Just Blogging

'Just Blogging' Relaunch!

2011-12-21T10:22:00.002-05:00

The Just Harvest blog hasn't seen much action of late, but that's about to change! With the help of our new volunteer blogger Kati Knowles, we are going to relaunch "Just Blogging" with a series of "hour-in-the-life" staff profiles. Welcome Kati!

This Just In - Free Pennsylvania-Grown Produce for WIC Families!

2011-06-01T14:11:00.004-04:00

We just got some fabulous news from the Allegheny County Health Department, which administers WIC.

Starting June 1, women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or postpartum and children two, three and four years of age each will be issued checks worth $20 in free produce. Each family also will receive a re-usable Farmers Market shopping bag filled with recipe books for using fresh produce and other nutrition education materials.

The checks are redeemable through November 30 for Pennsylvania-grown fresh fruits and vegetables at participating Farmers Markets and Farm Stands in Pennsylvania. More than 50 in Allegheny County are listed on the Health Department’s WIC web site, www.achd.net/wic.

In addition to free produce, WIC families receive nutrition counseling, breastfeeding support, and other food benefits, such as infant formula; infant cereal; milk; eggs; cheese; juice; cereal; peanut butter; whole grains, including bread, tortillas, oatmeal and rice; soy milk; tofu; jarred baby foods; dry or canned beans; canned tuna/sardines/pink salmon; and fresh/frozen/canned fruits and vegetables.

WIC is a federally funded program for pregnant or breastfeeding women, postpartum mothers and children under the age of five. Eligibility is based on income and medical risk.

The current income limits are an annual gross income of $20,036 for a family of one; $26,955 for 2; $33,874 for 3; $40,793 for 4; $47,712 for 5; $54,631 for 6; $61,550 for 7; and $68,469 for 8. Add $6,919 for each additional member beyond 8. Unborn children are counted in determining family size when a woman is pregnant.

For information about WIC and how to apply for benefits, please call the County Health Department WIC Program at 412-350-5801. If this number is a toll call or you live outside Allegheny County, please call the statewide toll-free number, 1-800-WIC-WINS.

Our 'Video Harvest' - Send us your stories!

2011-04-26T10:20:00.009-04:00

We all know a picture is worth a thousand words – just maybe, a video can be worth millions of dollars.

There’s trouble brewing on both the state and federal budget and policy fronts as it relates to programs that help out the poor, hungry and needy in our communities. We’ve heard from many of you already who have shared with us your concerns, your personal experiences, and your frustrations with the repeated affronts our elected officials have launched against our public safety net. Whether it’s using funding earmarked for welfare programs as a slush fund to balance state or federal budgets, or proposing policy changes that would make it more difficult for low-income Pennsylvanians to apply for Food Stamps or other public assistance. Our lawmakers and the media - as well as our clients and the general public - need to hear from you.

Here’s how to help:

Record (using any kind of equipment – a digital camera or cellular phone will do) your own thoughts on the following issues:

1) Threats to the already under-funded and overworked Department of Public Welfare’s funding in the state budget.

Have you ever tried to call the DPW’s County Assistance Offices? How long does it take for you to get through to a caseworker on the phone? How long do you have to wait in line to be seen by a caseworker at the CAO? Have you ever missed an appointment because they failed to notify you?

These problems could get worse if the DPW funding is cut any further under the new state budget!

2) The WelFAIR reform bills currently under discussion by the state government. Congressional supporters of these bills cite the need to fight widespread ‘waste, fraud and abuse’ in the welfare system. But, these bills would create obstacles of time, bureaucracy, and legal hurdles that can interfere with the timely receipt of benefits that low-income Pennsylvanians are legally entitled to. Moreover, these bills would make it more difficult for low-income individuals to move from welfare to work by limiting what are called “Special Allowance” payments used to pay schooling or job training.

Other bills under discussion call for photo IDs to be printed on the ACCESS cards used to make purchases (and possibly, fingerprinting for cash assistance and food stamp applicants), and periodic drug testing for certain applicants who have been convicted of drug crimes – regardless of whether they are taking steps toward recovery.

Can you tell us how you or one of your loved ones has relied upon these programs currently or in the past?

Can you tell us a story about how difficult it was to apply for and eventually receive your benefits? And how additional requirements could create additional problems?

How would you feel about being forced to submit to photographing or fingerprinting before receiving benefits that you are legally eligible for?

3) The 2012 budget budget as proposed by the House Budget Committee. This budget slashes the SNAP/Food Stamp funding and creates radical reforms to its structure. So far, it calls for a $1.27 billion cut to SNAP/Food Stamps over 10 years, and conversion of the program into a block grant arrangement, where fixed sums would be given to states, meaning that food stamp allotments could literally run dry given heavy demand.

Can you tell us how much of a difference Food Stamps make to you and your family? How would a cut to the program affect you or your children?

We'd like to include all videos that we receive in a special playlist on our Youtube channel. This will make it easy for elected officials, media and other advocates to hear your stories, insights and opinions on these vital issues. Please also include your own contact information with your video so that Just Harvest can get in touch!

Send your videos to: justharvestblog@gmail.com.

January 28 is Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day!

2011-01-28T14:40:00.011-05:00

At its regular meeting Tuesday, Pittsburgh City Council passed a proclamation sponsored by District 3 Councilman Bruce Kraus declaring this Friday “Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day” in the City of Pittsburgh.
The EITC is a refundable federal income tax credit for low- to moderate-income working individuals and families. Congress originally approved the tax credit legislation in 1975 in part to offset the burden of social security taxes and to provide an incentive to work. During this tax year, qualifying families can receive up to $5,666.00 in EITC.

Councilman Kraus stressed the importance of the EITC in boosting the incomes of lower-income workers, especially in light of the continuing effects of the recent recession.

Representatives from Just Harvest and the United Way of Allegheny County were onhand to receive the proclamation. Just Harvest is one of several organizations in the United Way of Allegheny County’s ‘Money in Your Pocket Coalition,’ which offers annual, free tax assistance through six IRS-certified Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites in Allegheny County.

Adam MacGregor, Just Harvest Communications Coordinator, noted the need for wider awareness of EITC. He said that though EITC can account for as much as 45 percent of a family’s annual income, only between 15 and 20 percent of eligible individuals claim the credit.

“To put this in perspective: EITC can boost an $8.00 per hour job to a $10.00 per hour job, which can make all the difference to a low-income taxpayer,” he said.

Suelynn Shiller of the United Way of Allegheny County said that for tax year 2009, the Money In Your Pocket Coalition processed 4,486 tax returns for low-income clients, reclaiming $3.1 million in EITC. Percina Grier, a tax client of the MIYPC in 2009, called the EITC that she received with the help of the free tax service a “great help and a blessing.”

Taxpayers can get free help in determining their EITC eligibility and claiming the credit by contacting the Money In Your Pocket Coalition at the United Way of Allegheny County’s helpline: 412-255-1155. The Coalition’s free tax assistance services are now available for individuals who made up to $20,000 and families who earned up to $40,000 in 2010. Visit www.pghfreetaxes.org for details.

Natalia Rudiak: Half Way Through the SNAP Challenge

2010-12-09T09:58:00.005-05:00

Here we are, half-way through the SNAP challenge, and I can tell you that it is living up to its name. But, I do have to admit that I cheated a little bit yesterday. On Tuesday I had a lunch meeting that I was committed to, and though I ordered the cheapest item on the menu—a cup of soup that came with bread, and a glass of ice water—it put me just over $7 on the whole day. Just to put that in perspective, here is everything else I ate that day:

Breakfast: half of a banana;
Afternoon snack: two rolls;
Dinner: cereal.

I should mention that I am no stranger to “food challenges.” As an international development studies major in college I traveled on shoe-string budgets across South Asia, West Africa, Mexico and Eastern Europe, where I ate unidentifiable objects, strange fruits, and smelly vegetables. I forced myself to eat foods I did not like, and that I knew were likely not good for me, for months at a time.

But, for me, right now, there is something acutely different about this experience. It is strange to be living as an adult on this diet, struggling to get by with the tools in my own kitchen. Living on $6 a day isn’t an adventure—especially for those who have to do it every day, for weeks or months at a time.

Avert your eyes, my vegetarian and vegan friends: I went to the grocery store the night before, and I purchased some groceries that fit within my SNAP-Challenge-mandated-budget for the week. I was able to buy some eggs, rice, beans, frozen vegetables, some ramen noodles, a package of cheap processed chicken that was on sale, and some oil and seasoning. I was going to rely on some creative chicken dishes to pull me through the week, but this processed stuff has the taste and texture of a shiny, water-clogged, chicken-flavored sponge. I’m still debating whether I can force myself to chew on these leftover, processed bits from the chicken factory. Even though cereal for dinner leaves me hungry at the end of the day, at least it does not taste like moist foam.

So, what kinds of folks have to make these types of food choices and live on $6 a day? Eligible individuals include someone who lost their job or became disabled, or someone who is an independent contractors or struggling small business owner who is perpetually losing money or taking a loss. If you are under-employed—you are working but you aren’t earning enough to cover basic housing and food expenses—you also qualify for SNAP assistance, but not necessarily for the full amount of $6 a day.

But the kicker is that you cannot be receiving any other form of government mandated assistance, which means no Social Security, so Supplemental Security Income (SSI), no unemployment, no child support payments, no adoption stipends, or no other cash assistance.

[Ed. note - If you receive any of the benefits listed above, it does not necessarily disqualify you altogether from SNAP; however, your allotment under the program would be reduced.]

So if this economy has got you down, and you find yourself in any category above, SNAP is it. All you have to buy groceries—literally—is $6 a day. That’s all you get. That’s all you can legally get.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review was quite surprised to learn about the paltry amount of the daily allotment for this program, and they wrote a great article about the challenge on Tuesday, you can see it here. I think they are going to write a follow up in the next few days as well, so here’s to the Trib for devoting some column-space to this important issue!

Today and Friday, in order to reflect the cuts that Congress has made, my budget is getting cut by fifty cents so the allotment is technically $6.17 a day. For this program to be cut, even if the funds are being diverted to another worthy cause, is an injustice. We must commit to restoring this vital public service, rather than robbing Peter to pay Paul and shuffling deck chairs around in our federal, state, and local budgets. We need a non-partisan commitment to make sure that, in this day and age, no one goes hungry in the United States of America. I am pleased to lend my hand to this fight.

Hungrily yours,
Natalia Rudiak

Natalia Rudiak: Taking on the SNAP Challenge

2010-12-06T16:00:00.007-05:00

Today is my first day on the SNAP challenge with Just Harvest, and I have already had to make some tough food choices. For breakfast, I had a cup of tea and to make sure I could eat a decent dinner, I skipped lunch—a great way to start off a day of budget hearings! I’m not sure what I’m going to do for dinner yet, but I have some strict rules to follow:

I have an allowance of $6.67 a day for the first three days, then I have $6.17 for the last two days;

No one can buy me any food;

I can’t eat food that I already have in my house.

I’m going to post a couple of times this week just to check in and let everyone know how I am doing, but I think its going to be a hungry week. Can you imagine a child having to sit through a math or science class with hunger pains? What kind of a student can we reasonably expect that child to be? How will we break the cycle of poverty if we are unable to give our children the opportunities they need to focus on learning and not their hungry mom, dad, brothers or sisters?

Right now in City Council we’re putting together the 2011 City budget, in which we will dedicate substantial City funds to hunger groups in Pittsburgh. Last year we gave almost a half a million dollars to hunger organizations across Pittsburgh, including the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, the Urban League Hunger Services Network, Just Harvest, and more.

These community service organizations are essential allies in the fight against hunger in Pittsburgh, but with reduced SNAP funding their efforts are going to be stretched thinner and thinner. For example, at the Brookline Christian Food Pantry in Brookline, usage of the pantry has increased by more than 15% over last year, and seen similar increases in the years before that.

The proposed cuts to the SNAP program illustrate that actions motivated by political ideology on a national level trickle down to the local level. Ignoring a problem doesn’t make it go away. The underfunding of hunger programs in Washington DC puts strain on our own city and school budgets and reduces the efficacy of our own educational reform and economic development programs. Elected Officials at all levels of government are charged with protecting the health, welfare, and safety of you and your neighbors—this includes making sure that none of our neighbors go hungry.

So here’s to a week of awareness, of protest, and hopefully of action against hunger in Pittsburgh. Check back later this week!

Best,
Natalia Rudiak
City Councilwoman
Pittsburgh, District 4

Councilwoman Natalia Rudiak takes the SNAP/Food Stamp Challenge

2010-12-06T09:37:00.004-05:00

Pittsburgh City Council’s Natalia Rudiak will be putting conspicuously less of her money where her mouth is starting December 6.

For five days (Dec. 6 – 10), Ms. Rudiak will be taking part in the SNAP Challenge, a poverty simulation exercise coordinated by Just Harvest, a Southside-based anti-hunger organization and created by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) in Washington D.C.

The challenge is named for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps), upon which a record 42 million Americans depend to put meals on the table. In Allegheny County alone, over 150,000 households and individuals receive SNAP benefits.

For the first three days of the challenge, Rudiak will be allotted the total benefit amount per day for a SNAP recipient who reports no income – this amounts to $6.67 per day total. On Thursday and Friday, this benefit amount will be reduced by 50 cents to reflect a cut to SNAP benefits passed by Congress on Dec. 2 in order to fund the ‘Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act,’ aimed at improving child nutrition programs in schools. Starting in 2013, SNAP benefits will be reduced by $2.2. billion under the act. Benefits for a family of four would drop by $59 per month, according to FRAC.

