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DOES YOUR ORGANIZATION OFFER EMERGENCY FOOD AID IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19? CLICK HERE ([link removed][UNIQID])
** USDA NATIONAL HUNGER CLEARINGHOUSE
NEWSLETTER
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THE USDA NATIONAL HUNGER CLEARINGHOUSE IS OPERATED BY HUNGER FREE AMERICA
June 2020
** PANDEMIC EBT (P-EBT): WHAT IS IT?
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The Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 included Coronavirus Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) to allow temporary emergency benefits. P-EBT is for families with children who participated in the free or reduced meal programs in schools. These benefits help families buy food when school is closed.
The following states are still accepting applications: California ([link removed][UNIQID]) (until 6/30/2020), Kansas ([link removed][UNIQID]) (6/30/20), Kentucky ([link removed][UNIQID]) (6/30/30), Louisiana ([link removed][UNIQID]) (6/15/20), Minnesota ([link removed][UNIQID]) (6/30/20), New Hampshire ([link removed][UNIQID]#/) (8/24), North Dakota ([link removed][UNIQID]) (6/15/20), and Oregon ([link removed][UNIQID]) (6/30/20). Some states do not require an application and automatically enroll families that were participating in reduced/free meal programs in schools to receive P-EBT.
You can call the Hunger Hotline and our representatives can help you locate the P-EBT application or answer any questions you may have about the program. Learn more about P-EBT here ([link removed][UNIQID]) .
SUMMER MEALS FOR KIDS
The USDA created the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) in 1968 and has since grown, with an average of 2.6 million kids participating each day last summer. SFSP ensures that kids have access to nutritious meals even when school is not in session. These meal sites are located in schools, community centers, libraries, and a variety of other settings. Usually, meals must be served and eaten on site, however, with COVID-19 and the need for social distancing, the USDA has made a temporary exception to this rule and is allowing grab-and-go meals instead.
If you are interested in operating a site, click here ([link removed][UNIQID]) to learn more.
Use the Summer Meal Site Finder ([link removed][UNIQID]) tool or text "Summer" to 97-779 to find a summer meals near you. The USDA Hunger Hotline is also free to call at 866-348-6479 (English) or 877-842-6273 (Spanish) Monday through Friday from 7am-10pm ET.
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** BEST PRACTICES FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY
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Each month, Hunger Free America highlights anti-hunger best practices by groups across the country. This month we will highlight the work of Food Finders Food Bank (FFFB) based in northern Indiana.
(image from FFFB's website ([link removed][UNIQID]) )
Founded in 1981, FFFB collaborates with organizations in the area to fight food insecurity and distribute more than 9 million pounds of food to their network of nonprofits. But FFFB provide clients with more than just food: they also connect individuals to housing resources, provide assistance with SNAP applications, nutrition education, and utility and rent assistance.
In north central Indiana, 1 in 5 children struggle with hunger. FFFB created the BackPack program which provides children with a backpack of food for times when other resources are not available - like the weekends. This program currently serves over 2,300 children each week.
Some of their other programs and services include a mobile pantry, food resource and education center, senior grocery program, and waste not, want not. To learn more, visit their website ([link removed][UNIQID]) !
WHAT IS THE USDA NATIONAL HUNGER CLEARINGHOUSE?
The USDA National Hunger Clearinghouse - currently operated by Hunger Free America - was created to aide low-income individuals and communities. The clearinghouse can be accessed via the hunger hotline, which is free to call. Hotline representatives connect callers to a variety of resources for individuals seeking food assistance, such as: food pantries, soup kitchens, SNAP, summer meals, and more.
WHAT ARE THE HOURS OF OPERATION FOR THE HOTLINE?
Monday thru Friday 7 am - 10 pm Eastern Standard Time. Please be advised assistance is available in English or Spanish.
CAN I APPLY FOR OR RE-CERTIFY FOR SNAP BY CALLING THE HOTLINE?
Please be advised we do not have access to individual SNAP account information, we do have the ability to connect callers with their state hotline where they can request specific account information and obtain further instruction on ways to apply for SNAP.
To locate your SNAP State Hotline number text "SNAP" to 977-79
To locate your EBT Customer Service number text "EBT" to 977-79
IF YOU ARE AN EMERGENCY FOOD PROVIDER AND WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED TO THE NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE DATABASE, CLICK HERE ([link removed][UNIQID])
Anyone can call the hotline for free and speak to a representative in English or in Spanish. To reach an English-speaking representative, call 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479). To reach a Spanish-speaking representative, call 1-877-8-HAMBRE (1-877-842-6273). The hotline is available Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET.
ANTI HUNGER GRANTS
Hunger Is, an anti-hunger program funded by the Albertsons Companies Foundation and the Entertainment Industry Foundation, has awarded over 4.6 million dollars in grants within the past year to assist organizations seeking to join them in ending childhood hunger. Hunger Free America is proud to be a partner in their initiative to secure free school breakfast meals for all school-aged students. Their work has been instrumental in diminishing hunger nationwide. The grant is available for organizations in the following states: California, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Washington. For information on how to be a part of this upcoming year's round of funding, click here ([link removed][UNIQID]&mc_cid=b3458130ec&mc_eid=[UNIQID]) .
The W. K. Kellogg Foundation accepts healthy kids and community/civic engagement grant applications throughout the year with no submission deadline. To apply online, click here ([link removed][UNIQID]&mc_cid=b3458130ec&mc_eid=[UNIQID]) .
The Walmart Foundation issues a variety of grants to organizations seeking additional funding, through its giving program. Grant applications for national-level organizations are available year-round, and applications for community impact grants can be submitted until December 31st. For more information on how to apply, click here ([link removed][UNIQID]) .
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