In Focus
Save the Date: September 29th, 2014 - Fourth Annual Fighting Hunger in Maryland Conference
The Fighting Hunger in Maryland Conference is the only statewide anti-hunger conference and an important forum to bring together leaders from state and local agencies, nonprofits, schools and other entities invested in reducing hunger and poverty in Maryland. Through expert panel presentations, interactive workshops, and networking, Fighting Hunger in Maryland will frame the challenges and develop solutions to hunger in Maryland. Questions? Contact Rachel Tucker at rtucker@mdhungersolutions.org or (410) 528-0021 x23.
Urge Maryland's Congressional Delegation to Co-sponsor Summer Meals Act of 2014
For the more than a quarter of a million low-income students in Maryland who depend on the National School Lunch Program during the school year, summer often means losing access to the only dependable source of nutritious food they receive all day. This lack of access leaves low-income children more vulnerable to hunger, poor nutrition, and obesity when school is not in session. More...
Baltimore Partnership to End Childhood Hunger and Maryland Hunger Solutions Call on Congress to Allow Three Meals Per Day in Summer Nutrition Programs
The Baltimore Partnership to End Childhood Hunger, Maryland Hunger Solutions, and Sharon Baptist Church will join parents, care takers, faith leaders, teachers, program administrators, students, and residents of Baltimore on Saturday to urge elected officials and leaders in Maryland to allow summer meals sites to serve three meals a day. Currently, a child can receive three federally funded meals each day during the school year through the School Breakfast Program, the National School Lunch Program, and the At-Risk Afterschool Meals Program. During the summer, sites may only serve two meals through the Summer Food Service Program. More...
Community Eligibility Deadline Extended to August 31
Community Eligibility is an exciting new option that allows schools with high percentages of low-income children to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students – essentially becoming Hunger-Free Schools. School districts have until August 31, 2014 to elect this option. More...
Webinar: How to Join the Food Supplement Program State Outreach Plan (June 26, 2014)
Attention nonprofits interested in or currently engaged in Food Stamp outreach -joining the Maryland Food Supplement Program (FSP) State Outreach Plan could allow your organization to receive federal reimbursement for staff time and marketing activities related to these efforts. Register for the webinar and learn more...
MEDIA ADVISORY: Washington County Public Schools to be Presented with Hunger-Free School Awards
Twelve Washington County Public Schools will be recognized on Tuesday June 10, 10:30 a.m. at Salem Elementary School for becoming “Hunger-Free” by electing the Community Eligibility Provision, a new tool created in the Healthy, Hunger-Free Schools Act of 2010. More (pdf).
Oppose Changes to Healthy School Meal Standards and the WIC Food Package
Congress is currently considering a roll-back of the healthy school meal standards that have added more whole grains, fruits, and vegetables to school meals, while also limiting sodium and fats. In addition to the proposed changes to school meal standards, the inclusion of fresh, white potatoes in the WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) food package threatens the nutritional and scientific integrity of the WIC program by allowing Congress, not nutritionists, to decide what’s best for the health of mothers and young children. Let Congress know that you support the health of our nation’s children and the school meal standards in the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010. More...
New Report Finds that Participation in Summer Meals in Maryland Increased in 2013
Maryland made significant strides in its efforts to reach more low-income children with summer meals in 2013, according to Hunger Doesn’t Take A Vacation (pdf), a report released annually by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC). 50,902 low-income children were served summer meals on an average day in July 2013, an increase of 7.4 percent from last year. Summer meals reached 19 students for every 100 low-income children who got regular school year school meals in the 2012-2013 school year, outpacing that national rate of 15.1:100. More...
Maryland Alliance for the Poor Releases Its Biennial Maryland Poverty Profiles
The Maryland Alliance for the Poor (MAP) publicly released its 2014 Maryland Poverty Profiles (pdf), which highlight key indicators reflecting the realities of poverty in Maryland and each of its 24 local jurisdictions.
Oppose Overriding the WIC Food Package
Due to pressure from particular food industry interests, Congress is currently considering a bill that will legislatively change the WIC food package to include fresh white potatoes, an item that has not been recommended by the team of nutritionists and scientists at the IOM who carefully studied what is needed to supplement the diets of mothers and young children. Changing the WIC food package by legislative fiat – simply because they have the political muscle to do so, irrespective of the nutritional needs of mothers and children — should not be encouraged. Please consider signing on to the letter below to let your voice be heard in Washington. Follow this link for more information...
Thousands Join Maryland Hunger Solutions to Hear the Maryland Crunch!
Thousands of students, teachers and leaders across the state of Maryland joined Maryland Hunger Solutions in Hear the Maryland Crunch, a state-wide, synchronized bite into an apple to raise awareness about the importance of school breakfast in the fight against childhood hunger.More...