Feeding with Impact - become an advocate
Monday, February 2, 2015
By: Adele Brady

Feb. advocacy

The Houston Food Bank Delegation
Houston Food Bank (HFB) 18-county service area in Southeast Texassends a 50 member delegation to the 84^th Session, 10 of whom are Senators.  

• Sen. Dan Patrick, former-HFB delegation member, was inaugurated Lt. Governor  of Texas on January 20^th;
• Sen. Glenn Hegar, former HFB delegation member, was sworn-in as Comptroller for the State of Texas on January 2^nd. 
• 5 of the Senate’s 14 Committees are chaired by members of the HFB delegation.
• Texas House Committees are expected to be appointed by mid-February. 

What to watch
HFB is working with the other 20 food banks across the State of Texas to:

• increase access to fresh produce and improve health outcomes among Texans who struggle to afford a healthy diet;
• protect and strengthen existing nutrition programs; and,
• improve financial stability and dietary health among low-income Texans.

Our strategy to combat obesity and improve health outcomes is calledFeeding with Impact (to follow on social media: #feedingwithimpact) and combines:

• fresh produce distribution; and,
• programs to increase food access and nutrition education for low-income Texans.

What we are asking

• increased funding to $18M for the Surplus Agriculture Grant (Texans Feeding Texans) to purchase, harvest, transport and store surplus agricultural products from Texas farmers who would otherwise plow this product back into the fields; and,
• funding of $2M to expand the Brighter Bites Program to San Antonio; the Valley; East Texas; and, Wichita Falls.  Brighter Bites is a partnership among the Texas Department of Agriculture; HFB and the North Texas Food Bank.  This school-based Program distributes fresh produce sourced by food banks and provides nutrition education to families.    

HFB will also oppose legislative initiatives which would make access to improved nutrition more difficult for low-income and other struggling individuals and families.

What you can do now
It is still early days in the legislative Session. 

• Follow our social media (twitter: @HoustonFoodBank Facebook: Houston Food Bank official page) and HFB advocacy webpage for updates on what is happening in the Session and how to get in touch with your Texas legislators.

http://www.houstonfoodbank.org/get-involved/be-an-advocate/ 

• Make sure your Texas legislators in the House and Senate hear from you about the importance of assuring that Texas children and their families have access to fresh produce and other healthy food. 
• Make sure YOUR Texas legislators know that you support the Houston Food Bank and urge that they do so as well.