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Sacramento Hunger Commission: July 2003 Minutes

1. The meeting was called to order by Kevin Bond, Chair.
2. June 17 minutes approved. (Brown/Anderson)
3. Reports and announcements
   • Senior Gleaners Grand Opening-Ernie Brown, Commissioner, reported that the grand opening of Senior Gleaners' new facility was a great success. 1100-1200 people attended the June 29th event.
   • Hunger Commission Website Goes Live-Peggy Roark, staff announced the Commission's entrance into the 21st century with www.targethunger.com. Ms Roark requested that Commissioners please check out the website and send staff any comments or suggestions.
   • Summer Food Media Day-Ms. Roark and Shana McDavis-Conway, staff, reported that the Commission's Media Day kickoff for the City's Summer Food Program was very successful. Several Commissioners and local politicians were in attendance including Councilmember Sandy Sheedy and Commissioners Lisa Hill, Bill Maynard, Judie Wilson, Franklin Anderson, and Kevin Bond. The event was held at the Robertson Community Center in North Sacramento and received some TV coverage. Ms. Roark thanked Ms. Wilson for her incomparable organizing efforts and reported that at least 80 children came to the event.
   • Hunger Commission brochure-Stephanie Wilson, a former staff member and currently heading up the Friends of the Hunger Commission group, is creating a brochure for the Commission.
   • Farmers' Market coupons for low-income seniors and WIC clients-- Janet Talsky, Commissioner, reported that all of the WIC Farmers' Market coupons have been distributed to clients. The coupons are good for $10 worth of fruits and vegetables. Barbara Finnestead, Commissioner, reported that Senior Nutrition Services has not received their Farmers' Market coupons for seniors yet.
   • Other Announcements---Commission staff and volunteers have been packing bags of fruit at California Emergency Foodlink every Thursday morning this summer. Ms. McDavis-Conway, staff, invited interested Commissioners and friends to join in the fruit-packing fun. The fruit is donated to children at different Summer Food sites each Friday. Ms. McDavis-Conway also passed around samples of the Hunger Commission-sponsored cookbook, "The Economical Epicurean: How to Eat like a Gourmet but Spend like a VISTA." The book, priced at $5, contains recipes contributed by past and present Sacramento VISTAs.
4. Update on Neighborhood-based outreach project-Nina Nelson and Alicia Oldfield, Commissioners, gave an update on the progress of the distribution of the Neighborhood-based Food Resource flyers. Kory Annonio, Commissioner, has distributed flyers though the San Juan School District school, Laundromats and Goodwill. Gary Little, Commissioner, agreed to distribute the flyers through community centers. Steve Caruso, Commissioner, has volunteered to take Elk Grove, with support from Janet Talsky. Commissioner. Judie Wilson, Commissioner, and Ms. Nelson will do the Carmichael area together.
   
   • Ms. Nelson requested that Commissioners please keep a record of the locations where flyers are dropped off. Ms. Oldfield is planning on contacting Commissioners who signed up for distribution duty as she finishes each neighborhood's flyer.
5. Policy Update -- The Commission testified at Sacramento County's Board of Supervisors hearings in May and early June on behalf of two key food programs: Home Delivered Meals (HDM) and WIC (Women Infants and Children Supplemental Nutrition Program). Barbara Finnestead, Commissioner, reported that overall Senior Nutrition Services (SNS), which operates HDM as well as the senior congregate meal program, received half of the funding needed, about $300,000. SNS may have to close some congregate sites and let go some part-time and temporary staff; it is also actively looking for volunteers to drive some of the HDM routes. Ms. Finnestead reported that the Hunger Commission testimony had a significant impact on maintaining the existing level of county funding for Home Delivered Meals.
   
   • Ms. Talsky reported that Sacramento County WIC funding was preserved for another full year. Stone Soup community gardeners spoke at the hearings, emphasizing the importance of WIC's impact beyond simply printing food vouchers. During the next year, State WIC will have time to look for another sponsor for the program.
6. "Hunger Hits Home" Update-Constance Lestienne presented some of the key findings from the Commission's new study on hunger, food insecurity and federal food assistance programs in Sacramento County. Ms. Lestienne asked Commissioners to send her suggestions for recommendations and also to provide assistance in conducting interviews with a number of food insecure Sacrament residents.
7. Presentation: EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) Overview-Kathy Hunter, supported by Kerri Aiello, Christine Bernard, and Sharon Sargeant from Sacramento County Department of Human Assistance, gave a well-organized Powerpoint presentation on the new EBT system for Food Stamps. EBT will allow Food Stamp clients to receive their benefits on a debit-like card, the "Golden State Advantage Card," instead of having to use paper coupons that need to be picked up at a food stamp outlet every month. There is no fee for clients to access food stamps using EBT and benefits can "rollover" to the next month. It is expected that this new technology will reduce stigma for clients, reduce the potential for welfare fraud, and eradicate food stamp coupon loss or theft. Unlike coupons or cash, a lost card can be replaced.
   • EBT will begin for new clients in mid-October and on November 1 for existing clients. The Commission was asked to help with outreach. EBT has been mandated by the federal government and California is one of the very last states to adopt it; 19 California counties are already using it. There were a number of questions and issues raised during and following the presentation. Debra Garcia, of Consumers Union, who has been working on EBT issues for the last three years, provided valuable input based on the experience of other counties who have already adopted EBT.
     

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