Veneman Tours and Volunteers at Capital Area Food Bank

America's Second Harvest
Friday, 16 May 2003

Agriculture Secretary Emphasizes President Bush's Volunteer Service Initiative and USDA's Vital Role in Food and Nutrition Assistance Programs

Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today visited the Capital Area Food Bank in Washington, D.C., to help local volunteers and students from the Washington area sort and repackage food donations. Veneman was joined by Gerda Weissmann Klein, an acclaimed author and anti-hunger advocate, and John Bridgeland, Director of the USA Freedom Corps, President Bush's volunteer service initiative.

"Our efforts today demonstrate the President's call through the USA Freedom Corps to help our neighbors," said Veneman. "The Capital Area Food Bank is a wonderful organization that is doing a great job ensuring the most needy in our community have access to food."

The event is also an opportunity to highlight the upcoming National Hunger Awareness Day on June 5 and to promote the programs available to those in need. The U.S. Department of Agriculture administers domestic nutrition assistance programs and for more than 30 years has worked to accomplish a complex mission—reducing hunger and food insecurity by providing children and needy families better access to food, and healthful diet and nutrition education. Overall, the nutrition assistance programs reach one in every six Americans and touch every community in the United States.

One program, The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) provides food assistance to needed people through distribution of USDA commodities by food banks, shelters and other organizations. For FY 2003, USDA will purchase approximately $400 million in commodities for distribution through TEFAP. The Capital Area Food Bank and other food banks across the country are USDA's key partners in the work to ensure that everyone has access to food. Food banks play an important role in serving as a safety net when federal programs like the Food Stamp Program have been utilized but a need within the community remains.

With only 62 percent of eligible people currently participating, increasing access to the Food Stamp Program is a priority for the Bush Administration. USDA is actively working to reach all eligible recipients to make them aware of the resources available to them. For example, USDA utilizes a national toll-free number to provide information about the Food Stamp Program in both English and Spanish (1-800-221-5689).

For its part, the Capital Area Food Bank employs a Food Stamp Program outreach effort that relies on the work of volunteers to promote the program to its clients. Experience has demonstrated that there is an increased need for food assistance during summer months. For this reason, USDA's Summer Food Service Program works with community partners to ensure that all low-income children have access to meals when school is out of session. The Capital Area Food Bank has previously assisted in the outreach and monitoring of this program. However, this year they are expanding their involvement by serving as a sponsor to work with its network to set up approximately 100 food assistance sites around the metropolitan Washington area.

As part of USDA's Leaders of Tomorrow program, Veneman enlisted students from St. Anselm's Abbey School of Washington, D.C., and Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart of Bethesda, Md., to spend the morning with her in service to their community.

"These young men and women are answering the President's call to be part of something bigger than themselves," said Veneman. "We need you to maintain your commitment throughout the course of your lives and I encourage you to consider the many forms of public service available to you as you ponder your professional careers."

For more information, or to contact America's Second Harvest, see their website at: www.secondharvest.org