and their families. Amy is one of those people. She is just 21 with           two children to support. Amy was having a hard time balancing work with           the needs of her young family. An EFNEP Assistant met Amy while she           was recruiting at the Women's, Infants, and Children (WIC) program for           EFNEP. Amy told her how scared she was and how little time and energy           she had to fix healthy meals and snacks for her children. The Program           Assistant signed Amy on with EFNEP. She then learned during her EFNEP           lessons about menu planning and grocery shopping. She also learned how           to manage her time and money and plan ahead for special occasions. She           had some hands-on experiences to learn how to make quick and easy meals           and to plan all of her expenses.****
***Deadlines*:**There aren't deadlines to meet,           but guidelines to follow. To find out about the EFNEP program in your           state, contact your county or state extension service. ****
***Contacts*:**Call your local county extension           service listed in your local phone book. http://www.reeusda.gov/4h/efnep/annual.htm#annual
USDA, CSREES,         
14th and Independence SW,         
Washington, DC 20250,         
Wells Willis, National Program Director, (202) 720-8067 
**Dietary Guidelines for Americans**
***Why is This Resource Useful***?         
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans translate science into advice           for healthy Americans age two years and over about making food choices           that promote health and prevent disease. 
***Eligibility***: **Any interested party.**           Any interested nutrition educator, health care practitioner, or individual           can access this information. 
***Description:*** The Dietary Guidelines for Americans           are food-based recommendations aimed at the general public. They form           the basis for Federal nutrition policy that affects nutrition guidance           for the public as well as nutrition assistance programs. The guidelines           are mandated by the Congress and are updated every five years to include           the most recent scientific and medical knowledge. The next guidelines           will be available in the summer of 2000. 
Dietary Guidelines for Americans can be downloaded off the Web:         
http://www.usda.gov/cnpp/dietary_guidelines.htm
***Contacts:***
U.S. Department of Agriculture         
Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion         
1120 20th St. NW         
Washington, DC 20036****
(202) 418-2312 
**The Food Guide Pyramid**
***Why is This Resource Useful****?* The           Food Guide Pyramid is an educational tool that translates the Dietary           Guidelines for Americans into the kinds and amounts of food to eat each           day. 
***Eligibility:*Any interested party**. Any interested           nutrition educator, health care practitioner, or individual can access           this information. ****
***Description:***The Food Guide Pyramid teaches           the public about the total diet. It illustrates eating a variety of           foods from the major food groups, it recommends moderation of fats and           added sugar and suggests proportionality, which is eating more food           from the food groups at the bottom of the pyramid and progressively           fewer foods as one goes up the pyramid. The Food Guide Pyramid was also           adapted for young children two to six years of age. 
The Food Guide Pyramid can be downloaded and ordered at:         
http://www.usda.gov/cnpp/pyramid2.htm
***Contacts:***
U.S. Department of Agriculture         
Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion         
1120 20th St. NW         
Washington, DC 20036         
(202) 418-2312 
**Interactive Healthy Eating Index**
***Why is This Resource Useful?*** On the World           Wide Web, people can learn how healthy their eating habits are, in terms           of current dietary guidance, and what could be improved. As such, this           application is an effective teaching tool. It benefits users by increasing           awareness of diet quality; thereby promoting healthy eating behaviors.           
***Eligibility*: Any interested party.**Any interested           nutrition educator, health care practitioner, or individual can access           this information.         
******
***Description:*** The Interactive Healthy Eating           Index (IHEI) is an on-line dietary intake assessment tool that allows           a consumer to evaluate his or her diet quality. The IHEI is based on           the 10 components of USDA's Healthy Eating Index (HEI), each representing           a different aspect of a healthy diet for Americans, 2 years and older           as defined by the *Dietary Guidelines for Americans* and USDA's           Food Guide Pyramid. The IHEI system processes user information on age,           gender and dietary intakes and calculates an overall HEI score, its           10 component scores and intakes of 24 nutrients and dietary components.           This system provides a summary output of the HEI score and its 10 component           scores, compares the user's overall HEI to that of other Americans of           similar age and gender, and links to dietary advice based on Federal           dietary guidance. The estimated release date for the IHEI is April 2000.           
