1. FOOD SECURITY AND RESOURCES
Amber Book, MSW, SNAP Advocate
Food assistance programs overview

2. Before westart, consider….
Do weeatfood
beyond nutrition?
Do weuse food for
comfort or to
expresslove?
How many of your
specialmemories
involve food?

3. Howcan not having enough to eat impact your connection to your
community?
Whenyou don’t have enough…

4. The SW PA Food Security
Partnership

5. About Us
 Initiative ofGreater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank
 Wework to reducehunger in 12 counties by:
 Increasing participation in Federal food programs
 Supporting community led efforts to improve food security
 Developing collaboration s between organizations

7. What are YOU guys doing here?
We work closely with ICCAP
to provide Indiana County
Residents the food
resources they need.
GPCFB covers 11 counties:

8. So what isFood Security?
Food security meansaccess by allpeopleatalltimestoenough
foodforan active,healthylife.

9. Habitsof FoodSecure Individuals
They are:
• Eating 3 meals a day
• Able to afford their utilities/rent, medical
treatment AND buy food for the month.
• Aren’t worrying about “stretching out a
meal” or making it last longer
• Makinghealthy choices at the grocery store
• Eating food that is safe
• Able to cook a meal and share with friends
and neighbors

10. The Problem with Food
Insecurity is:
Health issues
Education/Employment
Issues
People who skip meals or don’t eat enough
experience:
•Fatigue
•Weakness
•Headaches
•Shakiness
•Inabilityto focus
Food Pantries are limited and don’t always have
healthy options
People ona budget tend to buy unhealthyfood
because its cheaper
Skipping meals and unhealthyeating can lead
to…..
OBESI
TY and
Health
issues

11. OMG, whatcanbe done!?!
But what canbe
done?
What are their
options?
Is thereanythingI
cando?

12. The Options….
 Finda local FoodPantry
 SNAP (AKA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program,AKA
FoodStamps)
 Monthly Senior FoodBox
 Grow their own
 Extreme Couponing

13. Food Pantries
Must go to the onethat coincides withphysical address
Meet theincome guidelines:
130% below the poverty line
Participantscan expect:
Canned food,boxed food,
pasta, bread,some produce, etc…

14. SupplementalNutritionAssistance Program (SNAP or Food
Stamps)
 Lots of stigma
 Lots of myths
 Its actuallyhelpful to alot of people
 Income guidelines
 Asset Limits

15. The StigmaandMyths of SNAP
What are some of the things that you have heard about SNAP?

16. How doesone qualify?

17. PA andtheirpesky asset limit
 What qualifiesas an asset?
 More thanonecar
 ExcessiveFinancialHoldings
 Ownsnon-residentialProperty

18. A SNAPAdvocate…

19. Ways SNAP Advocates help
 Workingto reduce stigma around the FoodStamp program
 Collaboratingwith other service providers
 Increasing awareness
 Connectingpeople to other resources
 Facilitatingthe applicationprocess
!

20. SeedlingDistribution
 A wayto help individuals takecontrol of their food source
 Empowers
 Educates
 Invigorates

21. SeniorBox Distribution
A federally funded nutrition program that
provides a monthly distribution to elderly
persons at least 60 years of age who meet
income eligibility requirements
(same asthe food Pantries)
Services are limited

22. ANY QUESTIONS?

23. THANK YOU...
Feelfree to
contact us any
time:
AmberBook,
SNAPAdvocate
abook@gpcfb.org
…for your time and
dedication to ending
hunger in Indiana County