Food & Justice News April 15, 2019

1. Join HALA for a Spring Barbecue Fundraiser : Order Now for April 25
2. Hungry for Justice: Anti Hunger Advocacy Training Thursday April 25 3 PM-4:30 PM at St. Mary’s Church, Koreatown
3. SSI and CalFresh: Training in San Fernando Valley Monday April 29
4. Help Blind and Low Vision Shoppers Enjoy the Farmers Market: Saturday May 11 Crenshaw Farmers Market
5. Providing Funds for Fruits and Vegetables Can Save Billions In Health Care

Food & Justice News
March 22^nd, 2019

Support Hunger Action LA!

This time of year we are embarking on several projects needing a jolt of resources from you:

• CalFresh expansion to SSI recipients
• Beginning new farmers markets and Market Match programs
• Updating the Peoples Guide to Welfare Health and Other Services
• Preparing grassroots advocates for work in Sacramento to pass anti-poverty policies in hunger, housing and other issues!

Easy online donation:
www.hungeractionla.org/donate
Give up a cup o' Joe today to support our work: $5
www.hungeractionla.org/donate
Contribute $10, $20, $50 to help with our core projects:
www.hungeractionla.org/donate
Become a sustainer for any amount you can afford per month:
www.hungeractionla.org/monthly_donation

Your contribution

• helps 2,000 seniors/people with disabilities weekly to access the food they need for a healthy diet
• fuels trainings for agencies and community volunteers to help 100,000 SSI recipients access CalFresh
• publishes the Peoples Guide to Welfare Health and Other Services
• send 50 low income advocates to fight for state anti-hunger policy
• Become a monthly contributor!
  www.hungeractionla.org/monthly_donation

Food Justice Updates:

1. SSI and CalFresh: A Giant Step to End Hunger for Seniors and People with Disabilities —Training Thursday March 28^th NEW TIME 1 PM TO 3 PM
2. Tell the Trump Administration It’s Unacceptable to Take Food Away from Struggling Workers and Families: Due April 2^nd
3. Help Blind and Low Vision Shoppers Enjoy Crenshaw Farmers Market: Saturday March 23^rd

February 11, 2019

1. Tell the Trump Administration It’s Unacceptable to Take Food Away from Struggling Workers and Families: Due April 2
2. Killing Ourselves to Live Part One:
   a. Trump Admin Rolls Back Payday Lender Restrictions
   b. Sign the Petition for One Fair Wage for Restaurant Workers
3. Killing Ourselves to Live Part Two:
   a. Insect Extinction Threatens Human Civilization
   b. Cancers Related to Obesity Rise Among Younger People
4. Groups Giving Food in Public Must Register and Pay Fee Under New Law

November 1st, 2018:

If you haven’t already please get your tickets for the Hunger Action LA annual awards and dinner! This year we’re honoring legendary organizer and activist Nancy Berlin; Santa Monica Farmers Market and food justice pioneer Laura Avery; and community activist Steven Echor. More information and tickets at www.hungeractionla.org/dinnerandawards PS—auction items include one of the first 16 X 20 photos of LeBron James in a Lakers jersey

1. Send Comments to Oppose New Public Charge Rules Proposed for Immigrants: Join Day of Action Saturday Nov 10!
2. Can Congress Manage to Pass A Farm Bill by Christmas?
3. Update on new SSI Eligibility for CalFresh
4. Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority Drafts Guidance for How Cities Manage Unsheltered Homelessness: Public Comment Needed by November 2
5. Next Blind and Low Vision Shoppers Day December 1, Crenshaw Farmers Market

October 10th, 2018

1. Send Comments to Oppose New Public Charge Rules Proposed for Immigrants

September 24, 2018: Multiple Challenges to Ending Hunger as Trump Administration Attacks Needy Immigrants With New Public Charge Proposals

September 24, 2018: Just this past weekend, the Trump administration introduced something they’ve threatened since early last year: their proposal for new rules to change the guidance for “Public Charge.” If these new proposed rules were passed, it would mean that many immigrant families lawfully present here may drop out of programs they need such as CalFresh because their receipt of these benefits may be used against them later as they try to upgrade their immigration status. (It’s important to remember these rules have a long way to go before being finalized and going into effect, and could change drastically, especially if we all comment on them.)