The Interactive Healthy Eating Index can be found at         
http://63.73.158.75/**
*Contacts:*
U.S. Department of Agriculture         
Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion         
1120 20th St. NW         
Washington, DC 20036         
Shirley Gerrior         
Peter Basiotis         
(202) 418-2312****
**Food Safety Education**
***Why This Resource Is Useful:***Food safety           education is a key aspect of safe food recovery, gleaning and food assistance**.           ****
***Eligibility:*People, Nonprofit organizations, Businesses*.***
***Description*:**
*Education on Meat and Poultry Safety* USDA conducts           a wide variety of activities to help the American public understand           how to properly purchase, handle, store, prepare, and cook meat and           poultry in order to ensure its safety. USDA also sponsors a toll-free           meat and poultry hotline (1-800-535-4555) and participates with HHS           in the "Fight BAC" food safety education campaign.( http://www.fightbac.org           ). 
*Food Safety and Quality National Initiative* This program           focuses on reducing the incidence of food-borne illness through improving           safe food handling practices, improving processes that safeguard the           food supply, and improving the understanding of food-related risks.           Competitive grants are awarded annually to support the development of           food safety education programs that provide education and training in           safe food selection and preparation, food sanitation and storage, food           preservation (canning, drying, freezing), safe food handling, seafood           safety, aquaculture, pesticide residues in foods, biotechnology, and           food irradiation and also address the use of Hazard Analysis and Critical           Control Point concepts in assuring the safety of the food supply. Approximately           $20 million has been spent on this program since 1991. 
Additional information for consumers, educators and producers can be           found at http://www.foodsafety.gov
Food safety information targeted to senior citizens can also be found           at http://www.foodsafety.gov/~fsg/fsgsr.html.
***Contacts:***
U.S. Department of Agriculture         
FSIS Food Safety Education         
1400 Independence Ave. SW         
Washington, DC 20250         
(202) 720-7943         
www.fsis.usda.gov
**____________________________________________**
**Chapter 7: Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation**---***Improving research, monitoring, and evaluation efforts to help communities           assess and strengthen food security.***
**Summary:**USDA's research, monitoring, and evaluation           efforts are spread across a number of USDA agencies. The Department's           Research, Education, and Economics (REE) mission area, is assigned Federal           leadership responsibility for the creation and dissemination of knowledge           spanning the biological, physical, and social sciences related to agricultural           research, economic analysis, statistics, Extension, and higher education.           Four key USDA agencies, implement the Department's research, education,           and economics mission, Agricultural Research Service (ARS), including           the National Agricultural Library; Cooperative State Research, Education,           and Extension Service (CSREES); Economic Research Service (ERS); National           Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). 
The Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services (FCNS) mission area, including           the Food and Nutrition Service and Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion,           also carryout significant research, monitoring, and evaluation activities.           ****
**Food and Nutrition Assistance Research Program**
***Why Is This Resource Useful?***The Food and           Nutrition Research Program (FANRP) at USDA's Economic Research Service           (ERS) addresses the research needs of the Nation's food assistance and           nutrition programs. FANRP research analyzes the benefits of improved           diets and food choices, the factors that influence diet and nutrition,           and the outcomes of policies and programs aimed at improving the nutrition,           well-being, and food security of Americans. 
***Eligibility:*Any interested party**. 
***Description:*** FANRP fully funds a portfolio           of extramural research topics designed to meet the critical information           needs of program managers, policy officials, the research community,           and the public at large. FANRP also conducts intramural research at           ERS. Through partnerships with other agencies and organizations, FANRP           enhances national survey maintenance and development. FANRP conducts           legislatively mandated studies. FANRP also contributes to basic science           that relates to program implementation and evaluations. 
To meet the programmatic needs of the Department and to promote research           from a broad arena, FANRP uses a variety of funding mechanisms. The           extramural research program is publicly announced and competitively           awarded through the use of peer review panels. Contracts are used when           a very specific product is required, such as compliance with a Congressional           mandate. The Competitive Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program is           used when the intent is to stimulate new and innovative research or           to undertake projects conducted jointly with ERS researchers. The Small           Grants Program funds grant competitions at five administering institutions,           each of which focuses on a particular facet of food assistance, such           as diet and health outcomes, relationships to poverty and well-being,           rural issues, and special at-risk population groups. 
***Deadlines:***Deadlines for submitting proposals           are typically in mid-May. Check the FANRP Web site at www.ers.usda.gov/briefing/foodasst           for up-to-date information. 
***Contacts:***
FANRP Office, USDA Economic Research Service,1800 M Street, NW, Washington,           DC 20036         
Phone: (202) 694-5405, E-mail: [email protected],           Web site: www.ers.usda.gov/briefing/foodasst
**Federal Food Security Measurement Project**
***Why Is This Resource Useful?***This instrument           is specifically designed to measure the prevalence of household food           insecurity and hunger in the United States. 