The 'Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act' had been roundly criticized by child nutrition advocates across the country who contend that by subsidizing school meal programs with SNAP benefit funds, it effectively increases the risk of hunger for children and low-income families. Advocacy efforts have now turned to lobbying Congress to restore the SNAP cuts by some means before the close of the ‘lame duck’ session.

Rudiak has pledged to document her experience eating under the SNAP constraint via Facebook and Twitter updates (twitter.com/nataliarudiak), as well as here on Just Harvest’s blog, so watch this space for updates!

“We’re thrilled that Councilwoman Rudiak is taking on the SNAP challenge, as we feel her high profile will bring due public attention to the hardships that so many of our neighbors face in trying to maintain a healthful diet on a fixed allotment,” said Tara Marks, Just Harvest Co-Director.

Just Harvest invites others in our region to take part in the SNAP Challenge! If you are interested, send an e-mail to adamm@justharvest.org for guidelines and details.

Speaking Out for the Pittsburgh Hunger Fund

2010-12-01T11:23:00.019-05:00

The Pittsburgh Hunger Fund is a coalition made up of Just Harvest, the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Pittsburgh Community Services Inc., and hunger services at The Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh. The fund is apportioned yearly from Community Development Block Grants to the city's districts, and it’s been an important line of defense against hunger in our region. This past Monday Just Harvest joined our partner organizations in speaking out to City Council at a public budget hearing.

Just Harvest staff and board members attended the Nov. 29 budget hearing to offer testimony to Councilmembers Natalia Rudiak, Darlene Harris, Doug Shields, Bruce Kraus and R. Daniel Lavelle on the importance of the city’s continued funding. Board secretary Mary-Elizabeth McCarthy first addressed council on the effects of hunger on children and the elderly, highlighting the struggles that seniors face even when accessing food pantries. Invoking Franklin D. Roosevelt, Mary-Elizabeth said that “government is the last resort for people who are hungry.”

Co-Director Tara Marks offered successes from the SNAP outreach, Summer Food outreach, and tax services that have been made possible with the Hunger Fund’s support.

“In these hard economic times more of your constituents are in need of help feeding their families,” said Tara, noting that so far this year, 1590 SNAP applications from individuals in the city have been processed). Additionally, said Tara, city residents received $2.3 million in total refunds from 1170 tax returns completed by Just Harvest, free of charge, as part of our work with the Money in Your Pocket Coalition (now supported by the United Way of Allegheny County) during tax year 2009. Reclaiming returns and Earned Income Tax Credit provided crucial relief for many of our neighbors stricken with financial stress.

“I’ve been in these people’s shoes. I’ve had to make the hard decision of whether to pay a bill or buy food,” said Child Nutrition Advocate Shauna Ponton.

“The recession we are facing has thrown thousands more families through a loop,” she continued. “It is important for these organizations to get the funding they are requesting so they will know that they can continue the great work that they are doing and provide services to the citizens of Pittsburgh.”

Council’s response was promising – though they acknowledged the current economy as an obstacle, Councilmen Kraus and Shields committed their support of at very least holding the line on the Hunger Fund contribution, if not increasing it for 2011. “As Americans, it speaks to our egalitarianism that we want to reach out and help one another,” said Councilman Shields, thanking the organizations for their persistence. “This is our ‘common wealth’, and I’d like to see a secure ‘floor’ – not just a ‘safety net’ – that allows all of us to stand on our own.”

Councilwoman Rudiak noted that it’s evident that people need the types of services offered by the Hunger Fund. She encouraged the groups to continue to share their stories of everyday people in need as a defense against the more negative connotations cast over food stamps and similar programs in recent times.

Just Harvest thanks City Council for its commitment to helping the Pittsburgh Hunger Fund help Pittsburghers in need!

Down on the (Urban) Farm...

2010-11-11T15:42:00.004-05:00

This past Monday, Just Harvest Co-Director Ken Regal testified as part of Pittsburgh City Council's public hearing on zoning for urban agriculture.

Council is mulling over changes to the urban agriculture ordinance, which aim to make some of the provisions of the current policy friendlier to chicken-farmers and beekeepers in the city.

Just Harvest recognizes that removing barriers to urban farming represents yet another vital step in creating better access to nutritious food for city residents - especially for those living in areas otherwise underserved by retail outlets for healthy food. Here's what Ken had to say:

"Thank you for holding today’s hearing and for the opportunity to speak with you about the importance of encouraging small scale agriculture in the City of Pittsburgh.

"At first glance, it might seem that agriculture is out of place in an urban setting; that city life is the polar opposite of farm life. It is no surprise, therefore, that the city has often referred to land being used to grow food as “vacant” and has thought of animals other than traditional pets as exotic nuisances.

"But we live in a time when these false assumptions are falling by the wayside in cities throughout the country, and when the industrial approach to global food production is making people sick, leaving millions at risk of hunger, and wreaking havoc on the environment.

"We heartily endorse the changes to the city zoning code that make it easier for people to grow food for sale on land in our neighborhoods. We heartily endorse the zoning changes that enable city residents to raise a few chickens or put in a beehive, while setting some regulations that ensure that these activities are carried out responsibly.

"Small and medium scale urban agriculture is good for Pittsburgh. It makes for a more diverse and self-sufficient economy. It provides more sources of healthy, affordable food for consumers. It welcomes immigrants with small-scale business opportunity and access to culturally appropriate foods. It teaches a new generation that food comes from the ground, not from a microwavable plastic container. It keeps the city green. It turns land that is truly “vacant” into land that is productive and beneficial to the community. It can even protect the city from natural or man-made calamities that damage the global food production infrastructure.

"We encourage you to see these essential long-term benefits as a reason not only to pass these zoning changes, but to see them as a start of a broader process that actively encourages urban agriculture. We hope for instance that Council will take action in the coming months to also revise the fee structures that may put these urban agriculture opportunities out of reach for many. Few measures will come before the City Council this year that have as many potential benefits, and at so little cost.

"Provisions to encourage Urban Agriculture have been passed in many cities recently, including Seattle, Portland, Nashville, Albuquerque, and Cleveland. But in the hopes that we can find much better models for our future than Cleveland, I refer you to an article (see http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article6799673.ece) published last summer in the Times of London. It reported on the exciting growth of bee-keeping in downtown Paris. Paris has more than 300 registered beehives, including large colonies being raised on the roofs of the Paris Opera and the Grand Palais. So, if bees and chickens and locally grown food are good enough for Paris, they should be good enough for Pittsburgh."

Just Harvest's '15 Minutes...'

2010-11-05T11:41:00.014-04:00

Just Harvest dipped into the intersection of art and youth activism yesterday at the Andy Warhol Museum on Pittsburgh's North Side.

Co-Director Tara Marks spoke about JH's mission and principles to a group of high school-age women from the Warhol's 'Power Up' after-school program. The program combines design and silkscreen techniques with health education and community participation. Recently, the group has shown its work at the SPACE Gallery Downtown, as part of the Paper Politics exhibition of political printmaking this past summer.

The Warhol's Heather White, who helps to run the program, said that Power Up is in its second year and in the past has worked with organizations such as Planned Parenthood, The Birth Circle and The East End Food Co-Op. After one or more information sessions with an organization, the students design some form of print material based on its mission (usually, a silkscreened poster, t-shirt, or 'zine).

The ladies had great questions and very cool ideas inspired by JH's commitments to community organization, application assistance services, and policy advocacy. Tara engaged the group with stories of her own experiences as a food stamp client and social activist, and presented some examples of real cases from JH's service work.

We're all looking forward to seeing the great work that the Power Up team turns out - watch this space for exclusive previews!

Just Harvest (and you) in 'Action for Food'

2010-10-22T10:38:00.015-04:00

Why is it that we see such scarcity of food for some in our land of plenty?

This was one of the main questions posed on Sunday Oct. 17, as Just Harvest Co-Director Ken Regal joined co-panelist Rev. John Creasy of Open Door Church and the Garfield Community Farm for a public discussion on local responses to hunger. The panel was held as part of the East Liberty Presbyterian Church’s Week of Action for Food, October 10 to 17.

“Hunger and poverty are not a matter of inadequate charity – they are a matter of inadequate justice,” said Ken. “When we as a society assert that people have a right to enough food to eat, and that it is nutritionally adequate, accessible, affordable, safe and healthy, and available to people without reliance on emergency food systems and charity – that is what will eliminate hunger.”

Ken spoke on Just Harvest’s policy work, focusing on the importance of removing barriers to participation in programs like food stamps, which make them “less effective, more intimidating, more bureaucratic, and discouraging” to people. Though over 150,000 people (1 in 7) in Allegheny County alone receive food stamp benefits, many more may actually qualify.

Ken estimated that one-third of all applications are rejected not because of an applicant’s income being too high, but due to the difficulties many clients face in providing documentation required by the Department of Public Welfare (DPW). Often these can involve eight to ten different documents and DPW instructions to applicants can be quite confusing.

When several in the audience asked how they could help out, Ken called on those present to ask their congressmembers to support child nutrition reauthorization via House Bill 5504 (the ‘Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act’). The child nutrition legislation, which governs school lunch, school breakfast, summer food and other key anti-hunger programs, is reauthorized every five years.

The Senate version of the child nutrition reauthorization bill (up for vote in the house sometime during the lame duck session between election day and the new year) funds its program improvements via a $2.2 billion cut to future food stamp benefits.

“You’ve heard the expression ‘robbing Peter to pay Paul’,” said Ken. “We’ve heard this being described as ‘robbing Peter to pay Peter.’ It’s really not a good idea.”

He added that Just Harvest has met with Representatives Tim Murphy, Mike Doyle and Jason Altmire to urge them to support the house version – and to find a responsible source of funding for it that does not draw from the much-needed food stamp program.

In closing, Ken conceded that there are many complicated causes and factors contributing to hunger, but that ultimately every organization – and each of us – has an important role in untangling and addressing the issues.

“There’s an assumption that in order to solve the hunger problem, we ‘only need to’ teach people how to cook, or shop better, or budget better,” he said. “But there is no ‘we only have to...’ – there are a million things that we need to do simultaneously. But whichever one of those things that we choose to do to help out is going to help to solve the problem.”

Here's how you can take action against the food stamp cuts!

Take action to prevent new rounds of budget cuts!

2010-05-13T10:27:00.005-04:00

HB 2435 closes tax loopholes in order to preserve
health and human services, education

The unrelenting recession continued to take its toll on Pennsylvania's state budget in April. The Commonwealth's revenue shortfall reached $1.1 billion, and things could be worse by the time the fiscal year ends on June 30.

Some senators are saying the state cannot afford to spend more than $27.5 billion in the 2010-11 budget. That would require lawmakers to cut the budget back almost to 2007-08 spending levels.

A cuts-only budget - at a time when health care and public safety costs are rising - would force harmful reductions to services for children, seniors and people with disabilities. It would set the Commonwealth back by several years, while hurting the state's economy. Policymakers should take a more balanced approach to this budget crisis.

We need your help!

State Representative Dwight Evans has introduced HB 2435, legislation that would close tax loopholes and end special interest tax breaks, while preserving critical services for Pennsylvania families. This bill is scheduled to come before the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for a vote during the week of May 24.

It will close corporate tax loopholes, enact a severance tax on natural gas production, assess an excise tax on cigars and smokeless tobacco, and close a sales tax giveaway that has put millions of your sales tax dollars in the pockets of big retailers like Home Depot and Wal-Mart.

The package also includes a reduction in the corporate tax rate and other business tax cuts long sought by the business community.

The package will raise $370 million in the first year. Read more in a detailed overview of the revenue bill.

Take action today!

Call and ask your House member to close tax loopholes and reform the tax code before making deep service cuts that will hurt Pennsylvania families. Tell them to support HB 2435!

Look up contact information for your representative (search by county or zip code). Don't wait! Give them a call today!

Or, you can send your state Representative a fax today, asking they support HB 2435. (Brought to you via PA Hunger Action Center)

This information is brought to you via The Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center. The Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center is a non-partisan policy research project that provides independent, credible analysis on state tax, budget and related policy matters, with attention to the impact of current or proposed policies on working families. Learn more: www.pennbpc.org.

New Food Stamp Users, Same Old Argument

2010-02-15T10:56:00.002-05:00

According to a recent article by the New York Times, the stigma of receiving food stamps has been lessened dramatically due to the continuing economic crisis. The authors of the article trace the slow rise in food stamp popularity from early 1990s to today. But as the article explains, however popular food stamps have become, there are always critics.

Criticism and dialogue is an important part of social policy discussions, but the arguments against food stamps and other safety net programs are tired, overused, and usually incredibly derogatory. Those who advocate for higher restrictions and federal cuts parrot the same argument over and over, with increasingly ridiculous metaphors: food stamps make you dependent, and that’s really bad. The most recent example of this is Andre Bauer, the lieutenant governor of South Carolina, who when asked about safety net programs replied that his grandmother “…told [him] as a small child to quit feeding stray animals. You know why? Because they breed.”

