October 5, 2020

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Addressing Food Insecurity During COVID-19

FRAC President Luis Guardia will be a panelist on the Bipartisan Policy Center's webinar, “Addressing Food Insecurity and Poor Nutrition During COVID-19,” set for Wednesday, October 14 from 10:00-11:30 a.m. Eastern. He will highlight how struggling households are being disproportionately impacted by the pandemic and how federal nutrition programs play a key role in helping millions of people put food on the table while also stimulating the economy. Register here.

COVID-19: Disparate Impact

The covid-19 recession is the most unequal in modern U.S. history, The Washington Post, September 30, 2020
This Washington Post research finds that job losses from the pandemic overwhelmingly affected low-wage, minority workers most. Seven months into the recovery, Black women, Black men, and mothers of school-age children are taking the longest time to regain their employment.

Senate Approves CR, Sends Bill to Trump, The Fence Post, September 30, 2020
FRAC said the nutrition provisions in the CR “will go a long way in addressing childhood hunger, which has grown to even more alarming rates during COVID-19.”

Racial Disparities in Food Insecurity, The Hunger Beat, September 24, 2020
In Illinois, 10 percent of the population is experiencing hunger during the COVID-19 pandemic. That number is even greater for Black and Latinx households, and households with children. Greater Chicago Food Depository spoke with Angela Odoms-Young, an associate professor of kinesiology and nutrition at the University of Illinois-Chicago, about the structural racism of food insecurity and the disproportionate impact on households of color during national disasters. “If we are to ensure no one goes hungry in Illinois and around the country, we must address the systemic racism that perpetuates and exacerbates poverty, the root cause of hunger.”

COVID-19: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Infants in Food Insecure Homes at Greater Obesity Risk, Study Finds, Very Well Family, October 2, 2020
“People are really worried that their children aren’t getting enough to eat because they don’t always have enough food in the house, and usually with food insecurity, what happens first, of course, is that the parents will go without food,” says Geraldine Henchy, director of Nutrition Policy and Early Childhood Programs at FRAC. “They’re trying to protect the children, but they get really nervous about not having enough food.” Henchy elaborated that
 it’s important for the federal government to help parents make the best choices for their children without the stress of food insecurity. “Making SNAP adequate is very important because right now it's not really enough money for people to be able to get all that they need. These mothers don't feel secure, and they are often skipping meals to make sure everything works out as far as the food supply. We need to stop that situation, and we can do that through SNAP.”

SNAP Recipients Impacted By Hurricane Sally to Receive Additional Benefits, North Escambia, October 1, 2020
The Florida Department of Children and Families announced that SNAP recipients impacted by Hurricane Sally will receive additional support. Mass replacements will be issued for SNAP recipients in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties due to the significant loss of power associated with the storm. Fifty percent of each household’s food assistance benefits received between September 1–15 will be automatically replaced. For benefits issued between August 16–28, there will be a 25 percent automatic replacement, and there is no need to submit a request or attestation.

USDA announces approval of D-SNAP for Alabama disaster areas, News WKRG, September 30, 2020
“D-SNAP will be critical in our ongoing, on-the-ground food assistance for our neighbors on the Alabama Gulf Coast,” USDA Secretary Perdue said. “USDA is committed to ensuring Alabamians affected by this devastating storm have enough to eat and will be here to help as they recover.”

COVID-19: Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT)

Pandemic-EBT extended in Kentucky, The Messenger, October 2, 2020
USDA has approved Kentucky to provide P-EBT benefits for the months of August and September. Eligible students will receive benefits for school days spent distance learning in August and September due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The students will receive $5.86 per eligible school day in August and September, with the total amount varying for each family.

Delaware Gets Approval to Extend Pandemic-EBT Benefits to Feed Children During COVID-19 Emergency, Delaware.gov, September 30, 2020
The Delaware Division of Social Services received federal approval September 25 to extend benefits under the P-EBT program to cover the months of August and September. The recent approval allows Delaware to extend the benefits through September to households with school-age children who are participating in remote learning for five consecutive days and do not have access to free meals at their schools.

COVID-19: School Meals

Free Grab-and-Go Meals Program Launching at 203 Public Schools This Fall, Maui Today, October 1, 2020
The Hawai’i State Department of Education Grab-and-Go school meals program will be returning for the fall semester at 203 public schools beginning on Monday, Oct. 12, through Friday, Dec. 18, to provide free meals to children ages 18 and younger. The meals are available to children regardless of whether or not they are enrolled at the distribution site, are public school students, or are eligible for the free or reduced-price lunch program.

 

FRAC Statements

FRAC Calls on USDA to Act on Authority to Keep Hunger at Bay During COVID-19, FRAC.org, October 2, 2020
“Now that the president has signed a Continuing Resolution (CR) that includes $8 billion for nutrition assistance, the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) is urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to use its authority from the CR to take immediate action to issue critical waivers,” said FRAC President Luis Guardia.

FRAC Applauds House Democrats for Releasing Comprehensive COVID-19 Relief Bill That Includes Critical Boosts to SNAP, FRAC.org, September 29, 2020
“The Food Research & Action Center strongly endorses the updated HEROES Act released by House Democrats last night,” said Luis Guardia, president of FRAC.

About Us

FRAC is the leading national nonprofit organization working to eradicate poverty-related hunger and undernutrition in the United States. Visit our website to learn more.

Contact Us

Food Research & Action Center
1200 18th Street, NW Suite 400
Washington, District of Columbia 20036
(202) 986-2200
nsmall@frac.org

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