***Eligibility:*****Any interested party**.           Any interested researcher, nonprofit group, government agency, or individual           can implement the Food Security Measure at a local level. Information           is available at the ERS Domestic Food Security and Hunger Web site:           www.ers.usda.gov/briefing/foodsecurity. 
***Description:*** Data to measure household food           security are collected annually in the Current Population Survey (CPS)           Food Security Supplement, a questionnaire administered by the Census           Bureau to nearly 45,000 nationally representative households. The supplement           contains questions about a wide range of perceptions and behaviors that           have been reported by households known to have difficulty meeting their           food needs. Taken together, a set of 18 key questions characterize households           as food secure, food insecure without hunger, food insecure with moderate           hunger, and food insecure with severe hunger. The measure looks only           at food insecurity and hunger related to financial constraints. 
Nationally representative data were collected using supplements to           the Current Population Survey (CPS) from 1995 through 1999. Annual CPS           supplements are planned for 2000 and beyond. The survey module is also           planned for implementation in USDA's Continuing Survey of Food Intake           by Individuals (CSFII), the National Center for Health Statistics' National           Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), and other national,           state, and local surveys. The Federal measure questions have been added           to several Federal and State surveys including the fourth National Health           and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 4), Survey of Program Dynamics,           Continuing Survey of Food Intake by Individuals (CSFII), and the Early           Childhood Longitudinal Study. A newly updated *Guide to Measuring           Household Food Security--2000: Revised Edition of the Guide to Implementing           the Core Food Security Module (1997)*will be available on the Web           site (www.ers.usda.gov/briefing/foodsecurity)           in early 2000. **
***Deadlines:***It is anticipated that the food           security supplement data will be collected annually alternating between           April and September. 
***Contacts:***
Mark Nord, USDA Economic Research Service (ERS)         
Phone: (202) 694-5433; Fax: (202) 694-5642; E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: www.ers.usda.gov/briefing/foodsecurity
**Community Food Security Assessment Toolkit**
***Why This Resource Is Useful:*** The goal of           the *Toolkit* is to provide communities with the necessary tools           not only to measure food security at the household level, but also to           assess each of the key social, economic, and institutional components           of a food-secure community. 
***Eligibility:* Any interested party.** The toolkit           will be available to any interested researcher, nonprofit group, government           agency, or individual. 
***Description**:* The*Community Food Security           Assessment Toolkit*will be a standardized set of measurement tools           that local communities can use to assess various components of community           food security, including the availability of and participation in USDA           food assistance programs, community food systems, food access, and supplemental/emergency           feeding infrastructures. The key components of the toolkit will include           instruments and techniques for collecting and analyzing data. 
***Deadlines:***There are no deadlines for using           or obtaining the toolkit. ERS estimates that the *Toolkit*will           be available for distribution in mid-2000.**
***Contacts:***
Linda Kantor, USDA Economic Research Service         
Phone: (202) 694-5456; Fax: (202) 694-5688; E-mail: [email protected]
Margaret Andrews, USDA Economic Research Service         
Phone: (202) 694-5441; E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: www.ers.usda.gov 
**Selected Research Studies Funded by the Food Assistance and           Nutrition Research Program**
***Why This Resource Is Useful:*** The Food Assistance           and Nutrition Research Program (FANRP) at USDA's Economic Research Service           addresses food assistance and nutrition issues that relate to community           food security. The forthcoming results of these studies will be of interest           to researchers and to program officials at the Federal, state, and local           levels. 
***Eligibility:*****Any interested party**.           Any interested researcher, nonprofit group, government agency, or individual           can access this information. 
***Description:*** Studies in progress that may           be of particular interest include: 
Food Stamp Program Caseload Decline         - Program Access and Declining Food Stamp Participation
- What Explains Changes in Food Stamp Program Caseloads?
- The Effects of Welfare Implementation on Food Stamp Caseloads
- Causes and Consequences of Food Insufficiency After Welfare Reform

Welfare Reform         - Expanded Study of Welfare Reform on Immigrants
- Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)-Leavers' Use of Food             Stamps
- Studies of Households Who Leave the Food Stamp Program
- Study of the Emergency Food Assistance System: Provider and Recipient             Characteristics

Better Serving the Working Poor         - Improving Access to Food Stamps for Low-Income Working Households
- Restructuring Food Stamps to Help Working Families

Food Security Measurement and Research         - Measuring Food Security: Current Population Survey Supplements
- Community Food Security Assessment Toolkit
- Hunger: Its Risk and Impact in Poor, Female-Headed Households with             Children

Nutrition and Health         - Food Security and Health Outcomes in the California Health Interview             Survey
- Nutrition and Health Outcomes of USDA Food and Nutrition Assistance             Programs **

***Deadline:*** Expected completion dates vary           by study. For up-to-date information see the FANRP web site at www.ers.usda.gov/briefing/foodasst******
***Contact:***
FANRP Office, USDA Economic Research Service         
Phone: (202) 694-5405; Fax: (202)-694-5667; E-mail: [email protected]
**National Nutrition Safety Net: Tools for Community Food Security****
***Why This Resource Is Useful:***
*The National Nutrition Safety Net: Tools for Community Food Security*will help communities assess how well they use USDA's nutrition           assistance programs, spot potential barriers to the food security of           community members, and take action to improve program performance. ****
***Eligibility:* Any Interested party**. All community           members--program providers, service organizations, public officials,           anti-hunger coalitions, concerned citizens, and program participants--can           use this tool kit to identify and fulfill the potential of USDA's nutrition           assistance programs. 
