We invite you to view this eye-opening documentary, produced by CHSTV, an incredible group of talented students at Carlsbad High school, before the latest statistics came out. The video is funded by the Leichtag Family Foundation.
More than five million Californians are hungry or live in fear of hunger. 441,000 of them live in San Diego. They are everywhere. They are the homeless, but also those who are housed and can’t find permanent work. They are the working poor as well as the active and retired military community. They are your neighbors, your colleagues, your friends, the friends of your children.
What’s even worse is that many of these individuals could be receiving assistance through the federal food stamp program known as SNAP/CalFresh, but aren’t. There are more than 275,000 of them in San Diego alone.
Last year, a group of students from Carlsbad High School created a documentary to raise awareness about hunger in San Diego County. Their inspiration was a report released by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) which showed that 1 in 7 people in San Diego were facing food hardship. They created the film as a way to educate the public on the changing face of hunger in our own communites.
The news has gotten worse.
According to the latest FRAC report, released March 2011, nearly 1 in 5 San Diegans are now struggling to put food on their family tables. It is a daunting challenge, but there is hope. The CalFresh Act of 2011 seeks to increase access to and participation in CalFresh by removing barriers and simplifying the application process, while simultaneously implementing cost savings effortsYou can find additional information, and download a letter of support to send to your legislator at the California Food Policy Advocates website: www.cfpa.net.
Take Action Now
#1: Learn more about Feeding America San Diego's SNAP/CalFresh Outreach efforts.
#2: Tell 7 people in 7 days About the Hunger Issue:
•Only 50% of eligible Californians use SNAP/CalFresh
•San Diego ranks 53rd out of 58 for food stamp utilization
•It’s costing the county more than $350 million in federal dollars
•The CalFRESH Act will help by simplifying the application process
•They can write a letter of support through www.cfpa.net
#3: Be a Myth Buster
Talk about the new face of this issue. Discuss the 1-in-5 people who are hungry, that they are your neighbors and friends, that they include a growing number of military personnel.
#4: Go Viral
Make this your new mission. Let everyone know. Advocate for the CalFresh Act by linking to cfpa.net in your Facebook, Twiiter, and blogs.
#5: Write an Opinion Piece
Use the template provided to write an op-ed piece in your local paper.
#6: Go Hungry for Half a Day and Get Others to Do the Same
Find out what those who are hungry go through. Have your friends and colleagues skip a meal with you, then discuss how it felt.
#7: Spend 7 Minutes Brainstorming
You and your circle of friends are a creative bunch. Spend 7 minutes talking other ideas to get the word out about this critical issue!