While there are many other resources dealing with the issue of world hunger, this list focuses on domestic hunger issues.
Anti-Hunger Organizations
Wisconsin
Hunger Prevention Coalitions http://www.uwex.edu/ces/flp/food/coalition/index.cfm
Hunger Prevention Coalitions (variously called “hunger task forces”, “food resource networks”, “hunger prevention councils” and the like) exist in growing numbers around the state. This site provides access to an interactive database of local hunger coalitions in Wisconsin. Use the search or browse features to find out what others are doing to reduce hunger.
Hunger Task Force http://www.hungertaskforce.org/ 201 S. Hawley Court, Milwaukee, WI 53214, Phone: 414/777-0483
Operates as both a food bank and an advocacy organization to combat hunger in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Community Action Program Association http://www.wiscap.org/ 1310 Mendota Street, Suite 107, Madison, WI 53714, 608/244-0745
The Wisconsin Community Action Program Association is a professional organization of Community Action Agencies (CAAs), which are independent, community-based, non-profit corporations or commissions. CAAs throughout the state are involved in numerous activities related to food security.
National
Feeding America www.feedingamerica.org
The nation’s largest charitable hunger-relief organization with a network of more than 200 Member food banks and food-rescue organizations.
Bread for the World (BFW) www.bread.org
BFW members are organized by congressional district into local networks nationwide to write, call and visit members of Congress, and generate media attention about national legislation and other efforts that address hunger.
Catholic Campaign for Human Development www.nccbuscc.org/cchd/
The domestic anti-poverty, social justice program of the U.S. Catholic bishops which addresses the root causes of poverty in America through promotion and support of community-controlled, self-help organizations and through transformative education.
MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger www.mazon.org
MAZON allocates donations from the Jewish community to prevent and alleviate hunger among people of all faiths and backgrounds.
Share Our Strength www.strength.org
A national nonprofit that organizes individuals and businesses to share their strengths raises funds in innovative ways to help end hunger.
Educational Resources
Catholic Campaign for Human Development Adult Education Center http://www.usccb.org/cchd/povertyusa/edcenter/
Poverty Quiz, Poverty USA tour, Multimedia Gallery, results of a survey of attitudes relating to poverty, and more.
Hunger and Poverty Simulations
Feast or Famine Game lindy.wood@acfb.org (404) 892-3333 ext. 1228
A board game for ages 8-14 that allows kids the opportunity of navigating the kind of month that faces millions of Americans every day. Includes a Teacher’s Guide. $30.00. To order, contact: Lindy Wood, Hunger 101 Coordinator, Atlanta Community Food Bank
Hunger 101 Online http://www.sffoodbank.org/hunger101_online.html
An interactive online exercise by the San Francisco Food Bank where the player takes on the role of a hungry person looking for food.
Just Neighbors http://www.justneighbors.net/
A nine-session, interactive multimedia curriculum that raises awareness of the root causes of poverty and homelessness as the first step in establishing community-based responses.
Poverty Simulation – University of Wisconsin Extension http://www.uwex.edu/ces/flp/food/povertysim/index.cfm
An educational experience designed to help participants begin to understand what it might be like to live in a typical low-income family trying to survive from month to month
Poverty USA Tour
- www.usccb.org/cchd/povertyusa/tour.htm (in English)
- www.nccbuscc.org/cchd/povertyusa/tour2.htm (in Spanish)
A flash movie by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development presenting the difficulties of budgeting for a family at the poverty line.
Hunger Curricula for Young People
Atlanta Community Food Bank www.acfb.org/projects/hunger_101
Offers 5 modules, which can be downloaded and used free of charge, for a variety of age groups.
Taking Root http://www.augsburgfortress.org/store/category.jsp?clsid=196176&categoryID=3509
ELCA World Hunger curriculum with 5-session courses for grades K-2, 3-6, 7-9, and 10-12 that explore the root causes of and basic solutions to world hunger
Hunger and Poverty Information
Wisconsin
County University of Wisconsin Extension Offices http://www.uwex.edu/locations/
Extension offices and their staff, including Family Living Educators and Nutrition Coordinators, are an excellent source of local resources and information on hunger and poverty issues. Additional resources on the Extension website include:
UW-Extension Family Living Programs http://www.uwex.edu/ces/flp/ 637 Extension Building, 432 Lake St., Madison, WI 53706, 608/263-1095
Research-based education and partnerships that support Wisconsin families and communities. Topic areas include Food and Nutrition, Family Economics, and Families and Communities.
Wisconsin Food Security Project http://www.uwex.edu/ces/flp/cfs/
Provides up-to-date county and state-level information about food security, economic well-being, and the availability and use of public and private programs to increase access to affordable and nutritious foods.
Wisconsin Nutrition Education Program – Food Security Information http://www.uwex.edu/ces/wnep/specialist/fsecinfo.cfm
National
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities – Food Assistance http://www.cbpp.org/pubs/fa.htm
Reports and analyses of food assistance programs and policy developments.
Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) www.frac.org
A nonprofit and nonpartisan research and public policy center that serves as the hub of an anti-hunger network of thousands of individuals and agencies across the country.
