Hunger Task Force: Milwaukee, WI

From: The Hunger Task Force

Founded in 1974 by a group of parent advocates who were fighting for a school breakfast program in Milwaukee Public Schools. In the early 1980s, this group formed Milwaukee’s first food bank: Hunger Task Force.

Today, Hunger Task Force provides a safety net of emergency food to a network of local food pantries and meal programs. We are the only food bank in Milwaukee that does not charge for food, delivery or network membership. Staying true to our roots, we continue to advocate for social policies and strong nutrition programs that fight future hunger.

Check out our website to learn more!

NH Food Bank Kicks-Off 7th Annual Nothing Campaign April 12, generously supported by Citizens Bank

by: New Hampshire Food Bank

Washington, D.C. - April 14, 2019 - (Ponder America's Homeless) -- 1 in 9 NH residents, including approximately 11% of children, do not know where their next meal will come from. For many, it is a choice between medical care, paying their rent, utilities, heat or buying food. Unfortunately, the numbers continue to rise. In 2018 alone, the NH Food Bank distributed more than 14.1 million pounds of food to over 425 partner agencies throughout the state.

We live in one of the richest countries in the world, and have more than enough food to feed everyone. It’s just a matter of enough of us making the decision to help. While some think that nothing can be done to solve the issue of hunger, the NH Food Bank believes that we can all do something to ensure everyone in the state has enough food to eat.

Nothing is a stark reality for hundreds of thousands of New Hampshire residents every day, but today, Nothing is also a way to help end hunger in NH. The New Hampshire Food Bank, in partnership with Citizens Bank®, has come together with NH grocery partners in the fight against hunger and want to get individuals, businesses and organizations involved in the effort as well.

Do Something About Nothing

In partnership with Citizens Bank and with the support of NH Food Bank’s grocery partners, Granite Staters can help make a difference, starting April 6 and through May 31 purchase Nothing cans for $5 at participating Hannaford®, Harvest Market®, Market Basket®, Shaw’s®, Sully’s Superette® in Allenstown and Goffstown and Vista Foods® in Laconia. Each Nothing can purchased will provide approximately 10 meals, and cans filled with generous donations can help provide approximately 60 meals to your neighbor that faces hunger every day.

Get Involved

What: NH 7th Annual Nothing Campaign

When: April 12th through May 31
Where:New Hampshire Food Bank
Participating Stores Locations

MITCHELL, CARBAJAL, BACON INTRODUCE BILL TO HELP EDUCATE HOMELESS AND FOSTER YOUTH

by: Paul Mitchell (R MI, 10th)

Washington, D.C. - April 12, 2019 - (Ponder America's Homeless) -- Congressmen Paul Mitchell (R-Mich.), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), and Don Bacon (R-NE) introduced the Removing Barriers to Foster Youth Success in College Act, which revises certain federal TRIO policies and practices to remove barriers to participation for homeless youth, and students in foster care. Federal TRIO programs are outreach and student service programs designed to identify and aid individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.

“We have a moral imperative to helps students from disadvantaged backgrounds. My bill ensures that students experiencing homelessness or in the foster care system have better access to federal TRIO programs designed to help high school students entering college,” said Mitchell. “The numbers clearly show that these students, who overwhelmingly want to obtain an education, are not receiving the support they need to achieve their goal. My bill will remove barriers to participation for disadvantaged students trying to access these TRIO programs, allowing them to fulfill their potential.”

“As a first-generation college student, I’ve experienced how daunting a college campus can feel when most of your peers have spent years in college-preparatory classes or advanced summer school courses,” said Carbajal. “TRIO programs are critical to providing children from underserved communities the tools they need to succeed while pursuing a higher education degree. I’m glad to join Congressman Mitchell to improve our outreach programs for homeless children and youth in foster care.”

“Every child deserves the same sense of promise and possibility as any other youth regardless of their circumstances. We owe it to our nation’s foster youth to give them the tools to succeed when they become adults. When I was growing up, I know that most young kids in my community needed help when they turned 18 – including me. That is why I am glad to support and co-lead this important legislation aimed at helping young men and women transition out of the foster care system and into careers and family lives of their own,” said Bacon.

Background:

TRIO Programs are federal outreach and student services programs funded by grants administered by the U.S. Department of Education that are designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds (low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and people with disabilities).

Talent Search is designed to identify qualified youths with college potential and encourage them to finish high school and go to college, publicize the availability of, and facilitate the application for, student financial assistance, and encourage persons who have not finished high school or college to do so.

Upward Bound is designed to generate the skills and motivation necessary for success in education beyond secondary school.

Specifically:

The bill adds application requirements to ‘Talent Search’ and ‘Upward Bound’ programs, requiring projects to—

•Review and revise policies and practices to remove barriers to the participation and retention of homeless and foster youth;
•Submit a description of the activities that will be undertaken to outreach to homeless and foster youth; and
•Submit a report of any strategies or program enhancements that were used that were effective in meeting the needs of homeless and foster youth.

This bill also requires relevant TRIO program recipients prepare and submit a report on the program’s enhancement effectiveness to the Secretary and subsequently, the Secretary must to prepare and present a report to Congress on the information found.

TO READ THE TEXT OF THE REMOVING BARRIERS TO FOSTER YOUTH SUCCESS IN COLLEGE ACT, CLICK HERE.

Governor and First Lady Bullock’s Youth Leadership Council Fight Childhood Hunger through Statewide Week of Events

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by: Montana Governor’s Office

Helena, MT - April 12, 2019 - (Ponder the Homeless) -- Governor Steve Bullock and First Lady Lisa Bullock have kicked off the 5th annual statewide Fight Childhood Hunger Week in Montana. From April 8-14, over 40 projects and events will take place in 16 communities across the state. Projects are organized and led by 19 middle and high school students who serve on the Governor and First Lady Youth Leadership Council.

