COMING SUMMER 2020: USDA NATIONAL HUNGER CLEARINGHOUSE DATABASE

Hunger Free America is in the process of building a comprehensive national resource database that will be available to the public, free of charge. The database will include a list of private and public sites which provide subsidized food that is, by far, the most accurate in the country by utilizing a combination of data sharing partnerships, crowd-sourcing, and in-house validation to keep data fresh and accurate. Utilizing technology will make it easier for anyone to give help or get help to fight hunger. Nationwide, there are more than 40,000 food pantries and soup kitchens, thousands of government food assistance application sites, and 8,600 farmers markets, but there is no existing nationwide database of these entities that is comprehensive and up-to-date.

Our top goals for this database are:

• To efficiently connect hungry Americans and service providers to food resources and the pertinent details needed to effectively access those resources (such as hours of operation and eligibility requirements)
• To make federal nutrition assistance programs more accessible to the tens of millions of hungry Americans who are eligible for these programs, but fail to receive the aid they need. HFA has conducted extensive research on this topic and has identified technology as an effective way to increase access to and awareness of these programs.

The programs we’re looking to include are:

• Food Pantries
• Soup Kitchens
• Local WIC Clinics and SNAP Agencies 
• SNAP Eligibility and Application Assistance Partners (non-government entities that assist with eligibility screenings and application assistance)
• WIC Eligibility and Application Assistance Partners (non-government entities that assist with eligibility and application assistance)
• Farmers’ Markets that accept benefits
• Senior Feeding Programs
• CSFP Distribution Sites
• TEFAP Distribution Sites

Benefits of participating include:

• Helping people in your community and across the country access resources by providing accurate information that will be accessible by phone (USDA Hunger Hotline), text (97779), online (USDA Database), or via an app (GotFood?).
• Direct access to data for resources all over the country through the database and above-mentioned portals. 
• Access to data and updates in real-time through an API, where available, or through a log-in portal specifically designed for agencies to access, pull, and use data as needed, as well as to make updates directly to the database.
• Assistance in volunteer recruitment if desired. 

If you have any questions or would like to further discuss ways in which we can build a mutually beneficial partnership, please contact our Data Director, Angelica Gibson, at [email protected]. With your help, we can reach the 37.2 million Americans in need of food and connect those who wish to contribute to the fight against hunger with the information and resources they need to do so.

BEST PRACTICES FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY

Each month, Hunger Free America highlights anti-hunger best practices across the country. This month we will highlight the NH Food Bank's job training program.

In the state of New Hampshire, one in 9 are food insecure and 12% of children live in food insecure environments. To increase their impact and further help people access an adequate food supply, the NH Food Bank has expanded their services to empower others and encourage self sufficiency. These programs include Recipe for Success, culinary job training, Cooking Matters®, fresh rescue, NH Nutrition Incentives Network, production garden and mobile food pantries.

The Culinary Job Training program is an 8-week course that provides those experiencing financial hardships with the opportunity to learn the skills necessary to work in the food service industry. The training primarily consists of hands-on experience preparing meals for agencies registered with the Food Bank. Outside of the kitchen, the Food Bank also provides training on basic financial skills, resume writing, and interview techniques. 

Check out their website to learn more!

If you would like to nominate an organization for best practice, email [email protected].