Hunger/Food/Nutrition / Public News Service

The Double Up Food Bucks program matches purchases up to $20. (Lindsay Trapnell/Oregon Food Bank)

Monday, April 15, 2024

Summer food benefits for kids amplified through Double Up produce program

Oregon is participating in a federal food benefits program for children, called Summer EBT. Dollars from the program will go even farther to …

Some 60% of restaurant workers who complete Restaurant Opportunities Centers United's CHOW training got a $2 to $3 per hour pay increase. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, April 12, 2024

Workforce training helps NY workers know their rights

New York restaurant workers need to know their rights to better navigate their workplaces. A new report finds high rates of what it calls …

More than 400,000 people live in poverty in Arkansas, according to the Center for American Progress. (W.Scott McGill/AdobeStock)<br />

'Day on the Hill' in Arkansas calls for investment in families

Family advocates are at the State Capital for a "Day on the Hill" rally today, to voice their concerns to lawmakers about issues affecting Arkansans' …

Most of the USDA produce samples tested in this year's Dirty Dozen list from the Environmental Working Group were within the legal allowance for chemical pesticide residue. (Adobe Stock)

Strawberries top Dirty Dozen list of produce packed with pesticides

Nonorganic fruits and vegetables are loaded with chemical pesticides, including fungicides which can harm male reproductive systems, according to the …

Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group Student advocates say the Hunger-Free Campus Initiative has already helped to grow cultural food options at Middlesex Community College, enroll eligible students for SNAP benefits at UMass Boston and provide meals for homeless students during breaks at Salem State University. (MASSPIRG)

MA students urge lawmakers to fund campus anti-hunger efforts

A coalition of college students and administrators is asking state lawmakers to help fight food insecurity on campus. The group is asking for $2 …

From September 2020 through 2021, more than 60 million Americans volunteered a total of more than 4 billion hours. (DC Studio/Adobe Stock)

Volunteers an essential part of NE Community Action Partnerships

April is National Volunteer Month, and Nebraskans rank high nationwide for their willingness to volunteer. In the most recent Census Bureau/…

More than 650,000 Americans experienced homelessness on a single night in 2023. (Victoria/Adobe Stock)

SCOTUS to hear Oregon case on criminalizing homelessness

A case out of Oregon soon to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court could have a major impact on how cities treat homelessness. Oral arguments for …

Atrazine was the most widely used pesticide in Iowa, and applied to 69% of the state's planted acres. (Adobe Stock)

Common produce in IA tops 'Dirty Dozen' pesticide list

The Environmental Working Group has released a new list of produce items most and least affected by pesticides in Iowa and across the country…

Only two humans in the U.S. have been infected with avian flu in the United States. A case in Texas this month is the first time it has been linked to exposure to cattle. (syhin_stas/Adobe Stock)

Texas officials address human avian flu case

The cattle industry and health officials in Texas are on alert after a person contracted avian flu while working around infected cattle in the Texas P…

Operation Food Search distributes $30 million worth of food and necessities each year to 330 community partners in 40 Missouri and Illinois counties. (Gorodenkoff/Adobe Stock)

MO summit tackles rising child food insecurity as benefits expire

As COVID-era benefits near expiration, a recent Child Wellness Summit brought together nonprofits to tackle urgent child well-being and food-…

The Environmental Working Group said multiple studies indicate pesticide levels in the body drop when people adopt an all-organic diet. (Adobe Stock/AI)

Report: 75% of conventionally grown produce has pesticide residue

Marylanders shopping for fresh produce may want to consider a new report that finds chemical residues in much of the crop. In its 2024 "Shoppers …

Vegetables make up nearly 30% of the food and meals distributed by New Mexico's Roadrunner Food Bank. (Courtesy: RoadrunnerFoodBank).