“Nothing inspires me more than seeing students take the lead in fighting childhood hunger in their communities,” First Lady Bullock said today kicking off Fight Childhood Hunger Week. “Young people like Elaina and other members of the Youth Leadership Council are committing their time and energy to making a difference because they know firsthand when they have access to food, they can better focus on their most important job – learning.”

First Lady Bullock and Governor Bullock joined Youth Leadership Council member Elaina Patten at a luncheon at Montana’s State Capitol to kick off Fight Childhood Hunger Week. Attendees heard personal experiences with food insecurity in Montana, as well as information about childhood hunger in Montana and how to address it.

“Childhood hunger is a problem we can solve and it’s the work of these youth leaders that will help us in doing that,” said Governor Bullock. “Lisa and I are grateful for their efforts in shaping a world where every kid has the fuel they need to succeed.”

Projects are designed to increase awareness of the issue of childhood hunger, or to tackle childhood hunger in the state by starting new weekend backpack programs, school breakfast programs, or school food pantries, advocating to public and elected leaders about the importance of this issue, and coordinating volunteers to directly serve the community.

Fight Childhood Hunger Week projects include:

Billings: 24 Hour Walk-a-thon at Rimrock Mall

Bozeman: “Spring for Food” All Schools Food Drive

Charlo: Poverty Simulations for 6th-12th grade classes, Community Dinner and Community Movie Night

Glendive: 5K Color Run

Hardin: “Hunger, Let’s Talk About It” Awareness Event

Helena: Hunger Luncheon at the Capitol Rotunda and Hunger Dinner at Capitol High School

Trout Creek: Fun Run and Quilt Raffle

For a complete list of Fight Childhood Hunger Week projects, visit FightChildhoodHunger.com.

In addition to the projects hosted by the Governor and First Lady Youth Leadership Council, Montana No Kid Hungry is encouraging Montanans to participate in Wear Orange Wednesday on April 10th and share photos on social media using the #WearOrangeWednesday and tagging @mtnokidhungry.

2018-2019 Governor and First Lady Youth Leadership Council members:

Brielle Aklestad, Grade 11, Shelby High School, Galata

Deidra Beads Don’t Mix, Grade 12, Hardin High School, Crow Agency

Elaina Patten, Grade 10, Capital High School, Helena

Elaina Keast, Grade 8, St. Ignatius Middle School, St. Ignatius

Erika Hernandez, Grade 12, Hardin High School, Hardin

Gabrielle Higbee, Grade 8, Washington Middle School, Glendive

Hank Rugg, Grade 11, Frenchtown High School, Missoula

Hattie Neesvig, Grade 7, Thompson Falls Junior High, Trout Creek

Jon Hertz, Grade 11, Billings West High School, Billings

Kaitlyn Miller, Grade 8, Nashua K-12 Public School, Nashua

Katie Kaiser, Grade 12, Glasgow High School, Glasgow

Kaylee Yeager, Grade 11, Custer County District High School, Miles City

Kelsyn Lohr, Grade 11, Shelby High School, Shelby

Leif Clark, Grade 12, Butte High School, Butte

Nina Friedman, Grade 11, Glacier High School, Whitefish

Riley Gilsdorf, Grade 10, Billings Senior High School, Billings

Ruby West, Grade 8, Sacajawea Middle School, Bozeman

Sidney DeLong, Grade 9, Hamilton High School, Hamilton

Taylor Olsen, Grade 12, Charlo Schools, Charlo

Full biographies and more information on the Governor and First Lady Youth Leadership Council can be found at FightChildhoodHunger.com.

The First Interstate Bank Foundation is the presenting sponsor of the Governor and First Lady Youth Leadership Council.

The Governor’s Office of Community Service expands and promotes National Service and volunteerism in Montana and engages citizens in service and emergency preparedness.

Could ‘pallet shelters’ help solve Seattle’s homeless crisis?

Seattle Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda wants the city to consider a new option in the fight against homelessness. On Thursday, she hosted a demonstration of a “pallet shelter” outside Seattle City Hall.

The shelters are manufactured by Pallet in Everett and can be assembled without tools in 20-30 minutes. The structures can be outfitted with electricity, heat, air conditioning, and a locking door.


“We are past three years of a declared state of emergency in this city,” Mosqueda said. “We have 4,500 people who are living outside without any shelter in our region, and we have not built the housing or the shelter to the capacity we need.”

Read more about this at K5 News by clicking HERE

Beanies for the Homeless

We are collecting donations in order to give head gear to the homeless.  These beanies are warm in cold weather and designed to provide comfort. Will you help us? One donation of $5.00 will provide Two Caps.

Covenant House

Millions of kids suffer on the streets every day. For over 40 years, Covenant House has sheltered and cared for these young people – now standing as a powerful human rights movement for homeless and trafficked youth in 31 cities across 6 countries.

Learn more about Covenant House by clicking HERE

Back on My Feet

Back on My Feet is a national organization operating in 12 major cities across the US, combats homelessness through the power of running, community support and essential employment and housing resources.

Check out the website by clicking HERE

WELOME

I am looking forward to bringing you information that can help you as you struggle financially so the experience isn't as hard as it seems. Just because you are homeless, or struggling, out of work, disabled or any other number of problems that seem to keep you down, it does not mean you stop living. And you can live abundantly with what little you have!

This blog gives you resources to find what you need to live another day!

There is hope. It's all around you. With God, and good people who act as His hands and feet, ANYTHING is possible!

I pray this blog helps bring hope to those in need, and helps others realize ways that they can help.