Advocate Print E-mail

It takes more than food to fight hunger.

In most of its work, the San Antonio Food Bank focuses on providing emergency food support to individuals and families in need. While a little bit of help putting meals on the table is usually a temporary "leg up" during a crisis, sometimes hunger and poverty create a cycle that becomes very difficult to break without attacking the causes of the problems that create them. The San Antonio Food Bank is committed not only to providing emergency support, but also to working to address the systemic issues that cause hunger and poverty.

HOW YOU CAN BECOME INVOLVED

 

FEDERAL LEVEL: REAUTHORIZATION OF CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS

Congress has a unique opportunity in the upcoming reauthorization of the child nutrition programs to improve access, meal quality and nutrition for millions of children, particularly low-income children in child care (the Child and Adult Care Food Program - CACFP), in school (breakfast and lunch programs), during out-of-school time (afterschool, on weekends and during the summer), and at home (the WIC Program). Thousands of diverse national, state and local organizations are committed to a reauthorization bill that has a bold vision to eliminate child hunger. These organizations are now joined by a President-elect who during the campaign has set the goal of ending child hunger by 2015. To that end, these organizations are committed to passage of a strong child nutrition reauthorization bill in 2009.


A well-conceived, adequately funded reauthorization bill can reduce hunger and food insecurity in America, help reduce childhood overweight and obesity, improve child nutrition and health, and enhance child development and school readiness. To this end we call on the Administration and Congress to enact a reauthorization bill that:

  • Assures and strengthens program access and supports participation by underserved children and communities;
  • Enhances nutrition quality and provides adequate meal reimbursements; and
  • Modernizes technology and simplifies program administration and operation.

A substantial investment of new funding must be included in the Federal budget to achieve these goals. Without new program investments, it will be impossible for Congress to build upon the successes of the 2004 reauthorization.

FEDERAL LEVEL: YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE 2008 FARM BILL AIDED FOOD BANKS

THE FARM BILL 2007-2008:

2007 was a Farm Bill year. Every 5 years, Congress revisits the Farm Bill - the legislation that contains funding expectations and rules for the nutrition programs such as Food Stamps, the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), and the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) which delivers commodities to food banks around the country. The bill also reaches beyond nutrition - it has 10 titles (sections) covering everything that has to do with agriculture. This bill has the opportunity every 5 years to make official improved changes to federal nutrition programs.

THE OUTCOMES:
The Farm Bill and its provisions took affect October 1, 2008 and represented great strides forward towards a hunger free community. Thank you for all your advocacy efforts through a very lengthy process. The San Antonio Food Bank is proud of the due diligence that all our advocates showed. Your commitment yielded wonderful results for your community. Highlights included:

  • The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP): $190 million for TEFAP purchases in FY2008; $250 million in FY2009; and $250 million with annual indexing beginning in FY2010
  • The “New” Food Stamp Program: The Food Stamp Program has been renamed the “Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program” (SNAP). Increases and indexes for inflation have been set for for the Food Stamp Program’s standard deduction and minimum benefit (impacting about 11 million low-income individuals).
  • Under the new Farm Bill, Food Banks will have added grant opportunities to support infrastructure costs and community outreach programs.

 What you can do (in less than 5 minutes!):

Call your Congressman and your Senators!
On your call, do three things:

  • Tell them you are a constituent. Give your name and address.
  • Ask State Officials to support $20 million for a SB 944 and help feed Texas children HEALTHY meals.
  • Ask Federal Officials to support the passage of a strong child nutrition reauthorization bill in 2009 so that we can end child hunger by 2015.

Texas US Senators
Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R) Appropriations Committee!
202-224-5922
Fax: 202-224-0776
Website: www.hutchinson.senate.gov

John Cornyn (R) Budget Committee!
202-224-2934
Fax: 202-228-2856
Website: www.cornyn.senate.gov

Texas US House
Charles "Charlie" A. Gonzalez (D-20th)
Central San Antonio
202-225-3236
Fax: 202-225-1915
Website: www.house.gov/gonzalez

Rubén Hinojosa (D-15th)
Karnes County
202-225-2531
Fax: 202-225-5688
Website: www.hinojosa.house.gov

Lamar S. Smith (R-21st)
Northeast San Antonio, as well as Real, Bandera, Kerr, Kendall, and Comal Counties
202-225-4511
Fax: 202-225-8628
Website: www.lamarsmith.house.gov

Henry Cuellar (D-28th)
Far East Bexar County, as well as Guadalupe, Wilson, Frio, Atascosa, and La Salle Counties
202-225-1640
Fax: 202-225-1641
Website: www.house.gov/cuellar

Ciro Rodriguez (D-23rd)
Northwest, West (Outside 1604), and South San Antonio, as well as Edwards, Uvalde, Medina, and Zavala Counties
202-225-4511
Fax: 202-225-2237
Website: www.rodriguez.house.gov

Texas State Senators
Senator Judith Zaffirini (Senate District 21)
Capitol Office: CAP 1E.14
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0121
Capitol Address: P.O. Box 12068, Capitol Station
Austin, TX 78711
District Address: P.O. Box 627
Laredo TX 78042
Phone: (956) 722-2293

State District Offices Senator Carlos I. Uresti (Senate District 19)
Capitol Office: EXT E1.810
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0119
Capitol Address: P.O. Box 12068, Capitol Station
Austin, TX 78711
District Address: 2530 SW Military Drive, Suite 103
San Antonio TX 78224
Phone: (210) 932-2568

State District Offices
Senator Jeff Wentworth (Senate District 25)
Capitol Office: CAP 1E.9
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0125
Capitol Address: P.O. Box 12068, Capitol Station
Austin, TX 78711
District Address: 925 North Frost Center,, 1250 N.E. Loop 410
San Antonio TX 78209
Phone: (210) 826-7800

State District Offices
Senator Leticia Van de Putte (Senate District 26)
Capitol Office: EXT E1.704
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0126
Capitol Address: P.O. Box 12068, Capitol Station
Austin, TX 78711
District Address: 700 N. Saint Mary's St., Suite 1725
San Antonio TX 78205
Phone: (210) 733-6604

State District Offices
Senator Troy Fraser (Senate District 24)
Capitol Office: CAP 1E.15
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0124
Capitol Address: P.O. Box 12068, Capitol Station
Austin, TX 78711
District Address: P. O. Box 12068
Austin TX 78711
Phone: (254) 939-3562

State District Offices
To receive updates about policy issues affecting hunger, email Mario Obledo at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Who represents me?
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/fyi/fyi.htm

Download the PDF "A Blueprint To End Hunger"

Check back for more information on public policy related to hunger and how you can help.

Advocacy Mailing List

To sign up to receive advocacy alerts outlining how you can make a difference on issues affecting hunger please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .