Category: Advocacy

A Letter from Paul

February 5, 2019

Over the years, I have seen time and again how much more expensive it is to buy and eat healthy foods. We live in a society that has created a very efficient prepared, packaged, and processed food industry that turns out very cheap and high-calorie products. So for our neighbors constrained by budget, produce, for example, won’t give the same bang for your buck as a fast-food “value meal.”

I’m so proud of the way our Food Bank community has stepped in to bridge this gap and increased access to high-quality food for all. Your generosity enables us to provide plenty of fresh produce in the mix of options that people find in our pantries. In fact, two-thirds of the food we distribute is produce and other high-protein foods, such as dairy and eggs.

Through our Nutrition Education program, we’re ensuring that neighbors know how to prepare healthy meals with the food we provide. We also encourage participants to make healthier choices long-term and offer tips for shopping for nutritious foods on a limited budget.

Our participants know they can count on us week in, and week out — not only for great food, but for the resources and information they need to make great meals. In the same way, the Food Bank relies on our monthly donors who provide consistent support, month after month, all year long.

Our monthly donors are such a gift to us because their consistent support provides the financial security we need to make long-term decisions such as expanding our facility in Marin. If you aren’t a monthly donor already, I encourage you to consider becoming one. All February long, Gilead Sciences, Inc. is generously offering to match all new and increased monthly gifts for a full year, up to a total of $125,000.

This year, with your support and the support of our monthly donors, we look forward to doing even more of what we do best: feeding people.

Thank you for your continued partnership in this work.

With gratitude,

Paul Ash, Executive Director,

San Francisco-Marin Food Bank

A Letter from Paul | Beyond Election Day

November 8, 2018

Now that the election is behind us, there continues to be much work ahead in the fight against hunger. Hunger is a bi-partisan issue, and we at the Food Bank will continue to work with politicians on both sides of the aisle to advocate for programs that provide food assistance and alleviate poverty.

We invite you to join us.  In the coming months, we’ll need your support on key policy issues, including:

  • 1) The Farm Bill, the biggest driver of U.S. food and farming policy, is overdue for reauthorization. We rely on this vital legislation to put food on the table for millions of low-income Americans because it includes funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP,” formerly food stamps and called CalFresh in California). Right now, the House and Senate are working to reconcile their separate versions of the Bill. Some reports indicate that the House will produce a final bill during the lame-duck session, maybe as early as next week.  We will be advocating for a Farm Bill that protects and strengthens SNAP, one of the most efficient and effective solutions to ending hunger and poverty in America.
  • 2) Public Charge: We are alarmed by the Department of Homeland Security’s proposed changes to ‘public charge’ regulations, which would increase hunger and poverty by penalizing immigrants who accept nearly any kind of means-tested public assistance. Participating in programs like CalFresh, Section 8 housing, and Medicaid/Medi-Cal would become reason to deny an immigrant from obtaining lawful permanent residency (a green card) or get admitted to the United States. We don’t believe families should have to choose between putting food on the table and a future in this county. We urge you to help us oppose this proposal by making a public comment before December 10 on the federal register.
  • 3) Able-Bodied Adults without Dependents (ABAWD): Close to 3,000 people in San Francisco are at risk of losing CalFresh (food stamps) benefits on December 1 because a federal waiver for work requirements will expire. As a result, San Franciscans who are between 18 and 49 years old and have no dependents nor disabilities must work at least 80 hours a month to continue receiving CalFresh benefits.  Regardless of how low the rate of unemployment becomes in our counties, we do not believe withdrawing CalFresh benefits will create a better situation for the recipients or for the community.  We are working closely with our community partners to ensure that everyone at risk of losing CalFresh benefits has been notified, screened for an exemption to retain their benefits, and made aware of other food resources/assistance.

Distributing nearly a million pounds of food every week always feels more urgent during November and December – when we strive to ensure that everyone in our community can enjoy the simple pleasure of a festive, nourishing holiday meal. Please know that while we continue to deliver millions of pounds of food to our community, we will also continue to work with lawmakers and advocates to preserve safety-net services for our most vulnerable neighbors. We have the ear of representatives on the local, state and federal level, and we believe that Food For All should be a motto that the entire country adopts.

Get the latest news about how you can help us advocate by subscribing to our monthly eNews and following us on social media.

With gratitude,

Paul Ash, Executive Director, San Francisco-Marin Food Bank

 

Big victories in Sacramento in 2018

June 22, 2018

2018 has been a big year for State budget advocacy. From a huge victory for seniors and people with disabilities, to greater support for food banks – we are grateful for our local legislators who have been allies every step of the way!

SSI recipients and CalFresh!

SSI (Supplemental Security Income) is a program that provides modest monthly grants to seniors and people with disabilities living on a low income. The maximum grant for an individual is about $910 per month. Due to a harmful state policy enacted in 1974, people on SSI have been barred from applying for CalFresh benefits.  In fact, California was the only state in the country where being on SSI made you ineligible for CalFresh.

But this year – thanks to fierce advocacy from Californians for SSI, a coalition of organizations and SSI recipients from across California – the Legislature and Governor Brown took action to end this policy. Starting in the summer of 2019, SSI recipients will be able to apply for CalFresh!

“This is a historic victory for the 46,000 people living on SSI in San Francisco and Marin counties, and is the single biggest advancement in the fight against hunger in many decades,” says Becky Gershon, Policy and Advocacy Manager for the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank.

Meanwhile, living on SSI is still quite a struggle, especially in high-rent counties like San Francisco and Marin. Check out our latest video from an SSI listening session, hosted by St. Anthony’s Foundation:

Increased $$ for food banks!

Operating food banks requires infrastructure: trucks, refrigeration units, pallet jacks, forklifts, and all sorts of other equipment that helps to keep fresh groceries moving. Unfortunately, equipment can get old, and break down, but ask any food bank operations manager and they’ll say they’d rather spend money on food to nourish more people than upgrades to infrastructure. We started a postcard writing campaign, urging Governor Brown to set aside funding for Food Bank infrastructure, and it worked.  The Governor approved $5.5 million in state funding this year to help food banks with the cost of upgrades!

We also sent postcards, signed by many of our supporters and volunteers, urging the Governor to include more funding for the CalFood program, which gives money to food banks to be able to purchase California grown foods.  Governor Brown came through again, allocating $8 million to that program.  Both funding measures will be shared among the 40+ food banks in California.

Thank you to all of you who signed these postcards during volunteer shifts in our warehouse, or those who signed our email petition. We believe that this collective effort played a role in the Governor’s decision-making.

Stay Connected!

Throughout the rest of the summer, the Food Bank’s Policy and Advocacy team will be working hard to promoting more State legislation that we have identified as important steps towards ending hunger. You can see the full list here.  We also urge you to sign up for our Advocacy Alerts, so you can help us spread our message at critical moments. Finally, stay engaged and get instant updates by following us on Twitter at @SFMFB_Advocacy.

Sarah’s Story | Second Chance with CalFresh

May 1, 2018

Sarah breaks out her CalFresh (food stamps) EBT card at a neighborhood supermarket and gives a relieved smile because she is able to purchase the healthy, fresh vegetables that she needs to maintain and improve her health.

Every year, the Food Bank helps hundreds of neighbors like Sarah enroll in CalFresh because we know that accessing healthy food is essential for low-income neighbors who are striving to overcome challenges.

Bad luck and broken dreams

It was several years ago when Sarah suffered a pair of episodes that cast a dark cloud over her life.  In 2011, while walking up a flight of stairs on a rainy night, she slipped and tumbled over the banister, free falling two stories to the ground below. “I still have a lot of pain and range-of-motion issues, not to mention some emotional scars, from that fall,” She recounts.  Then, not even a year later, her father passed away after a long illness.  The pain from her fall, and the pain of losing her father combined to launch Sarah into a state of deep depression. She lost her job and eventually her apartment and became homeless.

Before these misfortunes, Sarah dreamed of owning her own health spa. She grew up in San Francisco’s Marina neighborhood in an upper-middle class home. After high school, Sarah moved to Los Angeles to “make her mark on the world.”  But when her father started having health issues, she moved back to the Bay Area to be closer to him.  Sarah found a job in a high-end health spa in Sausalito and really took to it.  “I had a real knack for working in that place, and I thought I was going to own my own spa business one day,” she says.

Building a better life

Today, lingering health challenges have made it hard for Sarah to find work. But that hasn’t stopped her from striving for a better life.  She recently secured her own apartment, is receiving treatment for her injuries, and is eating healthier thanks to her CalFresh benefits.

“I get about $180 a month through CalFresh, which is a big help by allowing me to buy fresh vegetables and protein and other things,” she says. “When I finally get back on my feet financially, I hope to stop getting CalFresh.  But for now, it really is a life-saving thing for me.”

Take Action for CalFresh

Unfortunately, her worrying isn’t over. Sarah says she’s fearful that politicians will cut much of the funding for CalFresh when they vote on the 2018 Farm Bill. Losing CalFresh could send her spiraling back to her darkest days.

“If I had a chance to tell a politician about CalFresh, I would say it’s working, that it’s helping people like me be better,” Sarah says. “If anything, more money needs to be added to the program, not less, because there are people in this city who are way worse off than me.”

If you are in need of CalFresh benefits, the Food Bank’s CalFresh Outreach team can help; learn more by clicking here.

If you want to help neighbors like Sarah move forward and realize their dreams, sign up for our Policy and Advocacy Newsletter and we’ll send you alerts when we need your help with petitions and phone calls to elected officials.

Advocacy Update | Food Bank team goes to Washington, D.C.

March 10, 2018

On Saturday, February 24th, the Food Bank’s Policy and Advocacy team – Becky Gershon and Diana Jensen – boarded a plane for Washington, D.C. to attend the annual National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference and Lobby Day. This conference, hosted every year by Feeding America and the Food Research and Action Center, is an opportunity to connect with hunger advocates from around the county.

The focus this year was the Farm Bill, which is up for review by Congress later this year and includes policies and funding for SNAP (formerly known as Food Stamps, called CalFresh in California).The Food Bank and our fellow anti-hunger advocates are on high alert, since this omnibus bill is reauthorized just once every 4 or 5 years, and Republican lawmakers have threatened with funding cuts for SNAP numerous times in recent months.

SUNDAY, March 25

There was plenty to see on Day One of the conference, but the highlight was a panel session that included Charles M. Blow, an Op-Ed columnist at The New York Times, and Fatima Goss Graves, president and CEO of the National Women’s Law Center. The conversation quickly turned into a back-and-forth on the complex intersection of institutional racism, our education system, income inequality – and how it all relates to food insecurity.  When it was over, the panel received a several-minutes long standing-ovation.

MONDAY, March 26

Monday’s sessions focused on the latest legislative threats to federal nutrition programs like SNAP, strategies for strengthening the federal safety net, ways to alleviate poverty, and how to address issues of economic exclusion. One of the panelists speaking on Monday was Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA), who has been a voice for the most vulnerable and a strong advocate for working families.  His speech left no doubt that he will continue to be a leading champion on working to improve and protect SNAP. Whether that means calling out damaging ideas like the recent ‘America’s Harvest Box’ proposal, or overdue strategies, like increasing the benefits to respond to the true cost of living.

TUESDAY, March 27 – Lobby Day

Like in years past, this conference wrapped up on Tuesday with visits to Capitol Hill where our team joined 1,000 anti-hunger advocates to walk the halls of Congress, meet one-on-one with legislators, and urge them to protect SNAP, which benefits over 40 million Americans who might otherwise go hungry.

Becky and Diana kicked off the day by meeting with staff of Senators Diane Feinstein and Kamala Harris.  They explained the critical importance of a strong SNAP program for Californians across the state, and the need to fully fund the Emergency Food Assistance Program and the Supplemental Food Program, which help food banks to keep distributing nutritious groceries. In the afternoon, they met with staff from House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Congressman Jared Huffman.  Both are incredible allies in our local work to end hunger!

In the months ahead as the Farm Bill discussions ramp up, we will stay vigilant, and using our voice to fight for a strong, responsive, and accessible SNAP program for our neighbors in need. We can’t do this work without you!

Check out the #hungerpc18 hashtag on Twitter to see inspiring moments and reflections from the conference.

 

Message from Paul Ash | Leave SNAP Alone

February 14, 2018

President Trump released his budget proposal for 2018 earlier this week, that if approved would cut and cripple a number of vital safety-net programs, including SNAP.  Trump’s proposal includes things like:

  • Reducing SNAP spending by $213.5 BILLION over 10 years
  • Partially replacing EBT benefits with a box of food commodities from USDA
  • Penalizing large families by imposing a cap at 6 people per household
  • Eliminating the minimum benefit

The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank was quick to act, submitting a strongly worded statement (Below).

We are deeply troubled by the President’s proposed federal budget released earlier this week, which takes direct aim at our country’s most important and effective anti-hunger program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (called CalFresh in California). These proposals to slash funding and dismantle the program would amount to over $200 billion in cuts over 10 years – equivalent to 30% of the program’s budget – through cruel and ill-conceived ideas like partially replacing benefits with boxes of USDA commodities, capping benefits for large households, and eliminating the minimum benefit. We recognize the harmful effect that this negative rhetoric has on our communities and the people we serve, and we continue to remain firmly committed to using our voice to elevate the importance of federal nutrition programs like SNAP for the 4 million Californians who rely on the program to nourish their families.