Individuals, groups contribute thousands of volunteer hours to NM food bank

Volunteering is a "leap of faith" - donating time and in-kind support to help others who are struggling - but research shows people who pitch in…

One in five children in the Magnolia State faces hunger, according to the nonprofit Feeding America. <br />(Adobe Stock)

Mississippi kids will miss out on Summer EBT food program

As summer approaches, thousands of children in Mississippi could go without enough nutritious food when school is out, as the state has opted out of …

Downtown Winnebago is in northeast Nebraska's Thurston County. The Ho-Chunk Village housing development can be seen in the background. (Photo courtesy HCCDC)

Winnebago Tribe's development corp earns top rating, $2 million grant

The Nebraska Winnebago Tribe's Ho-Chunk Community Development Corporation, or HCCDC, has been awarded $2 million through MacKenzie Scott's Yield …

2024 Dirty Dozen lists produce packed with chemical pesticides

Nonorganic fruits and vegetables are loaded with chemical pesticides, including fungicides which can harm male reproductive systems, according to the …

Nearly 40% of Wisconsin school-aged children are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches at school. (Adobe Stock)

WI first state approved for kids' summer meal program

Wisconsin children from low-income families are now on track to get nutritious foods over the summer. Federal officials have approved the Badger …

The Colorado Local Food Program Guidebook can help farmers, ranchers, school districts and parents connect with resources available through organizations supporting the Healthy School Meals for All initiative, state agencies, and U-S-D-A Food and Nutrition Services. (Adobe Stock)

New guidebook aims to help local farmers and schools serve healthy meals

Colorado is working to boost the state's agricultural communities by getting more fresh, nutritious foods into school cafeterias - and a new online …

Decades of underinvestment in affordable housing, recently cited by outgoing HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge, have dramatically impacted families with children. (Adobe Stock)

Renaissance marks quarter century serving homeless, low-income kids

This month marks the 25th anniversary of the Renaissance Children's Center, which serves low-income families and those experiencing homelessness with …

MyPlate.gov says toddlers should sit upright for meals and snacks and not wander while eating items such as hot dogs, candy, nuts and seeds, raw carrots, grapes or popcorn, which may cause choking. (Adobe Stock)

University in IL studies link between toddler food access and development

Parents wanting to ensure their children have nutritious meals can serve as their best example, according to new data. Research from the University …

More than 876,000 Virginians use SNAP/EBT benefits, costing the state almost $150 million per month. (Adobe Stock)

VA group helps SNAP/EBT users afford fresh foods

During National Nutrition Month, groups like Virginia Fresh Match are providing people with healthy fresh food options. Since 2009, the coalition of …

The National Center for Education Statistics reports that 43% of public school students attend schools where a majority of them are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. (Adobe Stock)

Texas food bank, schools team up to help needy families

To reach more hungry families, one Texas nonprofit is setting up mini food markets in schools. The Tarrant Area Food Bank in North Texas provides 60…

National Nutrition Month is an annual campaign established in 1973 by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. (Adobe stock)

IN students fed tasty lessons for healthy eating habits

Schools play a critical role in nurturing Hoosier children's health and well-being which lay the foundation for lifelong eating habits. Throughout …

A Kentucky bill to ban Broad Based Categorical Eligibility for the federal SNAP program would result in at least 21,400 children losing SNAP statewide and would threaten funding for meals at schools and child care centers, according to the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY School districts say SNAP Cuts legislation could worsen student hunger

Kentucky school districts say a proposed bill to tighten restrictions on SNAP participation will lead to an uptick in student hunger. House Bill 367 …

According to a January Household Pulse Survey, 90% of respondents reported their basic monthly food purchases cost more now than a year ago. (Adobe Stock)<br />

OH food banks overwhelmed one year after emergency SNAP benefits end

One year after emergency SNAP benefits ended, Ohio food banks said they are struggling with increased grocery costs and record-high numbers of …

The Food Bank of Wyoming operates 19 mobile food pantries and recently launched the Fresh Express Route, which distributes nutrient-rich produce to 50 hunger relief partners by semi-truck. (Adobe Stock)