***Description*:**
Each year, the Federal government invests billions of dollars in nutrition           assistance for children and other low-income people. The success of           this investment depends substantially on local offices and program providers           across the country. USDA has recently produced a new guide to help communities           improve access to all of its nutrition assistance programs. This guide           includes specific guidance on how to improve program access for many           under-served groups such as immigrants, working families, the homeless,           and senior citizens.         
The tool kit contains a set of checklists that communities can use           to assess their use of one, two or all of USDA's nutrition assistance           programs. These checklists will help users spot potential barriers to           participation that may cause eligible people to miss out on benefits--and           from which the whole community would benefit. Many of these people are           from groups that are traditionally under-served such as immigrants,           working families, the homeless, and elderly citizens. The checklist           highlights a variety of ways to strengthen programs in communities.           The tool kit also points to sources for more information on community           food security and provides a means to provide community feedback on           the guide ([email protected]). 
***Deadlines:*** None. 
***Contact***:
Guides will be available publicly in mid-2000.         
Copies can be obtained at http://www.fns.usda.gov/fns,           by calling (703) 305-2134, or by writing to Food Security Tool Kit,           Office of Analysis, Nutrition and Evaluation, Food and Nutrition Service,           3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302-1594. ****
**Guide to Measuring Household Food Security (Revised Edition)****
***Why This Resource Is Useful:***
It provides the necessary tool for people who want to measure the severity           and extent of food insecurity and hunger within their community, local           region, or state.****
***Eligibility:* Any Interested party**. This "how-to"           guide and the core set of food security questions is available to any           interested researcher, nonprofit group, government agency, or individual**.**
***Description*:**
This guidebook thoroughly describes the measurement tools developed           by a federal interagency working group, drawing on substantial private-sector           expertise. The measurement method is designed to be practical and useful           for many applications by State and community groups throughout the country.           The *Guide to Measuring Household Food Security*provides "hands-on"           descriptions of all the necessary steps in using the core set of food           security questions, coding the data collected for analysis, dealing           with missing items, scaling the data using standard methods, and determining           the severity and prevalence of food insecurity and hunger within the           population surveyed. Since survey results obtained in this way are based           on the same methods used for the annual national estimates reported           by USDA, local results can be readily compared to the national figures.****
***Deadlines*:**None**.**
***Contact*:**
Copies can be obtained at www.ers.usda.gov/briefing/foodsecurity,           by calling (703) 305-2134, or by writing to Office of Analysis, Nutrition           and Evaluation, Food and Nutrition Service, 3101 Park Center Drive,           Alexandria, VA 22302-1594. 
Gary Bickel, Food and Nutrition Service, (703) 305-2125 
Thrifty Food Plan 
***Why This Resource Is Useful***: The Thrifty           Food Plan (TFP) is used as the basis for food stamp allotments. 
***Eligibility***: **Any interested party**.           Any interested researcher, nonprofit group, government agency, or individual           can access this information. 
***Description***: The TFP serves as a national           standard for a nutritious diet at a minimal cost and is used as the           basis for food stamp allotments. It reflects current dietary recommendations,           food consumption patterns, food composition data, and food prices. The           TFP market baskets specify the type and quantity of foods that people           could consume at home to obtain a nutritious diet at a minimal cost.           There are 12 market baskets for 12 specific age-gender groups: Children           ages: 1 year, 2 years, 3-5 years, 6-8 years, and 9-11 years, males ages:           12-14 years, 15-19 years, 20-50 years, and 51 years and over, and females           ages: 12-19 years, 20-50 years, and 51 years and over. 
To help implement the TFP, the market basket for a family of four was           converted into menus and recipes that may be used by food stamp recipients           or households with a limited food budget. 
