HUNGER ISSUES FOR 2009

The Hunger Network in Ohio--in cooperation with the overall Vote Out Poverty campaign, Ohio Anti-hunger Task Force, and our ongoing collegial network of human service advocates--will work cooperatively within five principal areas (Hunger, Health care, Homelessness/Housing, Education, and Employment). Recognizing the hunger implications within each of these poverty-related indices, urgent food assistance will remain our primary focus.

In response to a severely declining economy and financial deficiencies among Ohioans, we will dedicate ourselves to especially three dimensions of hunger relief:

o Availability of Emergency Food. Advocating for increasing state support for the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbank system, participation in gleaning in conjunction with the Society of St. Andrew's, generating support for church and community emergency feeding programs.

o Spread of Benefit Banks. Working especially with individual church and ecumenical groups throughout the state to develop expertise in food pantry workers for helping clients to obtain public sources for which they, through their economic disparity, qualify.

o Supplemental Food Assistance. Promoting federal increase in the amount and availability of “food stamps,” WIC, community meals programs.