WY Food Bank distributed 10.8 million pounds of food in 2023

Working with more than 150 hunger relief partners across the state, Food Bank of Wyoming was able to distribute nearly 11 million pounds of food in 20…

Although food insecurity can be faced by anyone, Black and Latino children are twice as likely to face hunger because of discrimination based on race. And in 2022, 33% of single-parent families experienced food insecurity. (Piman Khrutmuang/Adobe Stock)

Michigan students get a boost to summer food access

Michigan is planning ahead to make sure kids from lower-income families have enough to eat this summer. The state has opted into a federal food …

Nearly eight in 10 Coloradans say they want to age in place in their communities, rather than entering assisted living facilities. (Adobe Stock)

Community-based services for older Coloradans at risk in Legislature

Advocates for people age 65 and older urged Colorado lawmakers to fully fund a program helping people remain in their homes and avoid placement in ass…

Although food insecurity can be faced by anyone, Black and Latino children are twice as likely to face hunger. And in 2022, 33% of single-parent families experienced food insecurity. (LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS/Adobe Stock)

MO gears up for participation in kids' summer food program

Missouri is planning ahead to make sure kids from lower-income families have enough to eat this summer. The state has opted into a federal food …

Following a major earthquake, a 15-meter tsunami disabled the power supply and cooling of three Fukushima Daiichi reactors, causing a nuclear accident in Japan on March 11, 2011. (Freer/Adobe Stock)

Fukushima remembrance event highlights local concerns in Michigan

Bringing together Michigan tribes and environmental advocates, an upcoming event marks a commemoration of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster…

Around 20% of children in San Juan County are uncertain about their next meal, which is double the statewide average, according to Utah Food Bank. (Adobe Stock)

Utah Food Bank opens two pantries on Navajo Nation

Utah Food Bank is expanding in San Juan County, and has announced the opening of two new pantries that will help support residents of the Navajo …

Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin, the founder of the Regenerative Agriculture Alliance and co-founder of Tree-Range Farms. These entities have created an

Midwest network of regenerative farmers is rethinking chicken

By Twilight Greenaway for Civil Eats.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Minnesota News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Publi…

Smithfield Foods spilled more than 7.3 million gallons of hog waste throughout Missouri according to a public records search by The Socially Responsible Agriculture Project. (Alberto/Adobe Stock)

A California regulation with big Midwest consequences

Family farm advocates in Missouri are concerned a regulation on the other side of the country could have unintended effects on rural Missourians…

A North Dakota dietitian recommended if you're trying to maintain a healthy nutritional plan, it is important to give yourself grace if not all meals are healthy. (Adobe Stock)

Expert: Healthy diet doesn't have to be a lofty, expensive goal

March is National Nutrition Month, and North Dakotans are being reminded of ways to better manage their health through personalized diet plans …

The USDA's Agricultural Census helps track New Hampshire's iconic maple and honey farms. An average of 160,000 gallons of maple syrup is produced each year in the Granite State while area beekeepers raise bees for honey and to provide important crop-pollination services for other farmers. (Adobe Stock)

Ag census reveals major boost in New England farm-production value

New agricultural census data show a significant increase in production value for New England farms over the past five years. There are nearly 31,000 …

Colorado's share of Healthy School Meals for All, approved by voters in 2022, was meant to be paid for by Coloradans who earn $300,000 or more per year. (Adobe Stock)

Healthy School Meals for All program faces $24 million budget gap

Colorado lawmakers are considering ways to address a projected $24 million funding shortfall in the Healthy School Meals for All program, and grants …

The Indigenous Peoples Task Force is bringing new baby food to Native populations. Those involved did extensive testing of recipes originally created by Lori Watso, a chef and nurse from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Dakota Community. (Photo courtesy of Jaida Grey Eagle, Arts Midwest)<br /><br />

