Hunger Action Los Angeles

HUNGER ACTION LOS ANGELES ENDS HUNGER AND PROMOTES HEALTHY EATING THROUGH THE MARKET MATCH PROGRAM AT 22 FARMERS MARKETS, PUBLICATION OF PEOPLES GUIDE TO WELFARE, HEALTH AND OTHER SERVICES, AND INVOLVEMENT WITH LOW INCOME RESIDENTS IN EDUCATION ON FOOD AND INCOME POLICY.

MARKET MATCH: HUNGER ACTION LA'S CHIEF PROGRAM IS MARKET MATCH, WHICH PROVIDES BONUS DOLLARS IN THE FORM OF COUPONS (REIMBURSABLE BY US TO THE FARMERS WHO ACCEPT THEM) FOR CALIFORNIA GROWN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AT PARTICIPATING FARMERS MARKETS. AS OF THE END OF 2021, THERE ARE 22 FARMERS MARKETS PARTICIPATING IN MARKET MATCH WITH HUNGER ACTION LA. THE MARKETS TRACK THE NUMBER OF COUPONS DISTRIBUTED AND SPENT, AND THE AMOUNT IS REIMBURSED BY HUNGER ACTION LA TO THE FARMERS MARKET OPERATORS WHO IN TURN REIMBURSE THE FARMERS. THE FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM IS LARGELY FROM THE FEDERAL GUSNIP AND STATE CNIP GRANTS, WHICH ARE PROVIDED TO THE PRINCIPAL CONTRACTOR THE ECOLOGY CENTER IN BERKELEY. HALA SUBCONTRACTS TO THE ECOLOGY CENTER AND RECEIVES MONTHLY REIMBURSEMENTS FROM THEM, AND PAYS MONTHLY CHECKS TO THE FARMERS MARKET OPERATORS (ADAMS VERMONT: THAI CDC: EASTMONT COMMUNITY CENTER: MAIN STREET MARKETPLACE: SOUTHLAND FARMERS MARKET ASSOCIATION: FM & LCE: PASADENA FARMERS MARKET: WELLINGTON SQUARE FARMERS MARKET: PROVIDENCE HEALTH: CALIFORNIA CLEAN GREENS ASSOCIATION.) MARKET MATCH CONTINUED TO BE POPULAR AS THE PANDEMIC CONTINUED AND FOOD PRICE INFLATION BEGAN TO AFFECT PEOPLE IN 2021. FROM OCTOBER THROUGH DECEMBER 2021 WE ALSO RECEIVED SUFFICIENT FUNDING TO INCREASE THE DAILY MAXIMUM PER CUSTOMER FROM $10 TO $15. HALA FUNDED $513,467 IN MARKET MATCH TRANSACTIONS IN THE PERIOD JANUARY-DECEMBER 2021.

POLICY ADVOCACY: HALA TRADITIONALLY FOCUSES ADVOCACY ON HUNGER ISSUES AT THE STATE LEVEL. WHILE WE CONTINUED TO DO THAT IN 2021 THROUGH OUR LEADERSHIP IN THE CALIFORNIA HUNGER ACTION COALITION, WE ALSO RECEIVED STRONG SUPPORT FROM THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION TO CONDUCT ADVOCACY AT THE COUNTY LEVEL TO WIN FUNDING FOR SNAP INCENTIVE PROGRAMS (SUCH AS MARKET MATCH WHICH WE OPERATE BUT EXTENDING TO A WIDER RANGE OF SITES INCLUDING BRICK AND MORTAR STORES.) FUNDING FROM THE HEART ASSOCIATION'S VOICES FOR HEALTHY KIDS PROGRAM ENABLED US TO HIRE A FULL TIME ORGANIZER TO LEAD A CAMPAIGN AND WE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE FORTUNATE THAN TO HAVE BROUGHT ON CATHY SNUGGS FOR THE POSITION. THE CAMPAIGN INVOLVED AN ENTIRE COALITION OF SUB GRANTEES INCLUDING: - SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC ENTERPRISES OF LOS ANGELES - THE CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE OF BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS - UNITED PARENTS & STUDENTS -THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION LOS ANGELES CHAPTER ACTIVITIES INCLUDED: -WEEKLY STRATEGY MEETINGS - TRAININGS FOR LOW INCOME RESIDENTS - RESEARCH AND CONSULTATION WITH THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION - SIMPLE REMOTE ADVOCACY ACTIVITIES ESPECIALLY PETITIONS, SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS AND CAMPAIGNS TO URGE PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS TO COUNTY SUPERVISORS - REMOTELY-CONDUCTED LEGISLATIVE VISITS WITH DEPUTIES OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY'S FIVE SUPERVISORS - COLLECTION OF DATA TO SUPPORT OUR REQUEST TO THE COUNTY - CREATION OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS INCLUDING FLYERS AND SLIDE PRESENTATIONS ON THE SUBJECT WE DID NOT NEGLECT OUR TRADITIONAL STATE ADVOCACY ACTIVITIES BY ANY MEANS AND CONDUCTED 3 VIRTUAL TRAININGS FOR ADVOCATES, IN JANUARY AND MAY, AS WELL AS 17 LEGISLATIVE VISITS WITH STATE LAWMAKERS ON PROPOSALS REGARDING ANTI-HUNGER PROGRAMS, THE STATE BUDGET AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON SPENDING AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDING.