Though later Bauer said he regretted his comments, he defended his statements by saying that he was simply trying to “spark a discussion on how South Carolina will break the culture of dependency that pervades these programs.” Yes, but while these recycled comments from Bauer and others continue, nearly 1 in 5 Americans said they have not had enough money to buy food in the last month (FRAC, January 2010). 9.3 million people lost their jobs (Bureau of Labor Statistics, January 2010). Millions of men, women, and children will feel the effects of “very low food insecurity”—skipping meals because they cannot afford enough food.

Regardless of whether safety net programs like food stamps create dependency like so many claim, these programs are responsible for feeding millions of hungry Americans everyday. People who have never dreamed of needing food stamps but are now feeling the pinch of this economy are applying and receiving benefits. Low income workers who were on food stamps before the economic downturn need food stamps more than ever. It is despicable that some Americans and even our elected officials would turn away a fellow American citizen at their time of need because they might become “dependent.” Let’s work together to end American hunger, rather than rehash old arguments against it.

Letter to the Editor

2009-12-23T11:33:00.002-05:00

Just Harvest Co-Director, Joni Rabinowitz submitted this letter to the editor which appeared on Friday, December 18, 2009 in the editorial section of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Strengthen 'safety net'

More than 561,000 Pennsylvanians are unemployed and more than 400,000 children live below the poverty line. The recession affects everybody.

And our current policies to address poverty don't keep up with our changing economy. On this much, we agree with Glen Meakem. But Meakem is wrong to propose eliminating the "safety net" in his column "The dependent class" (Dec. 6 and TribLIVE.com). Actually, spending on "safety net" programs is insufficient to deal with the unprecedented economic crisis. In Pennsylvania, for example, the number of people receiving cash assistance is near a 40-year low -- only 85,000 families, down from 170,000 in 1997.

Pennsylvania spends $164 million less per year on Temporary Assistance for Needy Families cash grants than it did in 1997. Grant amounts haven't increased in 20 years and pay only $403 per month for a family of three! Meakem says the nation "spent $714 billion on various means-tested welfare programs" in 2008. But more than half of that was for health programs like Medicaid.

We invite Meakem to join the fight for health care reform for all Americans, to increase coverage that will lead to cheaper preventive care and reduce wasteful spending. The rest of Meakem's deceptive accounting includes Pell Grants for college students, LIHEAP to help pay for heat, job training and Head Start.

"Safety net" programs should be modernized and expanded, not eliminated.

WIC and Farmers' Markets: A New Opportunity

2009-12-09T16:14:00.004-05:00

On October 1, 2009 the Women, Infants and Children Food and Nutrition Program (WIC) extensively expanded their food package to include many more healthy options for mothers and children. The new package emphasizes healthy choices like whole grains, low-sugar juices, and for the first time, the addition of fruit and vegetables. WIC participants can purchase fruit and vegetables using the new “cash value voucher,” or CVV. These CVVs will be distributed in amounts of $6.00 for children, $8.00 for mothers and $10.00 for breastfeeding mothers. Another lesser known new addition to the WIC package is each state’s ability to authorize farmers’ markets to accept the new CVVs. This change in the states’ legal authority has exciting potential. The ability to use WIC at farmers’ markets could boost both WIC recipients’ nutritional health and provide more business to local farmers and agriculture.

Much confusion surrounds this new addition, because a program that allows WIC recipients to shop at farmers’ markets already exists: the Farmers’ Markets Nutrition Program, or FMNP. WIC recipients (and also seniors, through local Area Agencies on Aging) can receive checks to use at farmers’ markets at their WIC agency. But the numbers of FMNP usage are disappointing. In the fiscal year 2008, 8.7 million Americans received WIC benefits, but only 2.3 million WIC recipients received FMNP benefits (USDA, 2009). Actual redemption rates are even lower. Federal allocation rates also illustrate the importance of WIC in the farmers’ markets: an estimated $500 million is allocated for WIC, twenty-five times more than FMNP. If only 4% of all fruits and vegetables purchased with the CVVs were purchased at farmers’ markets, it would still match the entirety of the FMNP utilization from WIC participation (Community Food Security Coalition, 2009).

The benefits of adopting the CVVs in farmers’ markets seem obvious, and many states including New Jersey, New York, and California have implemented pilot CVV programs in farmers’ markets. However, Pennsylvania is currently not planning on implementing any pilot programs. According to a 2009 report by the Community Food Security Coalition, the reasons for Pennsylvania’s hesitation lie in structural and funding issues. But many states had similar issues, including California, who shares a unique check-cashing method with Pennsylvania. This issue will continue to be relevant, especially with the continually-rising numbers of people who depend on WIC and other food programs to feed their families. Pennsylvania leaders should be open to discussions about this wonderful opportunity for both Pennsylvania mothers and local farmers.

Anne Wachtel is a social work intern at Just Harvest.

Busting Food Stamp Myths

2009-12-04T16:57:00.003-05:00

It's not surprising that during an economic downturn, more people turn out to recieve food stamps. The USDA just released its estimates about food stamp participation rates, based on 2007 data. According to this report, an estimated 1.4 million Pennsylvanians are eligible for food stamps, of which about 76% are currently enrolled in the program. The New York Times and The Post-Gazette ran the same article referring to a USDA report on food stamp usage and the diminishing stigma associated with using applying for food assistance. Despite the growing need and usage, this article demonstrates the pervasive myths about food stamps that even those who have applied for and receive benefits believe. This post is aimed at three of myths mentioned in this article:

1. People avoid marraige to get food assistance.

It doesn't matter if you are married or not to your significant other - or your roommate. If you share food, you are expected to apply together and report both incomes. That's the law, people!

2. Food Stamps discourage work and hurt the economy.

Before each food stamp application, we do a quick screening just to make sure people are most likely eligible before we start the application. I've definitely had this conversation several times with individuals who are barely over income and wonder, "Would it pay off for me to make less and become eligible for food stamps?" Would you drop your gross pay by $60 to get $37 in food stamps? No. How about take of $200 in pay to get $77 in food stamps? Honestly, the situations where it might pay off are when people are literally just over the guideline and have high shelter costs.

If you are a student, unless you meet certain exceptions, you have to work at least 20 hours a week to be eligible, no matter how hungry and broke you are.

Furthermore, food stamps don't hurt the economy! Actually, for every dollar dolled out in benefits, a multiplier effect occurs.

3. Food stamps are basically cash assistance, but with fewer restrictions.

Food Stamps can only be used to purchase food - unless you are doing something illegal. And there are restrictions on it: in Pennsylania some food stamp applicants are asked to participate in work-readiness programs. It has only been since the fall of 2008 that non-disabled adults without children can receive food stamps for longer than 90 days.

A lot of people applying for food stamps for the first time, especially seniors, are often shocked and sometimes insulted by how low the income guidelines are, how low their benefit amount can be, or how much paperwork is asked for. This is after all, a system that is supposed to be there to help people, right? This is a safety net for people at vulnerable times in their lives who are stepping out and saying: "I need help meeting my basic needs and the needs of my family, I can't do it on my own." The last thing anyone in need should have to deal with is accusations or opinions about their moral standing in society.

Being poor is not a crime! A lot of this conservative rhetoric encourages people to feed their families cheap, malnutritious food instead of applying for assistance, which results in all sorts of health-related and social ills.

Ann Sanders assists people in the application process for food stamps in Just Harvest's Food Stamp's Make a Difference Program.

A letter to the editor

2009-11-23T10:38:00.001-05:00

Anne Wachtel, our social work intern at Just Harvest, submitted this letter to the editor which appeared on Friday, November 20th, 2009 in the editorial section of the Post-Gazette.

A mayor for them

Under Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, Pittsburgh has gained much media attention as "America's most livable city." He also claims to have made great strides in Pittsburgh's economic growth. If we listened only to him, Pittsburgh might seem to be a paradise. But this is not the case. Regardless of these so-called strides, we have thousands of residents in dire poverty. Even basic human necessities such as food are not a sure thing in "America's most livable city."

As a social work intern at Just Harvest, a South Side-based nonprofit that helps people apply for food stamps, I have seen this firsthand. Our applications for food stamps have more than doubled in the past year. According to the Department of Public Welfare, in September, Allegheny County food stamp participation went up for the 26th consecutive month. In Allegheny County alone, more than 134,000 people rely on food stamps to fill their pantries and refrigerators.

I challenge you, Mr. Ravenstahl, to serve your first full term as mayor for these people. Serve for the residents who cannot afford to pay for food and housing in the country's "most livable city." Serve for the elderly, the single mothers, the working families who must decide between food and rent. Serve for the homeless who can afford neither. You have claimed your dedication to Pittsburgh. Now, prove your dedication to Pittsburgh's most important resource: its residents.

Guest Blog: "Robbing Peter?" by Ray Murphy

2009-11-20T12:03:00.007-05:00

How Pennsylvania's largest city spends its extra CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) money sets a bad example for how Pittsburgh City Council spends ours. Click here to check out former Just Harvest intern Ray Murphy's blog post, "Robbing Peter?", which discusses the controversial decision in Philadelphia to spend federal anti-poverty money on non-direct assistance to people struggling in the economy.

And visit our website at www.justharvest.org for more information about joining Just Harvest at the Pittsburgh City Council Budget Hearing on November 30th, to ask City Council for funding from the CDBG to expand the Pittsburgh Hunger Fund in the 2010 City Budget, and prioritize safety net initiatives.

Take Action!

2009-11-12T14:47:00.002-05:00

Last week, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced legislation that would improve young children’s access to nutritious meals in child care centers, family child care homes, and Head Start and Early Head Start programs. Many children are spending more hours in care as their parents need to work more and more hours to make ends meet. This bill will help to ensure that they will get nutritious food while away from home. Ask Senators Specter and Casey to co-sponsor the Access to Nutritious Meals for Young Children Act of 2009 (S. 2749) today! Congress will be working on these and other Childhood Nutrition bills over the next six months.

Click here for more details and a link to send an email to your Senators from the National Women’s Law Center.

Crossing the Poverty Line: A Poverty Simulation

2009-09-22T15:29:00.002-04:00

Everyone who participated or volunteered in Just Harvest’s Crossing the Poverty Line: A Poverty Simulation helped to facilitate a successful and eye-opening event. My worldview has been sensitized and my preconceived notions surrounding my impoverished neighbors amended. Here is my story…

After being assigned my role at Just Harvest’s Poverty Simulation, I quickly learned that my mother abandoned me and my three younger sisters long ago. We haven’t seen her in years; my young siblings can hardly remember her face. With our father now incarcerated, we are left to fend for ourselves. At only twenty-one years old, I now need to budget my time between academic commitments at community college and responsibilities to family at home. We, the Perez family, are in crisis.

The only thing more troubling than our current situation, was the knowledge that all across our community there are similar instances of family fragmentation and deterioration. Our neighbors are no better off than us. Many are alone, homeless, and without assets. Still others have bills and expenses far exceeding available income. Barriers to our individual and mutual success abound.

Still we take to the streets of our community with optimism, our motivation to improve our various situations unabridged…

…then the simulation really began. It didn’t take long for my family to realize that we were entrapped within a system of oppression. Unable to remove ourselves from a cyclical progression of poverty and mistreatment, no one can manipulate the system in any truly positive way. After only the first simulated week, we have already given up any hope of keeping my three year old sister in the home. She was taken by child protective services and is now wrapped within an unending web of foster care. I wonder if I will ever see her again. We don’t have food on our table and our utilities are going unpaid. I haven’t returned to class at community college.

Hopelessness gripes every family in the community. Electricity is turned off by the utility company, and soon families are tossed into the cold with unsympathetic eviction notices. We try to access social services and community action agencies but cannot access them due to lack of transportation. When we do arrive, the lines are out the door. Theft becomes commonplace as neighbors turn against each other. The community is not a community at all; instead a trap – keeping us poor and discouraged.

Soon we are left with no home and little money. Resigned to defeat, we don’t make it. We are lost. Without a voice and with no means to improve our situation, we are doomed to a life of cyclical poverty. For the Perez family, the simulation becomes all too real.

Disadvantaged and impoverished individuals and families need a voice. All of us who participated in Just Harvest’s Crossing the Poverty Line: A Poverty Simulation realize this now more than ever. Without individuals and organizations advocating on the behalf of low-income people their plight is sure to go unnoticed and therefore unaddressed. And so it is all of our responsibilities. It is our responsibility to go out into the community and make a difference for our neighbors and community members, for our friends and family members, for everyone who should be equally represented in our society.

-Noah Whelan, AmeriCorps*VISTA

Pennsylvania STILL doesn’t have a state budget!

2009-09-09T09:42:00.001-04:00

As a result, the social safety net is on the verge of collapse. Nonprofits all over the state, such as those responsible for daycare for low-income children, mental health counseling, foster care, homeless shelters, group homes, elderly care, and food pantries are shutting down. They can no longer wait for their state payments. Many are relying on lines of credit or tapping home equity credit lines, and retirement and personal savings accounts to pay employees, utilities and mortgages.

In Allegheny County, over 3000 child care workers have lost their jobs and 12,175 children are without care! Parents without a safe place to send their children may lose their jobs in an already bad economy. Students have not received their PHEAA grants or award amount.

Pennsylvania is the last state without a budget and our legislators are not even meeting to build a compromise! The budget is now over 10 weeks late.

Call your PA legislators and ask them to preserve the safety net and pass a fair state budget NOW! We need a responsible budget that raises revenue to meet the needs of the most vulnerable in our community. Tell them how the budget impasse has affected you and your family and what programs you think are important to keep funded.