Indigi-Baby: MN project gets infants off to a wholesome start

By Jay Gabler for Arts Midwest.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Minnesota News Connection reporting for the Arts Midwest-Public News Service Collabo…

Legislative supporters say had South Dakota taken part in a new federally funded summer meal program for low-income families, an estimated 54,000 children around the state would have benefited. (Adobe Stock)

Despite setbacks, SD coalition keeps pushing for childhood nutrition access

It's been an uphill battle for childhood nutrition advocates to advance meal access policies in the South Dakota Legislature. However, organizers say …

If performed immediately, CPR can double or triple the chance of survival from an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, according to the American Heart Association. (Adobe Stock)

NV cardiology expert shares tips for better heart health

It may be the last week of American Heart Month, but one Nevada cardiovascular expert said it isn't too late to prioritize heart health. Richard …

Tepeyac Community Health Center's new 24,500 square foot facility that serves all patients regardless of their ability to pay is just blocks away from public transit stops. (Galatas)

Health center development offers innovative model for affordable housing

A new development in Denver's Elyria-Swansea neighborhood that combines affordable housing, a healthcare provider, a pharmacy - and next, a grocery …

Oregon lawmakers have two weeks left in the session to approve funding for the Summer EBT program that helps feed children when school's out. (Lindsay Trapnell/Oregon Food Bank)

Nearly 300,000 OR kids await approval of summer food benefits

A program that would provide food benefits to kids during the summer still needs funding approval from the Oregon Legislature. The state has …

Attendees at a New Mexico summit discuss how to help in a state ranked one of the most food-insecure in the nation. (Courtesy Roadrunner Food Bank)

SW food banks meet to brainstorm hunger solutions, create action plan

People who receive emergency food services from New Mexico food banks and other charitable organizations were among those at a strategic summit Friday…

The 2024 Kids Count Data Book serves as a call to action in Indiana. (Adobe Stock)

Report: IN youth making progress despite challenges

The newly released 2024 Kids Count Data Book finds the well-being of Indiana is better this year than last. More than 1.5 million children live in …

Leaders with a hunger-fighting group in Minnesota cite several reasons why more people are visiting food shelves. They acknowledge that skyrocketing rent is likely leaving less room for other necessities, including food. (Adobe Stock)

MN food shelves increasingly nimble in light of concerning data

Food shelves across Minnesota continue to adapt to record demand, that isn't showing any immediate signs of slowing down. This month, Hunger …

Many school lunch programs are introducing more non-meat, non-dairy meals to normalize a healthier, more climate-friendly plant-based diet. (CivilEats)

California leads way in low-carbon school meals

By Naoki Nitta for Civil Eats.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public Ne…

Montana faces above-average rates of obesity and diabetes, both of which are dangerous to heart health. (Adobe Stock)

MT faces unique challenges during Heart Month

Doctors in Montana are asking people to pay close attention to their cardiac health during February, which is National Heart Month - especially since …

A University of New Hampshire study showed annual rainfall, which has increased more than eight inches since 1901, is expected to increase another 7% to 9% by the middle of the century. Scientists say most of this increase will arrive in heavy precipitation events, increasing the risk of flooding and significantly affecting agriculture. (Adobe Stock)

Farm relief funds in NH would counter climate change-related crop damage

Two proposed relief funds for New Hampshire farmers aim to recover losses from climate change-related weather events. Years of droughts were …

Grants offer Ohioans funding to improve food access, housing and more

A community of older residents in Alliance, Ohio, now has better access to fresh foods, thanks to funding to help local people convert a vacant space …

Food banks universally need four things: Donations of food, financial donations, volunteers and advocates. (Adobe stock)

Indiana's 30th 'Soup Bowl' sells out in effort to sack hunger

A fundraiser timed to kick off on the heels of Super Bowl 58 will help tackle food insecurity in Indiana. Since 1994, Hoosier Hills Food Bank has …

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