SENIOR FARM BOXES: FOR A SECOND YEAR, HUNGER ACTION LA SUB-CONTRACTED WITH CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF FOOD BANKS TO WORK WITH FARMERS TO CREATE AND DELIVER 1,000 BOXES OF FARM FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE ORANGE COUNTY AND VENTURA FOOD BANKS. THE FUNDING WAS PROVIDED BY CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE. THE BOX PROGRAM WAS INTENDED TO REPLACE THE SENIOR FARMERS MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES COUPONS ONCE ANNUALLY FOR SENIORS TO USE AT FARMERS MARKETS. THE IDEA DEVELOPED AT THE STATE LEVEL DUE TO FEARS THAT SENIORS SHOULD NOT BE GOING TO FARMERS MARKETS DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND TO DEVISE ANOTHER WAY OF USING THE FUNDING TO GET FRESH PRODUCE TO PARTICIPATING ELDERS. THE CONTRACT WAS AWARDED AFTER A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS PROCESS. HUNGER ACTION LA WORKED WITH CASTELLANOS FARMS; I & M FARMS: BUENROSTRO FARMS: DIVINE HARVEST FARMS AND SUBCONTRACTORS TO PACKAGE THE FOOD AND OVERSEE THE PROCESS. THE TOTAL CONTRACT VALUE WAS $41,000, MUCH REDUCED FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. COVID FOOD DELIVERY: HUNGER ACTION LA CREATED A FOOD DELIVERY PROGRAM IN MARCH 2020 AS AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO THE COVID PANDEMIC TO SERVE 100 TO 200 HOMEBOUND PEOPLE WHO NEEDED FOOD. THIS PROGRAM CONTINUED THROUGHOUT 2021. HALA IS CURRENTLY SERVING 140 HOUSEHOLDS AND IN TOTAL HAS SERVED OVER 200 HOUSEHOLDS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC. EACH WEEK 25 TO 30 VOLUNTEERS DRIVE FOOD TO THE PARTICIPANTS. THE PARTICIPANTS WERE MOSTLY REFERRED TO HALA AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, CONSISTING FIRST OF THE BLIND/LOW VISION CONTINGENT OF HUNGER ACTION LA PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS, AND THEN EXPANDING TO REFERRALS OTHER SOURCES INCLUDING LA TENANTS UNION AND THE 211 RESOURCE LINE, INCLUDING PEOPLE WHO HAD LOST INCOME DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. IN MANY CASES, CUSTOMERS RECEIVED FOOD FOR UP TO 6 WEEKS AND THEN NOTIFIED US WHEN THEY NO LONGER NEEDED THE ASSISTANCE, WHICH ALLOWED US TO THEN SERVE OTHER PERSONS. THE PARTICIPANTS CONSISTED IN A TYPICAL WEEK OF 25 LARGE FAMILIES REQUIRING LARGER AMOUNTS OF UNCOOKED GROCERIES; 75 SINGLE INDIVIDUALS MOSTLY SENIORS WHO RECEIVED SMALLER ALLOTMENTS THAN THE FAMILIES; AND DURING 2021, UP TO 40 PARTICIPANTS WHO FOR VARIOUS REASONS REQUIRED PREPARED MEALS RATHER THAN UNCOOKED GROCERIES. WE ALSO SERVED REFERRALS FROM HOSPITALS FOR PEOPLE RECOVERING FROM OPERATIONS AND OTHER REFERRALS FROM A PLATFORM CALLED UNITE US, WHICH IS CO-SPONSORED BY KAISER PERMANENTE AND DIGNITY HEALTH. IN 2021 WE OPERATED THE PROGRAM FOR 51 OUT OF THE 52 WEEKS. 43,000 POUNDS OF FOOD WAS DONATED WORTH ABOUT $300,000. OVER 5,100 VOLUNTEER HOURS WERE LOGGED EITHER IN ASSISTING BAGGING THE FOOD OR DELIVERING. THIS IS NOT EVEN CONSIDERING THE COST OF GASOLINE ABSORBED BY THE VOLUNTEERS. EXPENSES INCLUDED PURCHASED MEALS FROM PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS SUCH AS MUDD DUCKS AND HOT & COOL CAF AS WELL AS FROM EVERYTABLE; DURING THE COURSE OF THE YEAR THE RESTAURANTS WERE NO LONGER ABLE TO OFFER THE MEALS AT COST AND WE WERE ABLE TO SUBSTITUTE WITH ADDITIONAL PURCHASES FROM EVERYTABLE AND WITH DONATED MEALS. WE ALSO PURCHASED GROCERY BAGS AND PRODUCE BAGS AND OCCASIONAL SPECIAL FOODS INCLUDING CHICKEN.