Find your legislators at www.congress.org

Join us

2009-08-18T15:23:00.004-04:00

Just Harvest to Hold Demonstration Opposing Special Interest Tax Breaks Outside PPG Industries in Pittsburgh

August 19, 2009 - 12:00pm

Just Harvest is organizing a demonstration outside the headquarters of PPG Industries in Pittsburgh to voice their outrage that some lawmakers are proposing to cut corporate taxes for a select group of large multi-state companies.

The proposal, which is under consideration by state budget negotiators, would cost $100 million in lost revenue at a time when the state is already facing a multi-billion-dollar budget shortfall.

PPG, a Pittsburgh-based manufacturing giant with facilities and affiliates in more than 60 countries around the world, is one of the businesses strongly lobbying Harrisburg for the tax break.

DETAILS

WHAT: Demonstration protesting special interest tax breaks being considered by budget negotiators

WHEN: Noon on Wednesday, August 19, 2009

WHERE: Outside PPG Headquarters, 4th and Market Streets, Pittsburgh

Email jonir@justharvest.org for more details.

1 in 6 low-income children missing out on free summer meals

2009-07-29T16:19:00.007-04:00

How is it that food stamp numbers continue to rise, yet only one in six low-income children participates in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) to receive free meals throughout the summer?

According to a recent FRAC report, it is harder to reach our children in the summer months, and Congressional measures over the years have resulted in reducing the number of communities eligible to participate, eliminating start-up and expansion funding, and lowering reimbursement rates. These critical cuts decreased both the number of sponsors and Summer Food sites.

In 2008, only 10 states reached at least one quarter of their low-income children through the SFSP. And although PA has the 13^th highest participation in the program in 2008, we still only served 24.8 children through Summer Food out of every 100 children enrolled in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) during the school year.

“Not only are states with low Summer Nutrition participation rates failing to provide for their low-income children, they are missing out on the millions of dollars in federal funds that exist to provide healthy foods for these children.” (page 2) Pennsylvania could receive over $4.9 million if they serve 40 children in Summer Food to every 100 children enrolled in the NSLP.

Advocates must reach out to communities with low participation rates, and Congress must pass child nutrition reauthorization bills to make the SFSP more effective and restore the cuts previously made —now, when the need and numbers are at an all time high, we must get all children fed in the summer.

To read the full report, click Hunger Doesn’t Take a Vacation.

To view a map of Summer Food sites throughout Allegheny County, click here.

Pennsylvania increases SNAP guidelines

2009-07-24T14:09:00.013-04:00

Starting July 27th, 2009, the gross income guidelines for the SNAP program (formerly the Food Stamp Program) increase to 160% of the federal poverty level. If you've applied for food stamps recently and have been denied because you were just over the income limit, you may be eligible now.

NEW INCOME GUIDELINES (as of July 27, 2009)

_Household Size______Monthly gross income limit

_______________________(before taxes)________

______1_______________________$1,387___________
______2______________________ $1,867 ___________
______3______________________ $2,347 ___________ ______4______________________ $2,827___________
______5______________________ $3,307___________

* These guidelines DO NOT APPLY to households with members who are disabled or over 60 years old

Call Just Harvest at 412 . 431 . 8963 to apply over the phone from 10am - 6pm Monday - Friday.

Local advocates join to urge state legislators to vote against slashing our programs in the State Budget

2009-07-24T12:33:00.004-04:00

A group of seven Just Harvest staff and interns joined PCRG, Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation, Neighborhood Legal Services and The Housing Alliance on July 16^th on a trip to Harrisburg and spoke out to our state legislators to oppose the proposed state budget cuts presented in SB 850 and HB 1416. So far, we haven’t seen a budget proposal we’re happy with—one that includes workable plans of raising revenue over slashing funds to our most important human service programs including: childcare, legal aid, libraries, the Department of Public Welfare and economic development.

Along with protesting these proposed cuts with our legislators and their aides, the group provided ideas for raising revenue, primarily endorsing the option of a temporary increase in the PIT (personal income tax). Although receptive in our dialogue, many legislators hesitated on acting on such a controversial issue—the demon of raising taxes. Reelection and party affiliation should be set aside in this matter; we elect our representatives to make these hard decisions, not to abandon leadership at a time when we need them the most.

Please join us in this fight—tell your elected officials you’re willing to pay (.68 cents a day) for the PIT increase. Otherwise, without a statewide PIT increase, we will be looking at increased local and property taxes in our near future.

TAKE ACTION: Call your state officials today and tell them we can’t balance the budget on cuts alone; we can’t balance the budget on the backs of poor people. To find your state legislators, visit: www.votesmart.org and type in your zip code.

For more information on how these cuts will affect us, check out the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center's "30 Ways in 30 Days Service Cuts will hurt Pennsylvania" and browse the PBPC website for more interesting articles. For in depth analyses, visit the Keystone Research Center.

Social safety net fails to support full-time minimum wage workers

2009-07-07T14:40:00.012-04:00

Imagine working 40 hours a week every week and bringing home less than $1,000 a month. Then imagine trying to live off of that for all of your utilities, rent, food, gas, car payment, etc. You would assume anyone working full-time wouldn’t find themselves in this situation, but that’s the lot for low-income workers.

I discovered this when interviewing a young man for his food stamp application. I asked him how many hours a week he works and how much he makes an hour. Then I get out the calculator and do the math. 40 hours a week x $7.25 an hour x 4 weeks a month = $1,160 a month. Subtract taxes, and he was right: his take home pay for full-time work was less than a grand a month.

This is where the safety net system comes along and fails to support low-income workers, because the income guidelines for food stamps don’t account for taxes for the first income test: the gross income test. For a single person feeding themselves, their gross income has to be less than $1,126/month. Our full-time worker living on less than a thou a month grosses $1,160. No food stamps for this fellow.

Which, well, is not fair. For starters, had taxes been taken into account, he would have been eligible. And eligible for quite a bit due to his rent and utility costs. An extra $95 a month to pay for food would have really been a hand up in his situation.

Secondly, had he received $1,000 in any other source of income every month instead of working for it and paying taxes, he would have been eligible for assistance. But since taxes aren’t subtracted when considering eligibility, the system is letting this young man still go hungry.

So, for any of you contacting legislators next time the Farm Bill is up: tell them to change the rules so that the gross income guidelines are gross income minus taxes.

-Ann Sanders, Food Stamp Specialist

SNAP clients MUST receive EBT cards in a timely manner

2009-07-06T14:59:00.013-04:00

When considering the complexity of the application process for SNAP benefits (formerly known as Food Stamp benefits), it is not surprising that there are numerous places along the road where the process can veer off course, delaying a client's ability to use their benefits to buy food.

It is all the more frustrating when that process veers off course after a client is under the impression that they have already crossed the finish line. Just Harvest recently encountered several situations in which a client was able to successfully navigate the treacherous obstacles of accurately filling out an application--gathering the mountain of supporting documents for verification of their situation and sending it off to a County Assistance Office, completing an interview with a caseworker and being approved for benefits--with nothing to show for it. The final, crucial step that allows a person to finally use their benefits, receiving an electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card, never happened.

How can it be, that after what can at times, be a month long process of phone calls, left messages, faxes, mailings, and more phone calls, a client can be approved and not receive a card? Where does the car veer off the road? When a new client is approved for benefits, they have the option of having their EBT card mailed to them. For clients who are working full-time, caring for young ones, or are otherwise unable to make it into the County Assistance Office, this would seem to be a convenient option.

When a new client is approved for SNAP benefits, a notice is automatically sent from Harrisburg, informing them of their status and the amount of benefits to be expected. If they cannot pick up the EBT card at the office, it is sent from JP Morgan, who has a contract with the Department of Public Welfare (DPW) to create the cards and manage the EBT system. Once a card is issued, it should arrive in 3-7 days. However, unlike the notice of eligibility from Harrisburg, the card is not automatically issued. It requires an additional step from a caseworker to issue the card. If that step never happens, a client does not receive a card, and is unable to use his or her benefits.

This situation raises several questions. Why isn’t the card automatically issued, like the eligibility notice? How often do caseworkers forget to issue a card? What is the average amount of time it takes a client to receive a card after they have been approved? For a process that can already take 30 days just to determine eligibility, having to wait an additional few days or weeks, could be extremely difficult for someone who needs food right away.

Just Harvest recently encountered a case in which a client was approved, but never received a notice or EBT card. After receiving a Just Harvest newsletter months after applying for benefits, he called to say he had never heard anything. When our advocate inquired about the case, the gentleman had been receiving benefits for over five months and had no idea. Admittedly, this is an extreme case, yet it illustrates another barrier to receiving food stamp benefits, which have the potential to discourage even the most persistent applicant. DPW needs to ensure that all applicants who are determined eligible receive an EBT card in a consistent and timely manner, so that clients are never forced to hunt down a card that they have already invested so much time and energy into obtaining.

-Brian Gilmore, AmeriCorps*VISTA Volunteer

The return of grassroots recipes: Great Depression Cooking - Clara's Pasta with Peas

2009-06-09T11:34:00.004-04:00

We've been on a hiatus with our Grassroots Recipes, but this video seems to be the perfect way to bring back the recipe sharing. The first video of this series originated in 2007, and its popularity recently resurfaced as people all over relate to the struggle of putting food on the table and eating on a tight budget. Clara Cannucciari candidly shares her memory-filled commentary of what it's like growing up in an era of economic hardship while intertwining her simple recipes for cooking for next to nothing. If you have any thrifty recipes to share, please feel free to e-mail us at info@justharvest.org.

Many thanks

2009-06-04T12:29:00.011-04:00

Many thanks to Bruce Springsteen, who generously supported Just Harvest for yet another year on his tour through Pittsburgh. Not only did he donate two tickets to auction off to his sold out show, he also matched the highest bidder with a personal contribution.

We were able to raise over $5,000 in cash the night of the event, thanks to "The Boss" announcing how important it is to support local grassroots organizations like Just Harvest and to join our efforts to fight hunger and poverty by donating. Giving fans flooded the doors after the show, throwing cash into our donation buckets. We couldn't have asked for a better encore.

Food Stamp participation continues to rise

2009-05-11T13:34:00.015-04:00

The April data from the Department of Public Welfare (DPW) just arrived, and food stamp participation in Allegheny County rose for the 17th consecutive month. It is now at 125,834 (up 9.1% from a year ago.) Statewide, participation set yet another all-time record, at 1,339,541 (which is 12.4% higher than a year ago.)

Even more dramatic is the impact of the April 1 stimulus increase in benefit levels.Statewide total benefits in April went up more than $28,000,000 thanks mostly to the benefits increase (and slightly to the increasing number of recipients.) Allegheny County recipients shared more than $16,000,000 in food stamps in April, up $2.7 million from March 2009.

Since July 2008, Just Harvest processed over 500 Food Stamp applications--up 52% so far from the year before. And, we just renewed our contract with DPW to provide application assistance over the phone for yet another year. As the need for assistance reaches all time highs, we're working hard to help people gain access to the benefits they are entitled to.

Just Harvest's 2009 Annual Meeting and Board Election

2009-05-08T09:22:00.011-04:00

On Tuesday night, many of Just Harvest’s staff, board, volunteers, and supporters came together to celebrate the successes of 2008 and look forward to the year ahead. Reports were given on the highlights of the past year, organizational finances, up coming advocacy efforts, and the challenges and opportunities Just Harvest will face in 2009. For a summary of the information discussed check out this year’s Annual Report, available on our website. One of the meeting’s highlights was the election of new board members. Please check out the new board and their biographies at our website. We look forward to the energy and passion this board brings to its work.

This year’s annual meeting featured a talk by Joyce Rothermel, the long-time CEO of the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. Joyce, who is also a Just Harvest member, discussed the hunger situation in Western Pennsylvania and the role of non-profits in responding to the community’s growing needs. She affirmed the long-standing partnership between Just Harvest and the Food Bank, and challenged both organizations to work together to end hunger. Just Harvest’s public policy-centered work compliments, builds upon, and supports the direct food relief provided by the Food Bank and its member agencies. As the economic recession continues, all poverty and hunger focused non-profits will have to stretch their resources to meet the unprecedented challenges and opportunities they face in their work. To learn more about the Food Bank and its important work visit their website.

Another exciting part of the evening’s events was the announcement of the new volunteer-directed Grassroots Program Committee. This still-forming committee, which will be made up of volunteers and board members, will be an informal mechanism for interested people to organize events and activities that promote Just Harvest’s mission. Whether you want to organize a bowling party or happy hour, host a film showing or a book discussion, the Grassroots Program Committee is the place to get involved! The first meeting will be at 6pm on Tuesday, May 26 at the Just Harvest office. Pizza will be provided for this brainstorming session, and all are invited to attend. Please contact Brian Gilmore by email or phone (412-431-8960) if you are interested in participating.

2008 was a great year for Just Harvest, and it would not have been possible with out you, our supporters, volunteers, members, staff, and board. Thank you for joining us in this important work. With your support, Just Harvest continues the fight against hunger and poverty, sowing the seeds of economic justice here in Allegheny County and beyond!

-Paul Shetler Fast, Just Harvest Intern

Just Harvest explores Google Maps

2009-04-17T09:22:00.008-04:00

They saw a need and created a tool to fix it. That is the basic description of how the Volunteer Pittsburgh Map was created by Just Harvest intern Lou Hanson and Americorps VISTA Brian Gilmore.