If you would like to help the Food Bank through these trying times, consider giving a donation, filling a volunteer shift, or following us on Twitter, Facebook, and/or Instagram.

Message from Paul Ash | GOP Tax Bill Poses Double Threat for Nonprofits

December 22, 2017

This week, the Republican-led Congress passed a sweeping overhaul of the U.S. tax code, which President Trump signed into law today.

This tax bill has the potential to hamper the Food Bank in two significant ways: It could disincentivize charitable giving, and it will trigger cuts to safety-net programs in order to reduce a ballooning federal deficit.

By doubling the standard deduction, the tax bill would effectively eliminate the incentive for charitable contributions for millions of taxpayers. Any changes to this provision – which has encouraged charitable giving for more than a century – could result in a devastating decline in donations. Because 60% of the Food Bank’s operating revenue comes from individual donors, we are very concerned that this could be a direct blow to our operating budget – hurting our ability to serve our community.

In addition, the tax cuts will cause a major increase in the federal deficit, which politicians say they will balance by cutting safety-net programs such as SNAP (Food Stamps) and Medicaid. According to House Speaker Paul Ryan,’We’re going to have to get back next year at entitlement reform, which is how you tackle the debt and the deficit.’

It has been our experience that such pressure results in disproportionate cuts to programs intended to help those most in need. Achieving deficit reductions ‘on the backs’ of our most vulnerable neighbors will cause even more people to turn to the Food Bank and other nonprofits for help. It could generate demand for food assistance that we cannot meet.

These are uncertain times for not just the Food Bank, but nonprofits around the nation. We are issuing an urgent message to our donors and partners that in 2018 we will need their support more than ever.

Show your support: click here to donate to San Francisco-Marin Food Bank.

Advocacy Wins 2017

November 1, 2017

We are happy to report that there is a lot to celebrate from California’s 2017 legislative session.

At the beginning of the year, our Policy and Advocacy Team set our sights on 11 bills and two budget issues that we knew could improve food access for our neighbors in need. Throughout the year we wrote letters to our legislators in Sacramento, encouraged our supporters to call their own legislators, and even testified at hearings in the Capitol. And thanks to our partners at the California Association of Food Banks, the California Food Policy Advocates, and the Western Center on Law and Poverty – among many organizations – we saw several important victories in our collective goal to end hunger.  Here are some of the highlights:

Starting in 2018, we will see more State funding for food banks across the state:

  • $8 million for the CalFood fund in 2017-18, which will provide State funding to food banks to purchase more California-grown fruits and vegetables – a big victory considering the fund only received $2 million last year! Thank you to those of you who signed a postcard for Governor Brown or Assemblymember Ting.
  • Senate Bill 61, authored by Senator Hertzberg, will renew and extend the Emergency Food for Families Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund. This will allow taxpayers to keep contributing to the work of food banks in California through their tax returns.

Children and students in California will have better access to nutrition at school:

  • Senate Bill 138, authored by Senator McGuire, will require school districts to identify children who are already on Medi-Cal so that they can automatically be enrolled in free school meals. The legislation also allows very high poverty schools across California to serve universal free breakfast and lunch to all of their students – not just those who are enrolled in free or reduced-price meals.
  • Senate Bill 250, authored by Senator Hertzberg, will ensure that schools cannot deny lunch nor punish students if their parent or guardian hasn’t paid their lunch bill on time.

CalFresh (food stamps) will become easier to access for families and individuals in need:

  • Several bills will make it easier for eligible people to receive and stay on CalFresh benefits starting next year. This includes SB 278, authored by Senator Wiener, which will protect CalFresh participants from penalties related to over-issuances when they were caused by county errors, and SB 282 also authored by Senator Wiener, which will provide clarity to counties on whether they can encourage people to use their CalFresh benefits at restaurants.
  • Assembly Bill 607, authored by Assemblymember Gloria, will streamline and modernize the Disaster-CalFresh program, making it easier and quicker for people to receive benefits in the case of a natural disaster.

You, as supporters of the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank, empower our Policy & Advocacy team to advance legislation and policies that improve food assistance at the local, state and national level.   For that we say thank you.

Click here to sign up for our Advocacy Alerts, so that you can help us to advocate at critical moments in the legislative session in 2018!

