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Sacramento Hunger Commission: June 2002 Minutes

1. The meeting was called to order by Sharon Eghigian at 11:32 am.
2. The May 21, 2002 meeting minutes were approved unanimously (Brown/Mitchell).
3. Reports and Announcements-
   
   Summer Food Program: Commissioner Dave Mitchell reported that the program had gotten off to a good start on June 17 with only three sites reporting problems getting their lunches. Seventy more sites will open on Monday, June 24 for a current total of 130 City of Sacramento summer lunch sites so far. Shana McDavis-Conway reported on the Commission's Summer Lunch outreach campaign efforts at community events and through the media. Commissioner Ernie Brown announced that Albertson was partnering with the Second Harvest to promote the summer lunch program. There will also be a joint food drive and promotion. If customers buy certain items, they can get a 2nd item free to donate to the food bank. The campaign kicks off this month with two Summer Lunch radio promotions at Albertson's: Sunday, June 23 and Wednesday June 19th. Ernie will attend the promotion on June 19th; Marilyn Albert volunteered to attend the June 23rd event. Shana will get Summer Lunch outreach materials to Ernie to distribute at the promotions.
   
   Community Food Security Summit: Commissioners Sharon Eghigian and Bill Maynard, as well as Hunger Commission staff attended the summit that brought together a diverse group including anti-hunger activists, farmers, community gardeners, and nutritionists. Sharon Eghigian reported on the success of the summit--the next summit will be in Seattle, Washington. Bill Maynard shared his memories of the tour of the edible schoolyard project and the innovative "fishbowl technique" of brainstorming used in a session he attended.
   
   Farmers' Market: Commissioner Gary Little reported that he is scheduled to meet this Friday with CDC to see a possible new site for the proposed market in Del Paso Heights/North Sacramento. CDC's goal is to have the market approved by September. Commissioner Janet Talsky asked how a start date in the fall would impact WIC clients' ability to use their summer farmer's market coupons. She explained that WIC recipients can receive a maximum of twenty dollars in coupons among eligible WIC participants during the summer. In Del Paso Heights, there is less than a 50% redemption rate for the coupons, primarily because of the difficulty in accessing a market for resident in that neighborhood. Unless more of the coupons are used in Del Paso Heights, they will be diverted to areas with higher redemption rates. Bill Maynard suggested that Farmers' Market vendors could come directly to the WIC office during the summer to temporarily address the WIC coupon situation until the regular farmer's market started up. According to Gary Little, the farmers could get a special event pass in order to set up a mini-market at WIC.
   
   Other Commissioner Reports: Bill Maynard reported that UC Cooperative Extension Master Gardener's were sponsoring a Harvest Day event on Saturday August 3rd from 8am to 2pm. Sharon Eghigian asked if anyone had ideas for projects for a group of Jewish teenagers looking to do hunger-related volunteer work around July 17th. Shana suggested that they contact her to volunteer with the Summer Lunch program.
4. Policy and Budget Updates- Ms Eghigian described the fluctuating status of food related bills during the budget crisis and election year. She warned that it could be several weeks before we see a new budget approved. The move from monthly to quarterly reporting for food stamp recipients looks good. This would reduce the error rate and save California money. Unfortunately, Davis has tacked a requirement onto the bill that would require food stamp recipients to immediately inform their worker if their income surpasses 130% of the poverty level or be accused of fraud. Other states with quarterly reporting have "clean language" which allows workers to adjust the amount of stamps received every quarter. The Governor vetoed the exemption of one car for food stamps eligibility after it passed the legislature. Ms. Eghigian reported that this change was unlikely to go through again this year because of the budget deficit. Currently, only 4 of the counties that qualify have received waivers from the state to increase the food stamp time limit for able-bodies adults without children in areas of high unemployment. The waivers are slowly being issued on a county-by-county basis. The transitional benefit alternative, which would have extended 5months of food stamp benefits to people leaving cash assistance, will not go through this year. Commissioner Juan Valdez interjected a positive food stamp development—in determining food stamp eligibility, equity in your car is now excluded to the extent you owe money on it. Finally, Ms Eghigian also reported that the tax credit of 10% for donations to food banks will be piloted in Santa Cruz, Fresno and Orange counties.
5. Follow-up brainstorming re Hunger Commission role and issues raised in earlier meetings this year- children's nutrition, senior nutrition and community gardens -- Commissioner Dave Mitchell suggested that the commission continue its efforts to find new summer lunch sites, and to try to increase participation at existing sites. Commissioner Russell Medeiros discussed how InfoLine's unmet needs reports could be used to pinpoint areas where additional sites are needed. The commission discussed ways to get new summer lunch sites for next year. Cindy Nelson suggested that the commission become involved in long term versus emergency hunger issues. Ms Nelson brought up the issue of sustainability and long term impacts--both in terms of the Hunger Commission and gardening/agriculture movements. She suggested the Commission work on raising awareness in the community of the underlying causes of hunger and the way hunger is connected with broader issues such as obesity, sustainable agriculture, and corporate-created food. The commission engaged in a discussion on the role of Food Banks in promoting good or poor nutrition and the connection between poverty and hunger. The commission also discussed issuing reports, similar to the just-released California Hunger Report Card, on issues such as the state of community gardens in Sacramento. The commission agreed to send a letter to the City Council in support of the Mandella garden.
6. Meeting Evaluation- Several commissioners said that it was good to revisit past agenda items and that they would like to continue brainstorming at the next meeting.
7. Meeting adjourned at 1pm.

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