The function of the EARN program is to help Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) clients find placements where they can meet their work requirements for the program. When clients don’t meet the requirement, it hurts their assistance as well as the funding for the TANF program—even if clients are only short by an hour or two a week. After Just Harvest advocate Rochelle Jackson shared her concern about the program underutilizing volunteer opportunities that would help to fill those extra few hours, Lou and Brian got to work.

They decided a map would be the best tool for linking TANF clients with possible volunteer opportunities close to where they live and work. People also tend to be more willing to donate their time if it is supporting organizations in their community. After a few intensive weeks of internet searches, phone calls, and typing up information, the Volunteer Pittsburgh map was born.

The Google map tool is particularly helpful because it is interactive. Users can zoom in on their neighborhood, click on a colored placemark to get the site information, and even get a real image of the place by using the street view option. Sites are also color-coded so that users can search for sites that offer opportunities in their field of interest, such as medicine, education and environment.

This tool was so easy to use and so well-received by representatives of the EARN Centers that we decided to make another map to show Summer Food sites. Just like the Volunteer Pittsburgh map, users can zoom in on their neighborhood and find out where the closest summer food sites are where children and youth can receive breakfast, lunch, and snacks for free during the summer. Just click on a placemark to get the details of which meals are offered there and at what times.

We hope that these maps are helpful for you. Happy mapping!

- Lou Hanson, Just Harvest Intern

More bad (and some good) news for struggling homeowners:

2009-04-15T15:37:00.001-04:00

In times of crisis, it is inspiring to see individuals and organizations of all types reaching out to help those in need. Unfortunately, it is equally troubling to be reminded of the lengths some people will go to try to take advantage of those who are looking for help. I’m referring to specifically to mortgage modification scammers, who are in the business of duping struggling homeowners with fraudulent promises of financial assistance with refinancing mortgages.

The scammers prey on homeowners who are in danger of defaulting, by using official-sounding names to make folks think they are taking advantage of President Obama’s promise to refinance or modify 7 to 9 million mortgages. Companies advertising these services are often fraudulent, going so far as to try to mimic the actual mortgage lender in mailings they send to homeowners who are at risk of defaulting. Anyone using their services is at risk of losing their savings or their homes.

The good news is that the government seems committed to cracking down on these scammers. They have sent warning letters to 71 companies who were running suspicious advertisements, and are currently investigating 2100 mortgage fraud cases. "We will shut down fraudulent companies more quickly than before. We will target companies that otherwise would have gone unnoticed under the radar," says Treasury Secretary Timothy Geitner. Here’s hoping the government’s active stance against these scammers shuts down or discourages fraudulent companies. Until then, let’s extend our own helping hand by warning friends, families, and neighbors about the risk, and make sure no one we know is taken advantage of by these ruthless frauds.

Unemployment and the Stimulus Plan

2009-04-07T11:43:00.001-04:00

A recent article on National Public Radio (NPR) notes that the unemployment rate has reached 8.5%, the highest it has been since 1983. In the month of January, 741,000 people lost their jobs, the largest number of layoffs in a single month since October of 1949. With numbers like these, it can cause a bit of head-scratching to hear that governors in some states are refusing stimulus money included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act which provides substantial financial incentives to states that reform their unemployment benefits programs.

What specific reforms are required for a state to receive funding? In order to receive one-third of the funding, states must implement an “alternative base period” policy, which would take into account more recent wages in determining eligibility. Many states currently don’t count the most recent three months of earnings in determining if a worker is eligible. According to a briefing from the National Employment Law Project, over 40% of workers who fail to qualify for benefits because of insufficient wages would qualify under the “alternative base period” policy. There seems to be little objection to implementing this policy.

However, in order to qualify for the additional two-thirds of funding, states are required to implement policies that have proven more controversial in the eyes of some governors.
States would have to extend benefits to two of four potential groups in order to qualify: 1) part-time workers; 2) workers who leave work for compelling family reasons, such as illness or disability of a family member, domestic violence, or moving to accompany a spouse after a job change; 3) workers who have exhausted their benefits as a result of long-term unemployment, and who are enrolled in an approved job training program; 4) workers with dependents, who are receiving benefits, but whose benefits would be increased to help them care for their families.

The governors who are rejecting the additional two-thirds of funding seem to be doing so primarily because they believe expanding unemployment insurance will create a future tax burden on businesses when the federal funding runs out. The National Employment Law Project has responded with a press release entitled “Get The Facts Straight Governors”. In it, the NELP makes several points important points regarding the governors’ refusal of funding.

First, there is no requirement in the bill that the States make the expansions permanent. If they find the changes to be too costly in the future, they can repeal the expansions. Second, some states are at risk of dropping below the minimum level of the funds required in their unemployment trust funds. If this happens, those states will be forced to raise taxes on businesses to return the fund to the minimum required level. Therefore, considering the rising numbers of unemployment insurance claims, refusing to accept stimulus money may mean higher taxes. Also, the federal funding would cover the cost of the expansion for several years (up to 66 for some states). That would give states a buffer period to both evaluate the expansion and work to find reforms that would not require increased business taxes.

The expansion of unemployment insurance is intended to help a greater number of people through this economic crisis, during a time of high job loss and weak job market. Governors who choose to protect businesses from potential, future tax increases, instead of expanding unemployment benefits to those who are in need right now seem to missing the point regarding who truly needs protection now.

- Brian Gilmore, AmeriCorps VISTA

Over $2.5 million with two weeks to go!

2009-04-01T09:54:00.003-04:00

With only two weeks left in our “Give Paychecks a Boost” campaign, Just Harvest tax preparers have completed over 1200 Federal tax returns free of charge, with clients receiving over $2.5 million dollars in refunds! The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is responsible for over half of the refund amount, “making work pay” for hundreds of Just Harvest’s tax clients.

These impressive numbers would not be possible with the hard work and dedication of our tax preparers and volunteers, who have logged over 1800 paid and 650 volunteer hours of service. Thanks to everyone who has supported us and made this campaign a resounding success, and a tremendous economic benefit to both low- and middle-income workers and to the Greater Pittsburgh region as a whole. And for those last minute filers, we still have some appointments available. Call 412-431-8964 for more information, or to set up an appointment.

State service providers down to bare bones

2009-03-26T15:14:00.004-04:00

Who is going to deliver all the important services, when there are no more workers left?

We’re glad Gov. Rendell has additional funds to help vulnerable Pennsylvanians who are losing their jobs, but he MUST provide enough staff to deliver these critical services.

The number of people receiving food stamp benefits is the highest in decades. And our governor is providing more funds for the needy adults who need basic medical care.

But nobody’s asking: "How will these services get to the people who need them?" Rendell has frozen hiring.

In Pennsylvania the staff numbers in the Dept. of Public Welfare-- which administers Medicaid, food stamps and cash assistance to the most needy of our neighbors—is way down.

The staff complement for these workers in Allegheny County alone, is about 400 employees.

They are down to 320 workers now, and people are retiring every day. By June, they expect 120 more to retire! The state has a hiring freeze, and people who need the help are not receiving it in a timely manner.

So ask Gov. Rendell, "Who will deliver these services when there is no more staff in the government?"

- Joni Rabinowitz, Co-Director

Taxes and Obama’s stimulus plan

2009-03-26T10:24:00.003-04:00

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) is President Obama’s extensive vision for how the government will invest in America’s future. From health care to green technology to state budgets, the legislation represents a broad effort to return the country to a position of economic stability and prosperity. Included in these efforts are several tax provisions which could impact low- to moderate-income workers. The following is a summary of the major changes and how they might affect you.

Making Work Pay Tax Credit
This credit represents President Obama’s promise to lower taxes for 95 percent of American workers. The credit is equal to 6.2 percent of your earned income up to $6,450, for a maximum credit of $400 ($800 if filling jointly). Earners who make up $95,000 ($190,000 if filling jointly) are eligible for the credit. Taxpayers will receive the credit through a reduction in the amount income taxes withheld from their paychecks, beginning April 1st. The credit is in effect for the 2009 and 2010 tax years. Workers with more than one job may want to ask one of their employers to not reduce their withholding to ensure they will not owe taxes when they file in 2010.

Earned Income Tax Credit
The ARRA expands the Earned Income Tax Credit for larger families with three or more children and for married couples. The credit percentage increases from 40 to 45 percent for large families, meaning a maximum benefit of $5,657 in 2009. The act also widens the income range for a married couple to receive the credit. The credit applies to 2009 and 2010 tax years.

Child Tax Credit
The ARRA lowers the refundability threshold for the Child Tax Credit from $8,500 to $3,000 for 2009 and 2010. This means that more families will be eligible for the tax credit in 2009, and many who were eligible before will get a larger credit.

American Opportunity Tax Credit
This credit expands the Hope Education Credit for low- and moderate-income workers. It increases the maximum credit amount from $1,800 to $2,500. It expands the credit to apply to the first four years of post-secondary education (currently, the credit can only be used for the first two years). It expands the definition of what counts as an expenses to include the cost of any course materials. Finally, up to 40% of the credit is refundable. This means that a taxpayer who qualifies for the $2,500 and doesn’t owe any taxes can still claim a refund credit of $1,000.

Social Security Benefits
Although not technically tax related, there will be a one-time $250 dollar recovery payment for most individuals who receive Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, Railroad Retirement and Veterans benefits. You will receive it separately from your benefits by the end of May 2009. It will be delivered in the same way as your current benefits are received. For additional questions, check out http://www.socialsecurity.gov/.

This is a brief summary of the major changes to taxes that will affect low- and middle-income earners. To learn more, check out the Center for Economic Progress’ blog at http://www.workforward.org/ and check out http://www.recovery.gov/ for news, updates, or to get your voice heard about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Local evening food distribution

2009-03-24T10:20:00.010-04:00

Starting this Thursday evening, March 26th, the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank (GPCFB) is hosting an evening food distribution at it's warehouse on One North Linden Street in Duquesne from 5:30-7:30pm targeting unemployed and underemployed families.

There is no need to pre-register, but bring containers or bags to bring your groceries home with you. To read a recent article from the Post-Gazette with more details about evening food distribution at the GPCFB, click here.

. . .

With food banks facing increasing high demand because of the state of our economy, we feel fortunate that this sort of distribution is able to happen in our area at a time when people need it the most. But charitable contributions can only go so far, and our food banks are still in danger with the continual rising of food costs.

To read about more about the future of our food banks, with in depth commentary from food bank representatives from all over the country such as Iris Valanti from the GPCFB, check out "America's food banks need a bailout: The struggle to feed America's nouveau needy." on Salon.com. And feel free to leave comments...

Tax site opens January 20th

2009-01-05T14:01:00.021-05:00

As tax season approaches, Just Harvest is once again opening our doors with our FREE tax preparation site on the Southside. To be eligible, a single person must earn less than $20,000, and families must earn less than $40,000. We will e-file your tax return so you can get your refund in as little as nine days. You must have an appointment--no walk ins will be accepted. To schedule an appointment, call: (412)431-8964 after you have received all of your W-2s.

Join us at City Council

2008-11-26T09:01:00.019-05:00

MONDAY, DECEMBER 1st, 10 am--Four citywide anti-hunger organizations will be speaking at the City Council Public Hearing next Monday, Dec. 1 at 10am asking City Council to fund $434,800 for the Hunger Fund. Just Harvest initiated this budget item in the 80's when we decided to ask Council to take some responsibility to counter hunger.

Joining Just Harvest, the other organizations asking for funding for increasing hunger are: Greater Pgh. Community Food Bank, Pgh. Community Services, Inc. and Hunger Services at the Urban League. Just Harvest uses these funds to reduce hunger by helping working people get tax credits, by recruiting new sites for Summer Food programs and by helping people with Welfare problems.

The public is invited to speak in support of this request. Share your personal experience; tell the City Council to expand the Pittsburgh Hunger Fund, to support funding for anti-hunger organizations, to prioritize safety net issues in the 2009 City Budget. Tens of thousands can't afford to put food on the table. To sign up to speak, call the City Clerk's Office at (412) 255-2138. Each speaker gets three minutes to testify. Join us at the City County Building at 414 Grant St. on the 5th floor next Monday to protect Pittsburgh's safety net.

Unique gifts for a great cause

2008-11-21T10:19:00.007-05:00

On Saturday December 6th, Pittsburgh Cares is sponsoring their Nonprofit Marketplace at Chatham University. Each vendor at this one day "shopping mall" of handmade and unique gifts chooses a nonprofit beneficiary to receive a portion of their sales. A part of the proceeds from Dawn Glassworks will benefit Just Harvest. Dawn Wallhausen, our former Administrative Assistant, chose Just Harvest as the beneficiary for the nonprofit share of her sales of her handmade glass-bead jewelry. Come out and support Pittsburgh Cares, Dawn Glassworks and Just Harvest for this family-friendly shopping event with unique gifts for a great cause!

A Blue Collar Black Tie Affair

2008-11-20T12:39:00.008-05:00

In recognition of the Peoples' Pittsburgh 250th, join Senator Jim Ferlo and a cast of notable Pittsburgh doers and givers for a lively evening of stories, images and songs from The Point of Pittsburgh book and CD. Dress up your blue collar or dress down your black tie, but wear your pride in Pittsburgh for all to see!