Grassroots advocacy achieves CalFood win

July 10, 2017

Thanks to everyone who signed the postcards and letters created by the Food Bank to urge Governor Jerry Brown and Assembly member Phil Ting to fund the CalFood program.  CalFood is a key part of the state budget that allows food banks like ours to efficiently purchase locally produced foods — such as eggs and cheese — which helps families stay nourished.  With your support, our Advocacy Team sent a strong message to Sacramento.  On June 27, Governor Brown signed a new state budget into law, which includes a historic investment in CalFood.

CalFood – formerly the ‘State Emergency Food Assistance Program’ – was created in 2011. The program remained unfunded until last year, when it received a one-time investment of $2 million, which was shared among the many food banks in California. This year, advocates from around the state, led by the California Association of Food Banks, came together to urge our Governor to make a bigger, and more permanent investment.  Thanks to our collective efforts – and your participation – the 2017-2018 budget includes $8 million for CalFood.  In addition, future state budgets include a permanent annual funding stream for CalFood of $6 million annually.

This historic win was a tremendous group effort. Thank you to everyone who advocated for CalFood with us – your voice matters!

Stay tuned for more advocacy opportunities by subscribing to our eNewsletter and Advocacy Alerts.  We’re gearing up to protect federal funding for CalFresh (formerly food stamps) which is expected to face cuts in upcoming Congressional budget proposals.

Food For All – A Message from Paul Ash

February 7, 2017

A message from San Francisco-Marin Food Bank Executive Director Paul Ash

Dear Neighbors,

We want you to know that no matter what is happening in our country, you are welcome at the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank and throughout our partner network. We will continue to provide nutritious food to residents of Marin and San Francisco regardless of their citizenship or immigration status.

In recent weeks, the United States of America has experienced some of the biggest political demonstrations in a generation. This is a time of immense change and, for some, great fear. We want to reassure you that when you access food through our programs, we will never ask for or share information about your immigration status, and we have safeguards in place to protect your personal information.

At the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank, we care about one thing above all – that no one in our community goes hungry. We believe everyone in our community should be able to obtain enough nutritious food in a dignified manner to support the health and well-being of themselves and their families.

As always, we are committed to provide food for all.

Sincerely,

Paul Ash

>>> We invite you to share your story and thoughts in the comments section below.

 

最新訊息出自於三藩市–馬連食物庫執行董事，Paul Ash

為所有人提供基本的溫飽。

 

敬愛的市民，

我們希望你知道，不管我們國家現在發生什麼事，三藩市–馬連食物庫無任歡迎你參與我們或與其他機構合作提供的服務。我們會繼續向三藩市和馬連縣的居民提供有營養糧食， 不論你是公民或移民身份。

最近，美國經歷了這一代前所未見的大規模政治示威活動。

對於近日來的巨大改變，引起了部分市民不少的憂慮。

我們向各位保證，當你參與我們提供的服務，我們絕不要求或分享有關你的移民資料。另外，我們會確保你的私人資料獲得足夠保障。

三藩市–馬連食物庫最重視是–沒有人面臨飢餓困境。

我們至誠相信每一個人都應該有權獲取有營養糧食來維護自己及家人的健康。

一如既往，我們向所有人承諾提供有營養糧食。

 

敬啟，

Paul Ash

 

Un mensaje de Paul Ash, Director Ejecutivo del Banco de Alimentos de San Francisco-Marin

Comida Para Todos

Estimados Vecinos,

Queremos que sepa que no importa lo que esté sucediendo en nuestro país, usted es bienvenido en el Banco de Alimentos de San Francisco-Marin y en toda nuestra red de organizaciones asociadas. Seguiremos entregando alimentos nutritivos a los residentes de Marín y San Francisco sin importar su estatus de ciudadanía o inmigración.

En las últimas semanas, los Estados Unidos ha experimentado algunas de las mayores manifestaciones políticas en una generación. Este es un tiempo de cambios inmensos y, para algunos, de gran temor. Queremos asegurarle que cuando usted recibe alimentos a través de nuestros programas, nunca pediremos o compartiremos información acerca de su estado migratorio, y tenemos medidas de seguridad para proteger su información personal.

En el Banco de Alimentos de San Francisco-Marin nos preocupa una cosa sobre todo: que nadie en nuestra comunidad tenga hambre. Creemos que todos en nuestra comunidad deben ser capaces de obtener suficientes alimentos nutritivos de una manera digna para apoyar la salud y el bienestar de ellos mismos y sus familias.

Como siempre, estamos comprometidos a proporcionar comida para todos.

Atentamente,

Paul Ash