Useful Links

Center on Budget & Policy Priorities

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities is one of the nation’s premier policy organizations working at the federal and state levels on fiscal policy and public programs that affect low- and moderate-income families and individuals. The Center conducts research and analysis to help shape public debates over proposed budget and tax policies and to help ensure that policymakers consider the needs of low-income families and individuals in these debates. The Center also develops policy options to alleviate poverty.

Connecticut Association for Human Services

Founded in 1910, Connecticut Association for Human Services (CAHS) is an independent, nonprofit public education, research and policy development organization committed to decreasing poverty, neglect and inequality in Connecticut. A key strength of CAHS is our ability to work in coalition with others. We bring together diverse interests - concerned citizens, policy makers, human service providers, corporate leaders, labor leaders, academics, state and municipal organizations, and religious organizations - to help ensure that all state residents have the opportunity to lead healthy, productive lives.

End Hunger Connecticut!

The mission of End Hunger Connecticut! is to eliminate hunger int he state through legislative and administrative advocacy, outreach and public education. End Hunger Connecticut! is a member organization open to all who are committed in working to find a solution to end hunger.

Feeding America

Feeding America is the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity. Our mission is to feed America's hungry through a nationwide network of member food banks and engage our country in the fight to end hunger. Each year, the Feeding America network provides food assistance to more than 25 million low-income people facing hunger in the United States, including more than 9 million children and nearly 3 million seniors. Our network of more than 200 food banks serves all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The Feeding America network secures and distributes more than 2 billion pounds of donated food and grocery products annually.

Food and Nutrition Services

The Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) administers the nutrition assistance programs of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The mission of FNS is to provide children and needy families better access to food and a more healthful diet through its food assistance programs and comprehensive nutrition education efforts. FNS has elevated nutrition and nutrition education to a top priority in all its programs. In addition to providing access to nutritious food, FNS also works to empower program participants with knowledge of the link between diet and health.

Food Research and Action Center

The Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) is the leading national nonprofit organization working to improve public policies and public-private partnerships to eradicate hunger and undernutrition in the United States. FRAC works with hundreds of national, state and local nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and corporations to address hunger and its root cause, poverty.

Household Food Security in the United States, 2009

Most U.S. households have consistent, dependable access to enough food for active, healthy living - they are food secure. But a minority of American households experience food insecurity at times during the year, meaning that their access to adequate food is limited by a lack of money and other resources. In 2009, 85.4 percent of U.S. households were food secure throughout the year. Food-secure households had consistent access to enough food for active healthy lives for all household members at all times during the year. The remaining 14.6 percent (17 million households) were food insecure. These households, at some time during the year, had difficulty providing enough food for all their members due to a lack of resources.

The USDA domestic food and nutrition assistance programs increase food
security by providing low-income households access to food, a healthful diet, and nutrition education. Reliable monitoring of food security contributes to the effective operation of these programs as well as private food assistance programs and other government initiatives aimed at reducing food insecurity. The annual food security report provides statistics that guide planning for Federal, State, and community food assistance programs.

Project Bread (Massachusetts)

Project Bread is dedicated to alleviating, preventing and ending hunger in Massachusetts. Our goals are to make emergency food accessible to people who would otherwise go hungry; to educate, mobilize, and empower people through The Walk for Hunger and other avenues of action; to conduct research and develop innovative solutions to end hunger; and to advocate, in partnership with others, freedom from hunger across the Commonwealth.

Rhode Island Community Food Bank

The Rhode Island Community Food Bank is a not for profit organization providing quality food for distribution by its certified member agencies, community leadership, nutrition training, public information and effective solutions aimed at the elimination of hunger in Rhode Island.

Rhode Island Department of Human Services

Information on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, cash assistance, child care and medical assistance in Rhode Island through the Rhode Island Department of Human Services.

Rhode Island KIDS COUNT

Rhode Island KIDS COUNT is a children's policy and advocacy organization that provides information on child well-being, stimulates dialogue on children's issues, and promotes accountability and action.

School Breakfast / School Lunch Promotion

Since 1998, Kids First has developed, implemented and continuously improved a successful series of hands-on educational workshops and programs delivered in schools and childcare sites that are focused on improving the health and wellness of children and their families. Over 3400 Kids First workshops have been provided in more than 480 schools and community organizations and have reached over 230,000 children, school and childcare staff members and parents. Kids First and its partner, the RI Team Nutrition Training Institute, are dedicated to their mission: "Safeguarding the nutritional well-being of Rhode Island's children".

The Economic Progress Institute

The Economic Progress Institute (formerly known as the Poverty Institute) is a respected authority on the issues impacting the economic vitality of both our residents and our state. The Institute is the only organization in Rhode Island that analyzes tax and budget policies on behalf of low-income populations, which is why the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities chose The Institute to be the Rhode Island affiliate to the State Fiscal Analysis Initiative.

The 1 of 52 Artist Hunger Network

The 1 of 52 Artist Hunger Network is a grassroots network of local and national artists, individuals and organizations dedicated to ending hunger. These participants are organized in a very simple program that creates strength in numbers and brings about ongoing, consistent action. The 1 of 52 Artist Hunger Network has started chapters in 23 states to date. Eventually, all 50 states will have their own network of 52 artists, each representing one week of the year, who take action annually to help end hunger.

Have you heard about snap?

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance

Program is the new name for the Food Stamp Program.

Learn more about the SNAP Outreach Project or to access a benefits application:

www.eatbettertoday.com

What's new at the hunger center

The Restaurant Meals Program comes to Rhode Island

Now there is a way for homeless, elderly, and disabled SNAP recipients to buy hot, prepared meals. The Restaurant Meals Program uses the same SNAP benefits and EBT cards to allow certain low-income individuals to buy low-cost meals at participating locations. Eligible individuals are the homeless, elderly, and disabled who may not have access to food storage or preparation.

For more information about the Restaurant Meals Program, visit www.snaprmp.org.

For more information about the Restaurant Meals Program in RI, visit www.eatbettertoday.com