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Sacramento Hunger Commission: February 2003 Minutes

1. The meeting was called to order by Kevin Bond, Co-Vice Chair.
2. Minutes approved M/S (Schroeder, Nelson)
3. Reports and announcements - Media Training for Commissioners --Steve Caruso, Commissioner, offered to provide a free media-training workshop for interested Commissioners and staff at a future time TBA. The workshop will be co-facilitated by Tim Herrara from Channel 11. If interested, Commissioners should contact Peggy Roark, Program Manager.

• Hunger 101 -The Commission has been asked to facilitate Hunger 101 for a group of Sociology students at Sacramento City College on March 4. Commissioners interested in helping to facilitate can contact Shana McDavis-Conway.
• Website Wish List - Emily Piltch, Staff, announced that the Commission's website is almost finished and will include a donation/volunteer wish list for anti-hunger organizations. If Commissioners would like to add to the list, contact Emily.
• SETA moves to new Location and conducts public hearings-Albert Mills, Commissioner, announced that SETA is moving to a new location in Del Paso Heights at 925 Del Paso Blvd. SETA will be conducting public hearings on future projects and community priorities on 4/9 and 5/14 from 10am-12pm.
• Joint Steering Committee focuses on Food Security - David Quackenbush, Commissioner, announced that the CA Nutrition Network/CA 5 A Day Joint Steering Committee will be meeting March 11 from 10am-4pm to discuss food security in California. Organizations connected with food security issues will have resource tables at the event. The Hunger Commission will have a booth.
  Hunger Action Day will be on May 12 at the Capitol this year. More information coming soon.
• March for Meals Week -Barbara Finnestead, Commissioner, reported that Senior Nutrition Services' very successful fundraiser and public awareness campaign will be returning 3/10-3/14. SNS won a national award for their March for Meals campaign last year and hopes to receive comparable media coverage this year. The waiting list for home delivered meals is currently at 700 seniors.

1. Follow-up on Retreat brainstorming session - Based on Commissioner ideas from the retreat and responses to a follow-up memo, Ms. Roark prepared and distributed a draft 2003 Program of Work. The Commission discussed the goals and objectives of the Program of Work, including whether to continue publishing the Food For Thought newsletter on paper and to its current mailing list or go to an electronic newsletter; the Commission's funding status and ideas for future fundraising; increasing the visibility of the Commission and hunger issues in general; and getting more involved in the Emergency Food network. Nina Nelson, Commissioner, presented a mock-up of a zipcode-based outreach flyer and map. The flyer provides information on connecting to local community food resources and would be distributed by Commissioners. The map would also provide an opportunity to show gaps in services. The Commission commented on the flyer and envisioned ways to link the neighborhood outreach tool with Hunger Hits Home and future advocacy around a Food Charter.
2. Policy Update - A draft of the California Hunger Action Coalition's (CHAC) 2003 legislative agenda has been released. Copies were distributed. The Commission will vote on whether to support the agenda at the March meeting. A detailed update on Hunger Hits home was tabled until March. The Hunger Hits Home Advisory board will include Commissioners Diana Maffei, Ernie Brown, and Barbara Finnestead. The Advisory board is open to all Commissioners. Interested Commissioners can contact Ms. Roark.
3. Food Stamps/DHA Presentation - Senior Food Stamp Outreach Campaign Shana McDavis-Conway, Staff, briefly presented an update on the Hunger Commission's Food Stamp Outreach project to seniors. Commission staff developed outreach materials targeted to seniors and provided information and assistance at senior congregate meal sites. Commissioner Barbara Finnestead identified key senior food stamp contacts at each DHA bureau and distributed flyers to homebound seniors through the Home Delivered Meal Program. Since the beginning of the project, senior food stamp participation in Sacramento County has increased by nearly 20 percent. Sample copies of the current Food Stamp outreach materials were distributed to meeting attendees.
   Sacramento County Department of Human Assistance Quarterly Report. - Juan Valdez, Commissioner, reported on changes in the Food Stamp program. The Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) system implementation has been moved up to November 2003 from the original planned date in 2004. EBT allows food stamp recipients to receive benefits using a EBT debit card instead of paper coupons. Workgroups composed of DHA staff, advocacy groups, and other stakeholders will be meeting in the coming months. Quarterly Reporting for food stamp recipients is scheduled to replace monthly reporting on November 1, 2003. At the conclusion of his presentation Mr. Valdez showed DHA's new multi-language Food Stamp Video. The 3 minute video was primarily taped at the Sacramento Natural Food Co-op and emphasizes expedited service for food stamps. With expedited service, eligible food stamp applicants can receive their food stamps in 3 days or less. The video will be available free of charge to community based organizations or agencies.
4. Plus/Delta - The Commission discussed future meeting locations and decided to meet once more at Mather Community Campus (in March) before making a final decision via email poll. Alicia Oldfield, Commissioner, suggested arranging a carpool over email before the next meeting for those driving from downtown/midtown. Richard Schroeder will arrange for a tour of Mather after the March meeting for anyone interested.

The meeting was adjourned by Mr. Bond, Co-Vice chair, at 1:06pm.

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