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With the economy in decline and the demand for services skyrocketing, members of the Anti-Hunger and Nutrition Coalition reacted to the Governor’s 2009-11 operating budget with concern.
Many low-income parents skip meals so that their children can eat. At one Spokane food bank, 60% of parents said they skipped meals to give their children food. Click on the attached fact sheet to learn more about childhood hunger in Washington.
Summary of impacts on hunger in the House and Senate Farm Fills 2007
Don't leave kids half full: Legislative Priorities for Hunger and Nutrition in 2008
Fill out this form to join the Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition
The Spokesman Review in Spokane carried a great story about how nearly impossible it is to feed a family a balanced, healthy diet on a tight budget. The article quotes the Children’s Alliance’s very own food policy expert, Linda Stone, and highlighted the expansion of food stamp eligibility that will go into effect on October 1st. The expansion, which was a big victory in the 2008 legislative session, will open up food stamps to 23,000 more families.
A Seattle Times editorial called out the struggles of families to pay the cost of school lunch – and noted that kids grade four and above are still waiting for the legislature to eliminate the reduced price lunch co-pay.
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer Editorial Board came out strongly in favor of advancing programs that feed children in Washington State. The editorial noted the invisibility of childhood hunger:
“Hunger among Washington's children can be hard to detect. Their teachers may only notice inattention and crankiness.”
As well as making a strong case for investing now in the needs of hungry families and children.
Renowned chef and author Tom Douglas spoke up for the Children's Alliance's plan to end childhood hunger in a guest editorial in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer last week.
"As a chef, I take pleasure in feeding people. As a citizen, I find it appalling that people in my community are hungry...End Childhood Hunger Washington's 10-point strategic plan lays out how we can end childhood hunger in our state."
Washington’s hunger rankings have finally fallen below national levels.