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Sacramento Hunger Commission: April 2002 Minutes

1. The meeting was called to order by Vice-Chair Kevin Bond at 11:40am.
2. The March 19, 2002 meeting minutes were approved unanimously (Yniguez/Schroeder).
3. Commissioner Reports and Announcements- Judie Wilson asked for Commission support at four events for the regional "People Raising" Public Campaign for Summer Food to be held May 3rd-May 23rd. On May 9th, there will be a "leaders serving lunch" event at Washington School (18th and I Streets) from 12pm-1pm to kick-off the campaign. Then, on May 13th, Commissioners have been asked to come to the State Capitol to "Storm the Legislative" to be recognized during the legislative session (exact time TBA) since the legislature is not in session on May 14th. Hunger Action Day is on May 14th from 9am-3pm. In particular, Commissioners have been asked to participate in the noontime rally on the West steps of the Capitol (please wear the red t-shirts you were given at the meeting). On May 23rd, there will be another "leaders serving lunch" event at El Camino High School with a young mothers' group. Ms. Wilson will send an e-mail at the end of April to Commissioners providing more details about the campaign. In addition, Ms. Wilson reported that as a follow-up to March's Commission meeting on Community Gardens, she has found a newspaper that will print a series of three articles she is writing about re-capturing control of the food system by gardening. Juan Yniguez updated the Commission on the Ad-hoc Committee that has been formed to discuss future Hunger Commission funding. Mr. Yniguez reported that the committee has outlined some strategies to maintain current core funding and to seek future funding that will augment long-term projects. He also announced that the next ad-hoc committee meeting will be April 18, 2002. Bill Maynard invited Commissioners to attend the Earth Day event at CSUS on Saturday, April 20nd and to come by the Sacramento Area Community Garden Coalition's booth anytime between 11am-5pm. Kory Annonio reported on a media training that he attended which provided tips on how to deal with the media and get key points across when talking about health and nutrition related items. Both Mr. Annonio and Commissioner Kevin Bond have a detailed manual they would be happy to share on media tips. Richard Schroeder passed around an article on gardening in parks as a follow-up to the March meeting on Community Gardens (see attached).
4. Policy Update and Action Item- Peggy Roark encouraged Commissioners to participate in Hunger Action Day on May 14 including the media and advocacy training sessions and visits to Sacramento-area legislators; a sign-up sheet was passed around. The Farm Bill (including food stamp reauthorization) is still mired in partisan politics in the House-Senate Conference Committee. An animated discussion followed about the position the Hunger Commission should take on the soda tax bill, SB 1520 (Ortiz-Sacramento). A motion was made and passed to watch the bill (but not support it) and to communicate to Senator Ortiz that the Commission shares her concerns about the impact of soda and other junk food on an individual's health and will try to find ways to be supportive of her efforts to educate the public on increased nutrition and exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle. (Yniguez/ Wilson)
5. Panel Presentation: Senior Nutrition Services (SNS)- Commissioner Barbara Finnestead gave a presentation on the Sacramento County Senior Nutrition Services Program. Ms. Finnestead provided Commissioners with an overview of the program through a video. SNS currently serves 1405 meals through the Home Delivered Meal program on a daily basis and an additional 900 meals through the 20 Senior Congregate Meal sites throughout Sacramento County. As of April, 500 seniors were on the waiting list for homebound meal service, up from 259 six months ago. The program will likely not be funded above the current funding level, so staff is actively pursuing personal and business donations to support growth in the program. A CD has been created to highlight the program and to provide an opportunity to promote greater public awareness of the benefits of the program to the community. Ms. Finnestead emphasized that the homebound meal program is much more than a nutrition program. The drivers who deliver the meal also do a welfare check every time they see the senior and they also provide an important social contact for the senior. In addition, the program acts as a liaison between the senior and other programs and services in Sacramento County. For instance, SNS distributed over 1000 flyers providing information on Food Stamps in collaboration with the Hunger Commission and also regularly delivers bags of food provided by Foodlink. Ms. Finnestead asked the Commission to help her educate the public about her program and to give her ideas and suggestions for contacts to solicit volunteers and donations. Several Commissioners asked for a copy of the CD to be able to share with contacts.
6. Special Presentation- Peggy Roark presented Stephanie Wilson with a Resolution and a present thanking her for her efforts as a staff member for three years with the Hunger Commission. Ms. Wilson's last day with the Hunger Commission is April 19, 2002. She will be the director of the "Triple R" Program for the City of Sacramento.
7. The meeting was adjourned at 1:00.

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