***Contacts:***
U.S. Department of Agriculture         
Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion         
1120 20th St. NW         
Washington, DC 20036         
(202) 418-2312         
Contact: Peter Basiotis 
**National Agricultural Library**
***Why Is This Resource Useful?***The National           Agricultural Library (NAL) is one of the world's largest and most accessible           agricultural research libraries. It plays a vital role in supporting           research, education, and applied agriculture. The National Agricultural           Library's collection of over 3.3 million items serves as the U.S. center           for the international agricultural information system, coordinating           and sharing resources and enhancing global access to agricultural data.****
***Eligibility:*****Any Interested Party.**           NAL's lending policies and guidelines are described in detail on the           following Web site: http://www.nal.usda.gov/ddsb
***Description:*** The National Agricultural Library           supports a number of Specialized Information Centers relevant and of           interest to community food security issues: - Alternative Farming Systems Information Center (AFIC);  http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic
- Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC);  http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic
- Food and Nutrition Information Center (FNIC);  http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic
- Rural Information Technology Center (RIC);  http://www.nal.usda.gov/ric ****
- Technology Transfer Information Center (TTIC);  http://www.nal.usda.gov/ttic
- Water Quality Information Center (WQIC);  http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic

Other Special Emphasis Information Resources include: - Agricultural Trade and Marketing;  http://www.nal.usda.gov/atmic
- Aquaculture;  http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/afsaqua.htm
- Biotechnology;  http://www.nalusda.gov/bic
- Farmland Information;  http://www.farmlandinfo.org/fic/home.html
- Food-borne Illness Education;  http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodborne/foodborn.htm
- National Center for Agricultural Law Research and Information;  http://law.uark.edu/arklaw/aglaw/
- Plant Genome;  http://www.nal.usda.gov/pgdic
- Rural Information Center Health Service;  http://www.nal.usda.gov/ric/richs
- Sustainable Agriculture Network;  http://www.sare.org
- Youth and Kids Pages in Agriculture;  http://www.nal.usda.gov/youthkids.html ****

***Contacts:*** National Agricultural Library,         
 10301 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD 20705-2351         
 (301) 504-5755         
 The NAL Web site, http://www.nal.usda.gov           provides access to NAL's many resources and serves as a gateway to its           associated institutions.         
**APPENDIX A:**
**USDA Community Food Security Liaisons and Food Recovery and           Gleaning Coordinators**
Liaisons can provide one-stop shopping to refer you to the right resources           for a wide variety of community food security-related activities. Food           recovery and gleaning coordinators can help link up local farmers and           ranchers will excess production to contribute with organizations that           feed the hungry. 
**May 30, 2000**
**USDA**
**DIRECTORY OF**
**STATE COMMUNITY FOOD SECURITY LIAISONS (CFSL)**
**AND FSA FIELD GLEANING AND FOOD RECOVERY (FG/FR)           COORDINATORS****Community Food Security Liaisons****Field Gleaning/Food Recovery Coordinators****State****Name**
**Address****Phone**
**FAX**
**E-mail Address****Name**
**Address****Phone**
**FAX**
**E-mail Address**ALHenry Pace               
USDA - Rural Development               
4121 Carmichael Rd. Suite 601 Montgomery, AL 36106            334-279-3404               
334-279-3409               
[email protected]Vickie C. Anthony               
Alabama State FSA Office               
P. O. Box 235013               
Montgomery, AL 36106            334-279-3500               
334-279-3550               
[email protected]AKJimmy LaVoie               
Alaska State FSA Office               
800 W. Evergreen St., Suite 216               
Palmer, AK 99645            907-761-7751               
907-761-7789               
[email protected]SAMEASCarol S. Whitaker, Ed. D.,CFCS               
Director, Agriculture, Human and Natural Resources               
Am. Samoa Community College               
P. O. Box 5319               
Pago Pago, AS 96799            684-699-1394               
684-699-5011               
[email protected]NONEAZTammy Ellsworth               
USDA - FNS               
2400 N. Central Ave. Suite 102 Phoenix, AZ 85234            602-379-4941               
602-379-6019               
[email protected]Monte Nevitt               
Arizona State FSA Office               
77 E. Thomas Rd, Suite 240               
Phoenix, AZ 85012            602-640-5200               
Ext. 226               
602-640-2652               
[email protected]ARChristine Stachowiak               
Cooperative Extension Service               
2301 S. University Ave.               
P. O. Box 391               
Little Rock, AR 72203            501-671-2103               
501-671-2294               
[email protected]Karen J. Petrus               
Arkansas State FSA Office               
700 W. Capitol Ave.               
Rm 3416, Fed. Bldg.