Get Involved - has information about a number of ways that you can learn about and join efforts to end hunger: through donations, volunteer work, advocacy, public education, or a unique community-based method of finding and linking the unique skills of local community residents (Asset-Based Community Development).

What Emergency Food Providers Can Do

Goals:

1. Increase the effectiveness and efficiency of existing services through improvements in coordination and cooperation.
2. Expand access and availability of services to those in need.
3. Better meet the needs of special populations, such as infants, diabetics, or non- cooking households.
4. Decrease the chronic use of emergency food services.

Recommended Actions:

• Convene emergency food providers to explore common needs and discuss and resolve problems as they arise:
  • Develop ways to coordinate food solicitation, transportation and storage.
    • Create a system for bulk and discount buying.
    • Encourage coordination of retail food donations to benefit all food providers.
  • Develop a list of needed food/volunteers to distribute to congregations, community groups and other contributors.
  • Coordinate training and fund raising activities wherever feasible.
  • Standardize service coverage in accordance with FEMA Board standards so that food bags contain appropriate amounts and types of food for adequate nutrition.
• Establish a computer network to track and refer clients, to record and compile service information, and to track and coordinate food solicitation and distribution.
• Develop programs and services which provide coverage on weekends and/or special end of the month assistance.
• Develop and use guidelines for food packages which reflect the needs of the very young and older people, the lack of cooking facilities, and cultural sensitivity.
• Offer information and assistance to program recipients to help them identify and receive available services:
  • Provide written materials and handouts on existing services.
  • Train volunteers and staff to understand available services and encourage emergency food recipients to participate in these programs.
  • Identify and channel program recipients with special or chronic needs to specific providers set up to address those needs.
• Develop service components which use professional staff and trained volunteers who employ case-management techniques to assess needs on an individual basis and develop and assist with carrying out long-range plans for increasing self-sufficiency.
• Provide opportunities for program recipients to develop self-help and long term living skills such as money management, nutrition, and food purchase and preparation skills.
• Urge mayors, city council members, county supervisors, and state and federal legislators to support legislation which addresses food and nutrition needs:
  • Write, call or visit.
  • Join and/or support a group or organization which works on policy improvements.
  • Ask policy makers to visit and/or participate at emergency food distribution sites.

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