In the spirit of giving embodied by Johnny Appleseed and other historical Pittsburgh heroes, bring a bag of non-perishable food items. Event benefits Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank and Just Harvest.

$35 ticket buys admission, plus book, CD & poster.

Just Vote Guide published

2008-10-18T09:48:00.003-04:00

Just Harvest's 2008 General Election Voters Guide is hot off the press and packed with important information about the upcoming election. We included information about voting for newly registered voters, answers to frequently asked questions about voting and an On the issues section which includes the Presidential candidates views on crucial issues such as Hunger and Food Assistance, Poverty, Tax Credits for Low-Income People and Health Care. We also compiled candidate surveys for US Congress, Allegheny County and State legislative races. To download a pdf version of our 2008 General Election Voters Guide, click here.

Kudos to Just Harvest intern Lou Hanson for the candidate research for this publication.

Just Vote

2008-10-06T10:34:00.022-04:00

October 6th marks the deadline to submit voter registration forms, and Just Harvest's Just Vote Campaign registered over 300 new voters over the past few months. On Friday, September 26th, Just Harvest joined the Pennsylvania League of Young Voters, Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania, and other organizations at the Allegheny County Jail to register inmates eligible to vote. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "The 2-hour drive signed up 456 voters and took in 700 absentee ballot requests." To read the front page coverage of the event from The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, click here.

Just Harvest will release a non-partisan voter guide to over 6,000 households mid-October. If you are interested in receiving this informational guide about both local and presidential candidate's positions on important hunger and poverty-related issues, please e-mail us at : info@justharvest.org.

HOW YOU CAN HELP: We need volunteers for phone banking during the month of October! If you are interested in informing and mobilizing registered voters to get out there and VOTE, then call us at : 412 . 431 . 8960.

Food Stamp Program Update

2008-10-02T09:27:00.000-04:00

Starting October 1, 2008, the Food Stamp Program is getting better--especially for working families! Improvements include an increase in income guidelines, child care cost deductions, and no limit on resources.

NEW INCOME GUIDELINES (as of October 1, 2008)
_Household Size_______ Monthly income limit (gross)_

______1________________________$1,127____________
______2_______________________ $1,517 ____________
______3_______________________ $1,907 ____________ ______4_______________________ $2,297____________
______5_______________________ $2,687____________

By eliminating the limit on resources, you may now qualify for food stamps even if you have money in the bank or other property.

And now the Food Stamp Program will deduct all of your child care costs from your income, giving families with high child care costs more food stamps.

If you've applied for food stamps before, and have been denied because of these reasons, you may be eligible now. Call Eugenia at Just Harvest : 412 . 431 . 8963 to apply over the phone.

Food Stamp Numbers on the Rise...

2008-09-26T10:14:00.004-04:00

New data from the PA Department of Public Welfare shows as of August 2008, 1,214,802 people receive food stamps in PA. This is the highest total in 13 years, and is the 13th consecutive monthly increase. In Allegheny County, we've reached the highest total since the mid-1990's, and there are 116,972 people who currently receive food stamps.

According to FRAC (The Food Research and Action Center) president, Jim Weill, food costs for low-income families jumped 8.5% from June 2007-June 2008. As it gets harder for families to buy food, the demand for assistance escalates, and we need more from the Food Stamp Program. We need more relief for the increasing number of people who can no longer provide food for their families.

HOW YOU CAN HELP: Just Harvest needs your help labeling our Food Stamp brochures so we can distribute them to places that need them: schools, doctor's offices and other organizations. Join our efforts to help people who can't afford to put food on the table.
Call us at : 412 . 431 . 8960 to volunteer.

Just Harvest's 20th Anniversary Celebration Dinner

2008-09-19T10:14:00.015-04:00

Come celebrate our 20th Anniversary Harvest Celebration Dinner with us on Tuesday evening, October 28th, 2008 at the Omni William Penn, Downtown Pittsburgh.

This year, we proudly honor Senator Jim Ferlo with our 6th Seeds of Justice Award for his long time activism and advocacy for the poor and working people.

Our Guest Speaker, Robert Kuttner, is co-editor of The American Prospect magazine, co-founder of the Economic Policy Institute, anchor, journalist, and frequent commentator on economic policy issues. His most recent book, Obama's Challenge: America's Economic Crisis and the Power of a Transformative Presidency, delves into what a President Obama "must do to solve America's economic crisis--the gravest since the Great Depression--and, in the process, become a truly transformative leader." (Chelsea Green Press) For more about Mr. Kuttner, click on his name above to be redirected to his official website; to read his blog, click here.

Tickets cost $45 each or $400 for a table of 10.
Purchase tickets online at : http://www.justharvest.org/ or contact us by phone at : 412 . 431 . 8960 for more information.

Upcoming Events

2008-09-11T10:38:00.004-04:00

So many interesting things happening in the next few weeks....

Saturday evening, Sept. 13, 2008 – Club Cafe, Southside
CD Release Party – The Point of Pittsburgh – Happy Birthday to Pittsburgh and all Those who built it -1758- 2008
- featuring Mike Stout and the Human Union, the Newlanders, and Charles McCollester, author and historian who will be there to autograph his book, The Point of Pittsburgh
Doors open @ 6, show @7- tickets $15
-----------------------------------------------
Saturday September 20 and Sunday September 21, 2008
Conference - Say No to Torture: “Talking About Torture”
412-371-3607 or http://www.pittsburghagainsttorture.org/ for more information
-----------------------------------------------------
Monday evening, September 22, 2008- 7PM
Epiphany Catholic Church, 1018 Centre Ave (across from Chatham Center)

Labor and Religion Coalition of Western Pa and Just Harvest invite you to:
- Learn about local grassroots labor struggles around the region
- Hear Guest Speaker Steven Greenhouse, New York Times labor reporter, talk about
his award winning book, "The Big Squeeze: Tough Times for the American Worker." Greenhouse will talk about stagnating wages, declining health and pension benefits, the loss of manufacturing jobs and the importance of working-class voters in this fall's elections.
- Discussion will follow
No charge
-------------------------------------------------
Friday evening- September 26 -Debate Party
Join Just Harvest, the Consumer Health Coalition and other community organizations
Watch the first presidential debate – on domestic issues.
Shadow Lounge, 5972 Baum Blvd, East Liberty
8 pm- gather and network 9-10:30pm – debate -No charge
-----------------------------------------------
Friday, October 17th, 2008
Join Just Harvest at Pittsburgh’s first Sleep-in for the Homeless beginning at 6:30 pm until the morning of Saturday at 6:30 am.
First floor and portico of the City County Building downtown. This is a homeless awareness fundraiser for Community Human Services. Similar to a charity walk, participants are asked to raise a minimum of $25 in support of Community Human Services. To learn more or to register, go to http://www.chscorp.org/.
---------------------------------------
Just Harvest's 20th Anuual Harvest Celebration Dinner
October 28, 2008
Featuring Guest Speaker, Robert Kuttner, Co-Editor of The American Prospect.
Seeds of Justice Awardee: Senator Jim Ferlo
Dinner and Silent Auction at the Omni William Penn Hotel.
For more information, see http://www.justharvest.org/

A Letter to the Editor elicits response from Sen. Arlen Specter

2008-09-07T10:14:00.021-04:00

Published on Tuesday, August 26 with the Pittsburgh Post Gazette's Letters to the Editor on the Web.

Tax credit priority
Kudos for your editorial rebuking the Steelers' effort to put the taxpayers on the hook for one-third of the $12 million entertainment complex price tag and the reminder that two of Pittsburgh's major sports franchises have already shared more than $350 million in taxpayer subsidies ("Stage North: The Ampitheater Needs No Public Subsidy," Aug. 19 editorial).

In these hard economic times, we need to prioritize struggling families over sports franchises. What we really need is for the U.S. Senate to pass an expanded child tax credit (S. 3335). Right now hard-working Pennsylvania families with earnings less than $12,050 don't qualify for the
tax credit.

Already this year Sen. Arlen Specter has passed up four chances to help those earning between $8,500 and $12,050 get more from the credit so that parents engaged in back-breaking but noble work in nursing homes, child-care centers, hotels and agricultural fields might have a little extra cash to lighten the load.

In September, the Senate should pass the expanded child tax credit so that more than 91,000 Pennsylvania children would become eligible for the tax credit and another nearly 317,000 children would receive a larger credit. It's long past time for the U.S. Senate to step up to the
plate and go to bat for the children of the hard-working, struggling
low-income families.

KRISTIE WEILAND
Tax Credit Campaign Organizer
Just Harvest
South Side

A representative from Sen. Arlen Specter's office responded on Friday, September 05, 2008.

Specter and taxes
A recent letter by Kristie Weiland calls on Sen. Arlen Specter to support adjustments to the child tax credit that will enable more families to qualify who have little or no income tax liability ("Tax Credit Priority," Aug. 26 letters). Ms. Weiland should be pleased to know that Sen. Specter has been a supporter of efforts to reduce the tax liability of families with children, including legislation that doubled the amount of tax relief that families may qualify for under the child tax credit from $500 up to $1,000 per child.

In her comments on the senator's voting record, Ms. Weiland fails to mention that the specific provision she discusses is part of a much broader package that provides for the extension of expired and expiring tax provisions, including the research and development tax credit, alternative minimum tax relief and incentives for investment in alternative energy production. These provisions are broadly supported but have been held hostage by disagreements over revenue offsets and the length of extensions. The majority leader has chosen to skip the customary committee process and to instead draft a bill in a back room. Sen. Specter has stated his preference to see this package passed with the opportunity for input and amendments from the minority party, without using a mere extension of benefits we already enjoy as an excuse to raise taxes elsewhere, and with longer extensions so that the yearly tax extender fight can be avoided.

When the Senate returns this month, passage of a tax extenders package will be a top priority for Sen. Specter.

KATE KELLY
Press Sectretary
U.S. Senator Arlen Specter
Washington, D.C.

Funding for The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program

2008-08-23T11:44:00.007-04:00

At the beginning of the month, Secretary Ed Schafer announced that there will be $49 million will be given to elementary schools for fresh fruits and vegetables. The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program will reach schools in all 50 states and also in the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Schafer stated that "Fresh produce for children at school gives them an early start on healthy eating habits that can stay with them after school, and throughout their lives." He also mentions with the increasing prevalence of obesity, this is a way to educate and help our children learn the importance of a healthy life.

Pennsylvania's total allocation is $1,322,607 which will go to the neediest schools where there is high proportion of free or reduced breakfasts or lunches. The children in the participating schools will receive these foods at no cost and will hopefully begin to add healthier choices into their daily routines.

To read more, go to http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2008/08/0208.xml

Posted by: Amy Soergel, our Just Harvest Food Stamp Barrier Research Intern

Grassroots recipe #6: One chicken, three meals

2008-08-19T15:57:00.026-04:00

What could be more economical than using one chicken for three meals? Just Harvest AA Heather Seiders contributed this trio of recipes. Most of the ingredients are used in two or more of these recipes, making it the perfect week meal plan for a budget. Chicken prices go up and down regularly, so be sure to check the prices to make sure they're low.
ROASTED LEMON CHICKEN
1 chicken (about 3 lbs.)
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/2 of a yellow onion, cut in 1/2
1 lemon, quartered
3 cloves of garlic, peeled
fresh herbs (parsley, thyme, or oregano) (OPTIONAL) * no need to chop *
2tbs. butter and 1 tsp. olive oil

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Remove neck and gizzard from chicken, and rinse inside and out with cool water. Pat dry with paper towels. Transfer to roasting pan. Where the cavity opens, loosen the skin from the breast and put one tbs. of butter under the skin of each side. Brush chicken with olive oil and rub with salt & pepper (inside and out). Stuff the chopped lemon, onion, garlic and herbs into the cavity. Tie legs with kitchen string & bake for at least 15 mins. per pound of meat (At least 45 mins.) After removing chicken from the oven, let it sit for about 15 mins. so the juices go back into the meat. Then remove the veggies and lemon and cut & serve.
* As the chicken cooks, you want to baste it with pan drippings (or more olive oil) about every 15 mins., adding more salt & pepper if needed *

BUFFALO CHICKEN SALAD SANDWICHES
Leftover chicken (no skin)
Mayonnaise to taste
1 or 2 stalks of celery
1 of 2 carrots
Salt & pepper to taste
your favorite hot sauce
palmful of bleu cheese crumbles (optional)
Bread or crackers
First, chop up the leftover chicken, celery and carrots. Then, add mayonnaise until mixture becomes a creamy consistency. Add a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce & add salt & pepper to taste. Serve on sliced, toasted bread with lettuce & tomato or on crackers for a snack.

CHICKEN BROTH

1tsp. olive oil
carrots (roughly chopped)
celery (roughly chopped)
onion, garlic, lemon (optional) and herbs (reserved from roasting)
leftover chicken carcass

Add olive oil to large pot, and heat oil on medium heat. Add onion, garlic, celery and carrots and cook for about 5-7 mins. Place the chicken in the large pot (bones, skin & meat left on the bones), and cover with water (about 6-8 cups.) Add reserved herbs & lemon juice from roasted lemons. Bring to boil, and cook for about 3-4 hours salting to taste as needed. When it's done, strain out the whole fresh herbs, add reserved chicken pieces, and let cool. Put in pint or quart containers and refrigerate or freeze.
* After it is cooled down, there will be a lining of fat congealed on the top. Just skim it off and throw away. *

For a quick chicken soup: just add your favorite cooked noodle or pasta and salt & pepper to taste.