At the same time, our California Governor signed AB 2178, which would make groups doing voluntary, charitable provision of food, for free, to poor people, a crime unless groups registered and paid a fee to the local county health agency.

That kind of food provision would be one of the only avenues open to immigrant families who would avoid government food assistance (if the proposed Public Charge rules pass.) Federal and state government will have issued a double blow against people who want to end hunger.

Again, please remember the new anti-immigrant rules have not been approved yet they have to be officially published first, and after that would follow a period of 60 days in which we the people can flood them with comments. We do expect this to happen very soon though. Be ready with your comments! More details below.

1. Trump Administration Attacks Needy Immigrants With New Public Charge Proposals
2. Governor Signs Bill Requiring Volunteer Groups Feeding Hungry People to Register and Pay Fees: AB 2178

September 13, 2018: Two Phone Calls Needed!

Blind Low Vision Program: Volunteer for Sunday September 16 Blind Low Vision program at Mar Vista Farmers Market! It’s from 10 am to 1 pm at 3826 Grand View Blvd, LA CA 90066. Volunteer to help guide blind customers around the farmers market. Enjoy their company and that of other volunteers! Send your contact info to info@hungeractionla.org to volunteer.

September 2018: While we in California are rejoicing over the news that over a million SSI recipients (seniors and disabled) will finally be eligible for CalFresh next year, threats to the program nationally exist in the form of the Farm Bill, which the House of Representatives have loaded down with work requirements in order to cut $20 billion from the program. Meanwhile, on the state level, the most fundamental food assistance—people voluntarily taking food to the poor and homeless—is threatened by a well intentioned bill that would actually make people register and pay fees in order to participate in this giving.

1. Call Governor to Veto AB 2178 and Pass AB 1871
2. Call In Day Today Sept 13 to Protect SNAP

September 6^th, 2018

Peoples Guide Order: The 2018 Peoples Guide is HERE! Place your order now at info@hungeractionla.org or at our Online Store. The Guide is $1.25 per copy and one copy free for low income persons. Inquire at info@hungeractionla.org for pricing on large bulk orders. What is the Peoples Guide? Check out the PDF at Peoples Guide 2018 and find more info at www.hungeractionla.org/peoplesguide.

September 2018: While we in California are rejoicing over the news that over a million SSI recipients (seniors and disabled) will finally be eligible for CalFresh next year, threats to the program nationally exist in the form of the Farm Bill, which the House of Representatives have loaded down with work requirements in order to cut $20 billion from the program. Meanwhile, on the state level, the most fundamental food assistance — people voluntarily taking food to the poor and homeless — is threatened by a well intentioned bill that would actually make people register and pay fees in order to participate in this giving.

1. Call Governor to Veto AB 2178
2. Farm Bill Conference Committee Begins

July 31, 2018

Peoples Guide: The 2018 Peoples Guide is HERE! Place your order now online at The HALA Store or contact info@hungeractionla.org to place your order. The Guide is $1.25 per copy and one copy free for low-income persons. Inquire at info@hungeractionla.org for pricing on large bulk orders.

What is the Peoples Guide? Check out the PDF at Peoples Guide 2018 and find more info at www.hungeractionla.org/peoplesguide

July 16, 2018,  HALA thanks you all for participating in Give65, a nationwide crowdfunding campaign for programs benefitting seniors. Funds for HALA will go directly to the Senior Market Match program. You can still contribute through the “regular” channel at www.hungeractionla.org/donate. More than ever we need this program to tide over the needs of seniors getting SSI as it will be one more year before they can apply for CalFresh.

We also thank the volunteers and shoppers for the Blind Low Vision Program who came out to Crenshaw Farmers Market this past Saturday!

*Peoples Guides are available in English and Spanish. Place your order at www.hungeractionla.org/peoplesguide

1. 1. Hunger Action LA Sponsoring Forum on Current Hunger and Housing Issues, Tuesday July 31 6:30 pm to 8 pm
2. 2. Farm Bill Update: Senate Passes Its Version of Farm Bill: Next Step is Conference Committee
3. 3. US Threatens Countries Over Support for Breastfeeding
4. 4. California Avoids Disaster on EBT at Farmers Markets Issue