Los Angeles Food Policy Council’s Post

Explore the key funders driving policy advocacy efforts to combat food insecurity and hunger. Our latest article on Inside Philanthropy highlights the organizations making a significant impact through their support and initiatives aimed at creating sustainable solutions. Martha Ramirez reports: Major funders supporting food insecurity and hunger advocacy Key initiatives and their impact on policy change Insights from leading organizations and advocates Join the conversation on how philanthropy can drive effective solutions to hunger and food insecurity. Tagging Urban Institute USDA Center for American Progress RWJF Rich Besser Nutrition Policy Institute Food Research & Action Center Stupski Foundation Nourish California Berkeley Food Institute Purple Maiʻa Foundation Angell Foundation Los Angeles Food Policy Council Social Justice Learning Institute San Diego Food System Alliance Rhode Island Food Policy Council Hellman Foundation Tides The Rockefeller Foundation The David and Lucile Packard Foundation Walter & Elise Haas Fund The California Endowment California Association of Food Banks Western Center On Law & Poverty #Hunger #PolicyAdvocacy #FoodAccess #PublicPolicy #SystemicChange #NutritiousFood #SustainableSolutions #AdvocacyEfforts #FoodInsecurity #HungerRelief #SocialImpact #InsidePhilanthropy #Philanthropy

If you even loosely follow the news in Minnesota, you probably already know that we once again broke the record for most food shelf visits ever, at 7.5 million in 2023. You may also know that Second Harvest Heartland is ponying up to do something about it, starting with our new #MakeHungerHistory initiative, which aims to cut hunger in half by 2030. I wrote a little something about it and hope you'll check it out: https://lnkd.in/gP8e3tTC Kudos to Allison O'Toole for setting the vision, the Board of Directors for embracing it, and all my incredible colleagues who are already working to make this a reality. It'll take a whole-of-community effort to get it done, and it won't happen without additional investments and policies that target hunger at its roots. Which is why hunger is, ultimately, a policy choice. Let's choose to end it - starting by cutting it in half over the next six years. #mnleg #hunger #foodsecurity #foodinsecurity #moonshot #Minnesota #advocacy

I thought this was an amazing example of nonprofit justice in action. Offering skills and training support to non-profit leaders in food justice organizations can lead to direct policy transfection through continued advocacy and network-building. Collaboration across sectors helps build further institutional influence, leading to tangible change. #Nonprofit #Justice #Advocacy #FoodJustice

Some 44 million Americans are struggling with hunger, including 250,000 in New Mexico, and a nationwide food bank network wants #Congress to help. Vince Hall, chief government relations officer for Feeding America, said money for the Emergency Food Assistance Program in the Farm Bill should be doubled from $450 million to $900 million. He added it's likely many people have relationships with someone struggling with hunger, whether they know it or not. "Sixty-three percent of the counties in the United States are rural, but 87% of counties that are experiencing the highest rates of food insecurity are rural -- so the problem is definitely more severe," Hall explained. He said the demand for food is higher now than at the peak of the pandemic and shows no sign of abating, while the cost of fuel, labor and refrigeration for food banks has risen. After failing to reach consensus last year, Congress punted reauthorization of the Farm Bill to 2024 -- extending the current bill through the end of September. Hall noted that 30% of meals distributed by the Roadrunner Food Bank of New Mexico come through the Emergency Food Assistance Program, making its role critical in addressing the state's food insecurity. "Almost 12% of households are struggling with food insecurity, and in New Mexico 20% -- literally one in five children in New Mexico -- are struggling with food insecurity on a regular basis," Hall continued. He said hunger is disproportionate in rural communities because wages are generally lower, grocery stores are farther away and reliable transportation can be a challenge. Disclosure: Roadrunner Food Bank contributes to our fund for reporting on Children's Issues, Community Issues and Volunteering, Hunger/Food/Nutrition, Poverty Issues.

September is Hunger Action Month, and action is certainly needed. The USDA’s most recent food security report found that 12.8% of U.S. households were food-insecure. In Pennsylvania, nearly 1.7 million people are food-insecure, and 2024 has seen the state’s highest SNAP enrollment ever. Food access barriers include not only lack of money but also lack of time, transportation, mobility, and proximity to resources. Another USDA study found that 35% of those living below the poverty line travel to their primary food store by some means other than driving a car they own. People in poverty are more likely to work on-site jobs that limit their schedule flexibility, to lack access to affordable childcare, to be disabled, and to be undocumented. Any of these barriers, or multiple ones in combination, can turn a trip to the food pantry or the grocery store into an arduous trek. For those who need food assistance the most, convenient access is not a nice bonus – it’s a necessity. That's where we come in. 412 Food Rescue is pioneering new solutions to increase the reach and equity of food aid. Read more about how we effectively fight hunger this Hunger Action Month: https://lnkd.in/ePkPHYiW

The recent findings by Feeding America, highlighting the stark increase in food insecurity in Connecticut, resonate deeply with the challenges we confront daily at Person to Person. Despite being in one of the wealthiest states, the paradox of rising hunger, especially among children, underscores the critical importance of our mission. As we mobilize resources and expand our reach through our food pantries, including our mobile pantry in Stamford, this report serves as a poignant reminder of the urgent need for collaboration and sustained effort to ensure no one in our community has to worry about their next meal. https://lnkd.in/ezyTCC44

  At Food Dignity®, we know that if we do not support our local farmers, we will lose their valuable connection to our land and our local economy. Today, our local farmer is harvesting enough arugula and salad mix for 100 households to distribute tomorrow! The produce is planted, grown, and harvested to create food equity. Hunger is not an afterthought. In other words, our clients receive the freshest produce available. The Food Dignity® Movement creates a new market for our farmers and supports a robust local food supply chain. We DO NOT require warehousing, extra staffing, trucking logistics, or market research. Our operation is lean, efficient, and effective. Together, we slash expenses, reduce food waste, and serve high quality fresh food immediately after harvest. We also eliminate individual and institutional barriers to food access. For example, we do not ask a mother running from domestic violence to take an extra bus route to a food pantry that may or may NOT be open 2 hours out of the week. We give her food onsite during her counseling sessions. Our research indicates that women stay out of abusive relationships because they have peace of mind. They know they can feed their children nourishing food with dignity. Together, our partners do the following: 1. Invests in our local Pennsylvania economy 2. Provides PA agriculture to people who need it most  3. Invests in local farmers - meaning we pay a fair price and do not ask for favors or donation 4. Increases access to fresh, healthy food, which is proven to prevent adverse health effects, including diabetes and heart disease, and improve mental health 5. Improves nonprofits’ ability to serve vulnerable populations, which leads to increased participation and funding Watch our short video (3 min video) and hear from the farmers 👩🌾 themselves in the comments! ⬇ ⬇ ⬇ #FoodDignity #FoodDignityMovement #FoodDignityBook

Food insecurity is not a new challenge, but one made worse by the pandemic. Now, food pantries, food banks, government agencies and philanthropic supporters are stepping up their efforts and evolving to better meet the needs of the community. This article is part of The Change Project, a series by NJ Spotlight News examining NJ’s social and economic challenges and focusing on promising actions that have led to positive change. #ChangeProjectNJ

The most recent USDA Household Food Security report reveals a positive trend in the District, with food insecurity decreasing from 10% in 2022 to 8.8% in 2023. This progress is attributed to nutrition support programs funded at federal and local levels. Despite improvements, there remains more work ahead to address food insecurity effectively. #foodinsecurity #hunger #poverty