Crossing the Poverty Line

2008-07-18T16:24:00.010-04:00

Crossing the Poverty Line: A Poverty Simulation was a huge success with over 75 attendees, including volunteers, staff from The Department of Public Welfare, other social service organizations, local and state elected officials. Many thanks to Rick Claypool, our AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteer and countless others who made this event possible.

In Pittsburgh alone, there are more than 61,000 people and more than 148,000 people in Allegheny County living in poverty, making it more important than ever to not only educate our community but to help everyone come together to gain a better understanding of the daily struggles that people have to deal with.

For more details about the event, click here to read the front-page coverage from the Pittsburgh Courier.

Obama on food policy, plus chili recipe

2008-05-29T11:07:00.004-04:00

In this article, writer and chef Ari LeVaux interviewed Democratic candidate Barack Obama on food policy issues for The North Coast Journal (Clinton and McCain have not yet responded to LeVaux's interview requests). And his chili recipe sounds passable (non-vegetarian, but still likely to be inferior to Nic's recipe below).

Highlights include:

As president, I would implement USDA policies that promote local and regional food systems, including assisting states to develop programs aimed at community supported farms. I also support a national farm-to-school program and am pleased that the Farm Bill provides more than $1 billion to expand healthy snacks in our schools.

And

As president, I would direct the Environmental Protection Agency to strictly monitor and regulate pollution from large factory farms, with tough fines for those that violate environmental standards. I also support efforts to provide more meaningful local control over these factory farms.

A letter to the editor

2008-05-29T09:55:00.006-04:00

Published on Thursday, May 29 with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Letters to the Editor on the Web. You can find the letter we're responding to right here.

Everyone deserves food
I was appalled by the ignorance of the May 22 Web letter "Government Spending I Don't Like." As an AmeriCorps•VISTA member, I am proudly serving our country by fighting poverty with Just Harvest, a local anti-hunger organization. During my service, I have helped dozens of low-income families apply for food stamps. Public benefits help low-income workers and people who have lost their jobs get by without falling deeper into debt and destitution. It is an insult to portray them as "drug addicts" who "make their living sitting on the couch."

No matter what their situation, everyone deserves enough food -- it's right there in Article 25 of the U.N.'s Universal Declaration of Human Rights. If fighting wars seems more important than feeding our neighbors, our priorities are seriously mixed up. Let's hope our legislators make decisions based on their belief in human dignity, not greed.

RICK CLAYPOOL
AmeriCorps•VISTA Member
Just Harvest
South Side

Grassroots recipe #5

2008-05-27T09:31:00.004-04:00

Just in case you were concerned by the exclusion of meat from the recipes so far, Nic Romano offers a taste of the southern cuisine he picked up in the Navy years ago:

"While my last contribution was vegan friendly, and I don't want anyone to get the false impression that I endorse that kind of self-imposed culinary lunacy," said Nic. "You don't get to be 'Fat Nic' by eating exclusively off the produce aisle. Without further Adieu, here is my personal variation of Jambalaya!

"Don't worry, I may be a fat white dude from Maryland, but I learned how to make this by watching New Orleans native Eldridge 'Treetop' Coleman do magic. He never would reveal his secrets. I may never come close to matching his Jambalaya skills, but he would eat my Jambalaya -- which is more than I can say for the other white dudes who worked in the bowels of that ship so long ago."

Ingredients:
(tends to be spicy)

1/2 lb Andouille sausage. Can't get andouille? Then get some smoked Polish sausage. It's not the same, but it will work. Just slice it.
1/2 lb chicken meat, diced. I like to use boneless thigh meat, as it's cheap.
Shrimp, Crab Meat (if you want to)
1 medium onion, diced
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup diced celery
1 medium bell pepper, also diced
1-2 hot peppers (cayenne if you can find them, but jalapenos work too. Treetop would probably hit me for that)
2 bay leaves
Fresh thyme
Fresh Rosemary
1 14oz can diced tomatoes
2 cups chicken broth
Salt
Pepper
Ground Red Pepper
Old Bay (but since you live in Pittsburgh you will have to settle for whatever passes for "cajun seasoning" at Giant Eagle)
12oz Bottle of IPA (any beer would work, but I find that the hoppy ones tend to work well with the spicy food)

In a heavy pot, brown the sausage. Add the chicken, and cook all the way. Add the onion, garlic, celery, & diced peppers. Cook with the meat (you may need to add a little olive oil to help things along). When the veggies have browned, add the thyme, rosemary, and a sprinkling of old bay. Stir around a bit to get the brown bits off the bottom of the pan. When that is mixed around a bit, open the IPA, and take a good long sip. Deglaze the pan with the rest. Bring to a simmer, and add the tomatoes. Bring that to a simmer, and add the chicken stock. Bring this to a simmer, and continue to season. When you got it where you like it, drop in the bay leaves and let simmer uncovered for about 30-40 minutes, stirring to keep from burning. If you desire, and at the last possible moment add the seafood, and cook through.

In a separate pot, cook about 2 cups of rice. When the rice is finished, add to the other ingredients. Season to taste. It's good now, and will be better in the morning.

Thoughts on the Economic Stimulus Tax Rebate

2008-05-22T15:12:00.002-04:00

By Ken Regal, Co-Director of Just Harvest

Many of us have just received or will soon be receiving a “tax rebate” check from the federal government as a part of the Economic Stimulus bill passed by Congress and signed by President Bush earlier this year.

My question is why do we so readily accept the idea that this money is a "tax rebate" or a "tax refund"? When the government decides to pass out checks to poor people who fill out vast paperwork, jump through incredible numbers of bureaucratic hoops, and put up with all sorts of indignities and verification procedures, we call it "welfare." Right-wing politicians score political points deriding those who are allegedly getting a free ride on the backs of "hard-working Americans."

But when the same government decides to pass out checks to just about everybody except those at both extreme ends of the income distribution curve, printing the checks just as fast as they can, and requiring no more paperwork than the tax returns we file anyway, then it's "a tax rebate" or (even worse), the "Bush tax rebate." Let's call it what is really is: welfare-for-just-about-everybody. Then when we're standing behind somebody affluent in line at the grocery store who is buying junk food with cash, we can sneer at them and think "Hey, how dare you! That's my tax money you're wasting on soda and potato chips!"

Now, some have argued that the “tax rebate” is different because it reflects a return of what a taxpayer has already earned. But let’s consider what it means to “earn” a check from Uncle Sam:

Under federal welfare rules, essentially everyone who gets cash assistance from TANF must be caring for dependent children and, with exceptions that vary from state to state, most must be working or in a state-approved "work activity" for a specific number of hours per week.

In contrast, think about the rules of the current economic stimulus rebate: A person who sits on his patio drinking gin and tonic all day and who receives $75,000 in income from interest, dividends, or capital gains will get a $600 "rebate." But the guy he pays $50 every week in the summer and fall to mow his lawn makes less than the required $3,000 to qualify and gets no rebate.

My question remains: among Ms. TANF mom, Mr. Lawn Mower, and Mr. Gin-and-Tonic, who's on "welfare" and who is "earning" what they receive?

So, whether you’ve earned your recent “welfare-for-just-about-everybody” check or not, consider donating part or all of it to Just Harvest and help us keep up the fight against hunger, poverty, and economic injustice.

Grassroots recipe #4

2008-05-15T09:46:00.004-04:00

Young psychologist Christine Cinquino-Larson offered this simple Italian meal:

Vienna Cinquino's Pasta and Peas

ingredients:

1 can of tomatoes (Italian Style-l lb 12 oz. approx.)
about 1 oz. olive oil
2 cloves of garlic
1/4 green bell pepper (or 1/2 if prefer)
Small can of peas(15 oz. approx.--use less if prefer)
1/4 to 1/2 lb of elbow macaroni

Peel garlic cloves; saute until golden in olive oil. Discard garlic.* Blend tomatoes or put through a sieve. Mix into oil. Add salt, black pepper, and parsley to taste. Then add green peppers. Simmer about 30-45 minutes. Cook elbows about 8-10 minutes, drain, leaving a little water from cooked elbows to mix (as needed) when you add can of peas (at end, allowing 5 minutes for heating throughout). ENJOY!

*I asked Dr. C-L two or three times whether she was sure she really meant you're supposed to discard the garlic. She assured me that that's what the original (i.e. traditional) recipe indicates, though garlic fanatics such as I are free to keep it in.

Humanity and homelessness

2008-05-14T09:32:00.003-04:00

As a culture, Americans tend to expect people, like machines, to function. According to this hidden logic, we find purpose through our function, and by working we become valuable to the rest of society. This simple idea may help a parent instill a work ethic into her children, or it might help a teacher explain to his students the value of working toward goals.

Unfortunately, this logic also turns people into appliances, and useless appliances are worthless. Imagine how much unnecessary kitchen machinery is discarded annually. A quick jaunt through any flea market will give you a glimpse of the few things vendors believe to be salvageable, but the vast majority of such "labor-saving devices" find their way into landfills.

The same logic can make "unproductive" people seem useless and worthless. But people aren't appliances; they're members of our families and communities. One shouldn't need to be reminded of human beings' intrinsic worth. But the National Coalition for the Homeless' recent report on violence and victimization makes clear this reminder is necessary.

Homeless men and women continue to be targets of violence because "productive" people have internalized this idea that people who aren't (or don't appear to be) working lack value.

Consider this incident from last year:

York City, Pennsylvania
Homeless Man Attacked By a Group of Teens
August 8: At around 12:00 pm, David Wright, a 38-year-old homeless man, was
fishing near Codorus Creek when he was brutally attacked by three to five
boys. Wright reports the teens punched, kicked, and scratched him.
He was taken to the hospital and was treated for contusions and may have a
broken hand.

In the U.S., the number of attacks like this has risen by 13 percent in the last year, with more than half of the attacks having been committed by teenagers.

Clearly, we need a reminder about peoples' intrinsic worth -- especially as the housing crisis (instigated by many hard-working scam artists) threatens to increase the number of homeless people living on the streets. In the press release for the report, David Pirtle, a formerly homeless victim of violence and NCH Board member, calls for a solution: "If the federal government adequately funds permanent affordable housing, fewer people will be on the street, and fewer men and women will be attacked."

Grassroots recipe #3: azifa

2008-05-09T09:28:00.001-04:00

Carnegie resident Matt McGrath shared this recipe for Azifa, an Ethiopian cold lentil dish that he recommends in a pita, as a salsa alternative, or on its own. “When you make it yourself [instead of going to a restaurant], it’s about $10 cheaper. I'm addicted to it now,” said McGrath (a $1.25 bag of lentils is about 9 cups dry).

Ingredients:

5 cups brown lentils
1/3 cup red onion
3/4 cup green pepper
2/3 cup baby spinach
1 lg. jalapeno chili pepper
3 tsp ginger
1/3 cup lime juice
some salt & pepper

Directions:

1. Prepare the lentils. A good combination is 7.5 cups of water for 5 cups of lentils. Boil the water, then add the lentils, turn down flame to low, and cook, covered, until lentils are soft but not mushy. It’s a 2 to 3 ratio (2 cups of water for every 3 cups of lentils).

2. Finely chop up the red onion, parsley, baby spinach and jalapeno chili pepper. Place vegetables into bowl with the lentils. (Also "finely chopped" can't be stressed enough. Really you need to dice everything as much as possible. Especially the spinach.)

3. Make the dressing: combine the ginger and lime juice. Alternate azifa recipes add mustard for taste, or oil for thickness.

4. Stir the dressing into the lentil/vegetable bowl until the mix is even

5. Cover the mixture and chill for at least 7 hours.

Servings:
Six servings - approximately 1 cup per serving

Urban farms in the Steel City

2008-05-08T14:08:00.006-04:00

While some rural Pennsylvanians are weathering the rise in food prices by buying cheap, expired food from Amish shops, Pittsburghers are likelier to enjoy a more sustainable bounty from urban farms. According to this Post-Gazette story, urban farm sites now include the North Side, Lemington, Garfield, and the Hill District. This is good news for supporters of food localism, not to mention anyone concerned about the accessibility of fresh fruits and vegetables to City neighborhoods.

Speaking of fresh fruits and vegetables, Pittsburgh's farmer's markets return to their usual spots in East Liberty, South Side, Bloomfield, and everywhere else you love to find them beginning Monday, May 12. You can find the farmer's market nearest you on the Pittsburgh Citiparks Web site.

Pity leads to charity; dignity, to entitlement

2008-05-06T12:03:00.008-04:00

How hard have rising food prices and economic recession hit Pittsburgh? A recent Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article compares numbers of people served by one food pantry in South Hills in February 2007 -- 276 -- to February 2008 -- 425, an increase of 64 percent. The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank distributes food to this and over 350 other pantries and agencies in 11 counties; their director estimates one in three Pittsburgh residents meet the service's income guidelines (making less than 150 percent of the poverty level).

The article does a good job of painting a picture of the need. But what about attitudes expressed toward the poor? Here's how the piece begins:

If as you grocery-shop this month, you see Boy Scouts standing at the doors of the supermarket soliciting donations to the Scouting for Food drive, don't think of the food going to some anonymous "poor" person.
Instead, picture it going to your neighbor or to the family of your child's classmate. That is where it will likely go, according to food bank directors in the South Hills who said that the number of clients they are serving has spiked in recent months.