State and Federal Assistance Programs
ACCESS www.access.wisconsin.gov
An on-line tool to help Wisconsin families see if they might qualify for FoodShare benefits, Medicaid, BadgerCare, SeniorCare, and other health and nutrition programs by answering a few simple questions about their household’s income and bills.
United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service www.fns.usda.gov/fns
Information and resources on food stamps, school meals, summer food service and other food and nutrition programs.
Wisconsin Connections http://www.uwex.edu/ces/connections
A guide to 20 key federal assistance programs to help provider and families understand the basics. Each one-page summary in Wisconsin Connections gives an overview of a single program, including benefits, eligibility and how to apply. A reference sheet for each county with the contact phone numbers for all profiled programs can be downloaded. By WISCAP and UW Cooperative Services.
Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services Hunger/Nutrition Programs http://dhfs.wisconsin.gov/programs/nutrition.htm
Information on FoodShare (Wisconsin’s Food Stamp Program), Elderly Nutrition Program, Emergency Food Assistance and other programs.
Community Food Security Assessment
Community Food Security Assessment Toolkit
http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/efan02013/
The United States Department of Agriculture’s extensive and detailed guide for collecting and analyzing information to evaluate a community’s food security.
County-by-County Data
Cooperative Extension Family Living Programs
- Affordable Housing http://www.uwex.edu/ces/flp/demographics/housing/index.cfm
Statistics on the cost of renting or owning a home.
- Hunger Close to Home http://www.uwex.edu/ces/flp/demographics/hunger/index.cfm
Includes the population in poverty, Food Stamp participation, and self-sufficiency wage information.
- Making Ends Meet http://www.uwex.edu/ces/flp/demographics/endsmeet/index.cfm
Profiles poverty in the county, with poverty rate, median earnings, housing affordability, and unemployment rate.
Food Security Profiles
Food security indicators for each county, including economic and demographic indicators, availability and participation in federal nutrition assistance programs, and information on food production and marketing.
- One-page standard profile: http://www.uwex.edu/ces/flp/cfs/standard.cfm
- Customized report: http://www.uwex.edu/ces/flp/cfs/index2.cfm
Workforce Profile http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/oea/county_profiles/current.htm
Data on population, employment, wages and income from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.
Public Policy
Information on Legislators and Legislation
Who Are My Legislators? http://www.legis.state.wi.us/waml
Enter your address to find the name and contact information for your representatives in the Wisconsin Legislature and the U.S. Congress, or call the legislative hotline, 1-800-363-9472.
Wisconsin Government http://www.wisconsin.gov/state/core/government.html
Information on the Governor, the Wisconsin Legislature, proposed legislation, state agencies, and local and federal government.
Lobbying in Wisconsin http://gab.wi.gov/
The website of the Government Accountability Board has information on lobbying regulations and activity at the state level.
How a Bill Becomes Law http://www.legis.state.wi.us/assembly/acc/pdf/HABBL.pdf
A basic overview of the legislative process in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Blue Book http://www.legis.state.wi.us/lrb/pubs/bluebook.htm
Published every two years, the Blue Book provides extensive information about Wisconsin government and elected officials. Copies may be purchased from Document Sales Unit, Department of Administration, 202 S. Thornton Avenue, Madison (P.O. Box 7840, Madison 53707-7840). VISA or MASTERCARD orders may be made by telephone at (800) 362-7253 or (608) 264-9419 (local calls). For pricing information, call (608) 266-3358.
Federal Legislation http://thomas.loc.gov
THOMAS, on the Library of Congress Website, provides information on federal legislation.
Advocacy Resources
Wisconsin Council of Churches Public Policy Advocacy Guide - PDF version.
A four-page guide for why and how to do public policy advocacy.
An Advocate’s Guide to the School Nutrition Programs http://www.frac.org/pdf/advguide_school.pdf
A comprehensive manual with advocacy tips and suggestions and explanations of the policies, laws and best practices governing the federal school nutrition programs. $35 from Food Research and Action Center, 1875 Connecticut Avenue, NW Suite 540, Washington DC 2009, (202)986-2200
Organizations
Bread for the World (BFW) www.bread.org
BFW members are organized by congressional district into local networks nationwide to write, call and visit members of Congress, and generate media attention about national legislation and other efforts that address hunger.
Hunger Task Force http://www.hungertaskforce.org/ 201 S. Hawley Court, Milwaukee, WI 53214, Phone: 414/777-0483
Operates as both a food bank and an advocacy organization to combat hunger in Wisconsin.
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities – Food Assistance http://www.cbpp.org/pubs/fa.htm
Reports and analyses of food assistance programs and policy developments.
Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) www.frac.org
A nonprofit and nonpartisan research and public policy center that serves as the hub of an anti-hunger network of thousands of individuals and agencies across the country.
Activities and Events
Crop Walks http://www.churchworldservice.org/CROP/index.html
Community-based fund raising events to raise money for local hunger-fighting agencies as well as the international relief and development efforts of Church World Service.
Hunger Action Month http://hungeractionmonth.org/
A multi-faceted effort to mobilize the public to end hunger in the United States, sponsored by Feeding America and held in September.
