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New on our website!: Building Healthy Environments Farm to School Resources Photo Gallery: Thrive Fest 2005, November 5 Photo Gallery: Fresno Community Garden Summit: "Growing Communities", April 15 & 16 More information about this exciting gathering on the Fresno Community Garden Coaltion home page Updated UCLA Report on Hunger Fresno Metro Ministry's Community Hunger and Nutrition Forum is concerned of a repeat of hunger as serious as the Freeze of '98. The FEMA funding for food and shelter has already been disbursed in Fresno County, and it is just getting cold; CalWorks welfare leavers will be off public benefits at the beginning of the year; and the conversion to EBT Food Stamps (debit card) will take place at the same time. All of this on top of 83,000 Fresno County adult residents Food Insecure, and at least 26,000 adults Food Insecure with Hunger, NOW. Data released Election Day shows Hunger in Fresno and Tulare Counties, breadbasket of the world, to be the worst in the State with Food Insecurity rates of over 40% of the adult population. That is too many hungry adults, responsible for too many children. The UCLA CHIS study confirms that poverty, unemployment, and seasonal work do not put food on the table for families here. Significantly, this study does not include children, or farmworkers and others who do not have telephones. The response from our neighbors and elected representatives must be to create systemic, sustainable change in the torn safety net. The health and safety of this area are at grave risk. Hunger & Nutrition
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The Community Hunger and Nutrition Forums supported by Fresno Metro Ministry provide an opportunity for members of the Fresno area to collaborate and problem-solve around specific issues of Food Security for our neighbors, and the impact hunger has on health. The goal of the Forums on Community Hunger and Nutrition is to increase the utilization of nutritional, culturally appropriate foods in Fresno through collaboration around specific issues and increased access to nutritious food by those who are hungry. Below you will find information regarding the time and location of the Forums, participants involved, themes, notes and evaluations for all previous Forums available for downloading, as well as sponsorship information. The agenda for next month's Forum is available in the box to the right.Hunger & Nutrition Notes and Participant Evaluations October 8, 2008 - Candidates for the Fresno Unified School District Board present their views. The Forums are sponsored by Fresno Metro Ministry, and funded in part by the California Dept. of Health Services, Cancer Prevention and Nutrition Section by the US Department of Agriculture. Additional funding is provided by MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, and the Rosenberg Foundation. The Community Hunger and Nutrition Forums take place the second Wednesday of every month from 12 Noon to 1:30 PM at the Trinity Lutheran Church, 3973 N. Cedar, Fresno, California (between Ashlan and Dakota on the West Side of Cedar). Complementary demonstrations of nutritious, economical, and culturally varied snacks are provided. There is no charge for participation. Fresno Metro Ministry has been involved in community solutions to hunger issues over the last 30 years, primarily in response to hunger crisis: the Big Freezes of 1990 and 1998, the need for a Community Food Bank with adequate freezer space, and when issues of health and nutrition have became a focus of the community because of entrenched poverty. Fresno Metro Ministry has responded by gathering the people impacted and finding solutions. Beginning in 2000, with the support of MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, Hunger and Nutrition Roundtables were held in the spring. The focus was the training of local advocates by the California Food Policy Advocates, and learning about emergent issues of Food Stamps: finger imaging, and 'public charge' issues for immigrants. When Finger Imaging became a requirement for application for Food Stamps by California Law, this Forum began education on the issue. The recent Forums have addressed the effects of childhood hunger; the impact of hunger on families; cultural heritage around food and nutrition; systemic and legislative issues around food. A Policy Group has been established, and task groups are forming around identified gaps and barriers to all people in Fresno having enough nutritional culturally appropriate food. Participants have included consumers, community based organizations, clergy, food policy advocates, providers of emergency food, school personnel, nutritionists, health care providers, children's advocates, governmental and welfare workers, agricultural representatives, health professionals, low-income persons, representatives of various ethnic groups, college and high school students, elected officials and their representatives, local media reporters and interested individuals. One or two different themes are addressed at each Forum, with one or more speakers or presentations. Most Forums include a State Legislative Update and follow-up on previous topics. The Policy Group presents their progress monthly. An Inventory of Food Resources in Fresno is being compiled. Why 1000s of Kids are Hungry in Fresno gives information on the impact of food insecurity in Fresno. The Community Hunger and Nutrition Forum invites your organization to sponsor one of the Forums. The $500 sponsorship supplements funding and outreach by the Forum. Sponsors are provided ten minutes at the Forum to feature their organization. They are also welcome to provide input on the theme for that month. If you are interested in participating in the monthly Community Hunger and Nutrition Forums, please go to Contact Us to reserve space or sponsor a future Roundtable. |