Layoffs, the mortgage crisis and the shaky economy have pushed more people into food pantry lines, and among the new clients are people whom what once had been the solid middle class -- those who, in the past, might have been more likely to donate than to use a food bank. (emphasis added)

Now hold on a minute. Sure, it makes sense to remind potential donors that the food they give is likely to benefit their neighbors and people like themselves (assuming most newspaper readers identify as "solid middle class," whatever that means). But it is unacceptable to imply that an "anonymous 'poor' person" is somehow less deserving than someone who recently fell from this so-called "solid middle class."

This is a subtle attempt to persuade readers to consider giving to a charity -- and it reveals much about what the newspaper assumes about readers, not to mention the very notion of charitable giving in America. Conventional thought tells us only those we pity deserve charity. A struggling person who demands food might offend "solid middle class" sensibilities. Likewise, a struggling person in the midst of drug addiction or might elicit little sympathy. An able-bodied individual unable to find a job? The scarcity of jobs is no secret -- yet our solution for this person is simply to demand again that they "get a job."

Unfortunately, the Post-Gazette article perpetuates this categorization of poor people into categories of "deserving" and "undeserving." Its persuasive power comes from the reminder that our donation is likely to benefit the "deserving" poor.

Bravo for the Food Bank and the excellent work they do. And bravo to the reporter and the Post-Gazette, as the local effects of poverty seldom attract media attention. But as for rhetoric that discourages us from acknowledging the common dignity of all human beings -- and that encourages us to think that only a familiar, well-behaved few truly deserve "charity?" Such rhetoric is poison. It's the kind of rhetoric that has and continues to divide struggling people across the globe who would do well to recognize their common plight and work together to address it.

Remember, this is one third of the population of Pittsburgh, or 111,521 people we're talking about.

In response, we who seek to end to poverty need to embrace a rhetoric of human dignity and entitlement. Say it with me now: "Everyone deserves enough food." Otherwise, our constant defensive stance will force us to focus on battling for what little government benefits remain, and our dream of ending poverty will remain just that -- a dream.

-Rick Claypool

rickc@justharvest.org

Grassroots recipe #2: Fat Nic's Vegan Friendly Beans

2008-05-05T09:45:00.003-04:00

From Nic Romano, a social worker friend and guitar hero fan from Baltimore:

Fat Nic's Vegan Friendly Beans & (rice, cornbread, whatever...)

Here's a good cheap recipe that always serves me well. It's cheap, simple, and very adaptable to anyone's tastes. Fresh herbs and veggies really make it good, but a little goes a long way. The following is how I like to do it.

Ingredients:
2lbs of dry beans (black beans, red beans, pinto beans, jumping beans, whatever you like, it doesn't matter)
1 medium sized onion- strong, diced
2 bell peppers, also diced
2-3 cloves of garlic, minced
1/2 lb sliced mushrooms
1/4 cup diced celery
2 finely diced jalepeno peppers.
Fresh basil, minced fresh thyme
Salt & pepper
anything else you think might be good
Lots of olive oil
A big pot

First, soak your beans. My room mate once tried to make chili with dry beans, and threw them into the crock pot straight out of the bag. Some of us just have to learn the hard way. Soak them overnight in cool water, but generally 4-6 hours should do the trick.

The trick to making this 100% veggie style is to make a flavorful vegetable broth first. To do this put about 2 tbsp. olive oil in the bottom of a large stock pot. Add the diced/minced garlic, celery & onion. swish it around so the veggies get a nice even coating of oil. Turn the heat on low, and sprinkle some salt on top of the veggies. Stir them around a little bit so they heat evenly. Put the lid on the pot, and play a song or two on guitar hero. check your veggies. When they are starting to get transluscent, turn the heat off, and add a few more tbsp. of olive oil.

Now add the peppers, mushrooms, and fresh herbs. Crank up the heat, and salt the veggies some more. Stir them around a bit, you may need to add some more olive oil, 'cuz the shrooms will soak up alot of it (for everyone who thinks adding salt is bad, the point of this is to draw out any moisture in the veggies when they cook down, so the flavors will concentrate).

Cut the heat down a little bit, and go play some more guitar hero. Seriously, this game rules. Check on the veggies, stirring them between songs. When the shrooms have shrunk, and the peppers are starting to get soft, cut back the heat and add about 2 cups of water (at this point, sometimes I put a little bit of miso or some kumbo seaweed into the pot).

Put the heat on low, season it up to your tastes, and let it cook down a little, about 20 minutes or so. By this point you've probably gotten yourself pretty addicted to guitar hero.

After 20 minutes, turn the heat off, and stir the mixture around. It should resemble a deliciously fragrant mushy goo. Season to taste.

Drain your soaking beans, and dump them in the pot. Don't rinse them off. Thoroughly mix the beans into the fragrant goo. Add about 2-4 cups of water. Put the heat on low, stir, put the lid on, and walk away. By now you probably want to finish guitar hero career mode anyway. The beans will take about 2-3 hours to cook all the way.

It is a good idea to check on the pot and give it a good stir every now and then. When the beans are tender, take the lid off, crank up the stove, and let it boil for a good 10-15 minutes. This will take care of any excess moisture. Now your beans are done, and you can eat them over top of rice or whatever you like your beans on.

Should feed a small army.

food crisis and free markets

2008-05-02T11:07:00.003-04:00

Scary. Transnational corporate agribusiness has managed to create a global food crisis. Readers of Naomi Klein's Shock Doctrine will be unsurprised at how Cargill, Monsanto, etc. are profiting from the crisis (not unlike how oil companies are reaping windfall profits) -- thus offering little financial incentive to stave of the "social uprisings" that rightly make the World Bank and WTO anxious. NGO Food First offers prescient analysis of the situation by explaining how market deregulation links the causes mainstream media outlets mention (i.e. biofuels and rising meat demand in developing nations). The UN is looking for ways to involve these transnational stakeholders in solutions. Indian activist Vandana Shiva anticipates the likely reluctance of governments to intervene in problems that free market policies create and points to sustainable solutions:

There is a very short term solution – give up the industrial agriculture using fossil fuels, high cost imports. Give up the forced linking with an international commodity market. Allow farmers to grow and give them a just price. We can solve the problem tomorrow. I work with 400,000 farmers in India growing organic food. We have doubled yields and doubled output on farms. Nobody is dying of starvation in the villages where there is organic farming. [...]

The Third World does not need charity; the Third World needs food sovereignty. It needs freedom to produce it own food. Let's just recognise the ecological endowments – it is Africa and Asia that have the best soils, the best sun, the best biodiversity. [...] I'd like to just mention: free trade is not free. Every one of the problems we have … have been triggered by government policy. Globalisation is government policy. Trade liberalisation is government policy. Biofuels is government policy. [...] If the governments have caused the problem, they cannot now throw up their hands and say that they cannot intervene. They have created the price rise, they need to intervene in creating a fair market for famers and ensure the rights of all.

Grassroots recipe #1

2008-05-02T10:33:00.003-04:00

Child nutrition advocate DeShauna Ponton was kind enough to share this delicious summertime combination of fresh vegetables and pasta.

Zucchini Spaghetti

1 large zucchini (cut into 1/2-1 inch pieces)
2-3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 large onion, diced
1 chopped green pepper
1 box angel hair pasta
1 can stewed or diced tomatoes, drained (save juice)
1 1/2 Tablespoons chopped garlic
3 plum tomatoes (or 1 regular tomato) skinned and diced
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
Italian seasonings (basil, oregano, rosemary), to taste
salt and pepper, to taste

In a large skillet, sautee onion, green pepper, and zucchini until slightly soft. Add the can of stewed tomatoes. Reduce heat and simmer for about 5 minutes. Add tomato juice, garlic, Italian seasonings, salt, and pepper. Cook for another 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Meanwhile, boil the angel hair pasta according to directions on the box, until tender. Drain and set aside.

Plate your pasta. Spoon zucchini mixture over pasta with juice and top with fresh parmesan.

Grassroots cooking

2008-05-01T09:23:00.005-04:00

With a national economic woes, a global food crisis pushing prices higher and higher, and apparently never-ending foot-dragging on the farm bill, it's not hard to feel anxious about the future of food in our communities. But daily meals continue bringing people together. Nothing like sharing meals and sharing recipes bridges generations and cultures -- and there's no better context than the dinner table for debating politics and problems.

In the Slate.com article "The Extravagant Gourmets," Sara Dickerman writes about the problem with most food writing -- namely, that it's purpose is usually to convince readers to buy more (and more expensive) food. Dickerman's article ends with a call to arms: more food writers should emphasize the economics in home economics. She writes:

The time seems right for a mainstream voice (better yet, voices) to marry the pleasures of the table with the reality of a reduced budget, perhaps by using what we've learned from the food revolution. Michael Pollan has already made a big splash this year by recommending that people shy away from packaged products and eat less meat—two steps that are not only a grassroots vote for a new kind of food system but that will help save money [...] A new home economics could harness seasonal ingredients and real ethnic flavors; it could weave a lusty appreciation of food with a sober appreciation of the grocery dollar.

We've decided to take on Dickerman's challenge by posting what we're calling grassroots recipes. Look forward to cheap, tasty, everyday dishes that come straight from the kitchens of Just Harvest's family and friends. We may not nutritional experts like USDA (whose list of thrifty recipes includes nutritional info and the cost per serving), but our passion for good eating is surpassed only by our passion for advocating that everyone, regardless of income, is entitled to eat well.

Food Stamps make a Difference

2008-02-12T13:43:00.001-05:00

Did you know that only about two thirds of Allegheny County residents who are eligible for food stamps actually receive them? Since August, Just Harvest has been working on our Food Stamps Make a Difference Campaign in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare to increase participation in the National Food Stamp Program. With roughly 148,000 (about one in eight) people living in poverty, we know we’ve got plenty work cut out for us.

But don’t think that you’re not eligible if you have a job, you’re a student, or if you own your own home or car. For a single person under 65, the income guidelines are clear: if you have less than $2,000 in resources (i.e. checking and savings accounts) and make less than $1,107 a month before taxes, you can probably receive food stamps. More people in your family? Just add $377 to that $1,107 ($1,484 for two, $1,861 for three, and so on) to find out if you qualify. If you’re over 65 or disabled, the resource limit goes up to $3,000 and your eligibility is calculated based on your net income (starting at $851 per month after expenses for a single person, add $290 for each additional).

For a more detailed description of food stamp eligibility, check out the USDA's web site.

Think you might be eligible? Give Just Harvest’s Food Stamp Specialist, Eugenia Mosby, a call at (412) 431-8963. When you talk with her, she can do a screening with you to determine an estimate of how much you might be eligible for and complete an application for Food Stamps with you over the phone using the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare’s online COMPASS system. According to the Department’s guidelines, you should have a decision on your application within 30 days!

And if you run into trouble in the process, we can advocate on your behalf to make sure your caseworker makes a fair decision. Remember, food stamps are an entitlement! Plus, you receive them on a debit card – you don’t get actual paper “stamps” – so they’re easy and convenient to use at almost any grocery store!

$600K and Counting!

2008-02-09T13:07:00.001-05:00

Last week, refunds received by Just Harvest's clients hit the $600,000 mark! This is a tremendous benefit to Allegheny County's low- and moderate-income workers, and a terrific economic boost to the Pittsburgh area! Thanks again to all our hard-working tax preparers and volunteers. On Monday, Feb. 11, we'll finally be able to beging submitting returns with education credits (anyone who had to fill out a 1099E) to the IRS (they were delayed by Congress's late December decisions on the Alternative Minimum Tax). Visit Just Harvest's Give Paychecks a Boost page for more information.

Tax Time!

2008-01-25T15:57:00.001-05:00

Just Harvest kicked off our sixth season of doing free tax preparation for low-income workers with a bang! Our office is bustling with a dozen tax preparers and numerous clients taking advantage of our services. Despite the aggressive “quick refund” ad campaigns by Jackson Hewitt, H&R Block, and other paid preparers, we’re meeting more new clients every day.

January 22 was the first day of 2008’s “Give Paychecks a Boost” campaign, and 16 of that day’s 20 clients were eligible for EITCs (Earned Income Tax Credits) totaling $32,066, with total refunds of over $63,000! This wouldn’t be possible without our hard-working schedulers, both of whom we hired through Welfare-to-Work programs, and our dedicated tax preparers and volunteers. Some of our preparers have been with us for all six years we’ve been doing free tax assistance; some are newly certified and just beginning to see the huge impact of our work. Our client intake and information specialist volunteers help manage the flow of people and data, and so far things are running smoothly (despite some headaches involving a particularly cranky copier machine).

In case you don’t know, the EITC is the United State’s largest anti-poverty program. It supplements workers’ incomes with tax refunds and enables millions of workers to keep their bills paid, cars repaired, and keep up with other expenses. Established in 1975, it has achieved wide bi-partisan support over the decades. If you want to find out more about the EITC, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities does a great job of breaking it down here: http://www.cbpp.org/7-19-05eic.htm.

In 2007, we served nearly 1,500 households, with refunds totaling more than $2.2 million! This year’s goal is $2.5 million. Here’s to another successful year of giving paychecks a boost! If your family received less than $35,000 in income in 2007 ($25,000 for a single person), you may be eligible for our free service. Talk to one of our schedulers by calling (412) 431-8964. Our hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mon-Fri, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sat.