Dear WSEM Junior Advisory Board Members:
On behalf of everyone associated with West Side Ecumenical Ministry I would like to extend our most sincere appreciation to the WSEM Junior Advisory Board for your innovation, perseverance and leadership in the inaugural WSEM 21 Challenge. You took a powerful idea and translated it into practical, effective action with positive long-term consequences for Clevelanders in need.
Because of you, more people understand the challenges that thousands of our fellow citizens with low incomes face everyday. Living on the average food stamp equivalent for one week created awareness, sent a message of advocacy on behalf of our struggling friends and neighbors, and compelled Clevelanders to help by sponsoring your efforts. All funds generated will benefit those seeking food and referral services through WSEM's three food centers at Brookside, Community Corner and Near West.
Again, thank you for your efforts and Happy Thanksgiving to all!
In gratitude,
Holly Brinda
WSEM VP of Advancement
P.S. Many thanks are also extended to Charter One Bank for piloting this project as an organization and all of the employers, sponsors and friends of the 21 Challenge participants who helped make this project possible.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Congratulations and Thank You!
Congratulations to my fellow Challengers. We did it!!! I echo Nicole's sentiments below. This was certainly a CHALLENGE, but unfortunately it is a daily reality for over 1,000,000 Ohioans. Please consider continuing this effort in one of the ways I described below.
A huge, heartfelt thanks to my sponsors - your support of me and WSEM is sincerely appreciated. Please know that your donations will go directly to helping those in need in Northeast Ohio this winter and make an enormous difference right here in your community. A special thanks to you superstars that donated more than $21.
My awesome sponsors:
Paul Neundorfer
Greg Gale
Anne Marie Witmer*
Adam Fuller*
Amie LaBahn*
Mike Leonakis
Stephanie Seeley
Dave Bujdos*
Jake Derenthal*
Amanda Miller
Doug Tayek
Jen Fewell
Amy Asseff (who also sponsored Sunny!)
Cathy Sussman
Chris Lange (thanks, sis!)
Terri Fogel-Postel
Ari Katanick
Caroline Williams*
Sarah Shatila (who also sponsored Sunny!)
Laura Mimura*
Marie Donofrio
John Paul Lucci
Christine Ballard
Kathy Szawiejko (thanks, Mom!)
Ann & Mike Komar (thanks, Grandma and Grandpa!)
Brandon Davis (who also sponsored Sunny!)
*superstar sponsors that donated over $21.
THANKS!
-Ann
A huge, heartfelt thanks to my sponsors - your support of me and WSEM is sincerely appreciated. Please know that your donations will go directly to helping those in need in Northeast Ohio this winter and make an enormous difference right here in your community. A special thanks to you superstars that donated more than $21.
My awesome sponsors:
Paul Neundorfer
Greg Gale
Anne Marie Witmer*
Adam Fuller*
Amie LaBahn*
Mike Leonakis
Stephanie Seeley
Dave Bujdos*
Jake Derenthal*
Amanda Miller
Doug Tayek
Jen Fewell
Amy Asseff (who also sponsored Sunny!)
Cathy Sussman
Chris Lange (thanks, sis!)
Terri Fogel-Postel
Ari Katanick
Caroline Williams*
Sarah Shatila (who also sponsored Sunny!)
Laura Mimura*
Marie Donofrio
John Paul Lucci
Christine Ballard
Kathy Szawiejko (thanks, Mom!)
Ann & Mike Komar (thanks, Grandma and Grandpa!)
Brandon Davis (who also sponsored Sunny!)
*superstar sponsors that donated over $21.
THANKS!
-Ann
Our challenge, their reality
We made it. One whole week on $21 or less. Good for us. But, as my co-challengers have mentioned, this is not our reality. It is, however, the reality for more of our neighbors than we probably realized. While we had the luxury to approach this week as a logistic puzzle, an accounting problem, a -- dare I say -- Challenge, the individuals and families who actually use food stamps had to wake up today and do it all over again. So, while I am happy that it is over, proud (and a little surprised) that I succeeded, I have to be careful not to be too self-congratulatory. I chose to survive on $21 for a week. If my willpower had failed me, and I just had to have a latte, I could have done it. Guilt aside, I still had the option to stop at Starbucks if I really wanted to. The cash was just sitting there in my purse, after all.
Nicole
Nicole
Thursday, November 20, 2008
6 hours to go!
What a week it has been, and only 6 hours to go!
What you see on the right is all I have left, 22 bags of tea (out of 100) and 1/3 of a bag of good old Bob's Red Mill TVP! Link here to see what I started with. All said, I ended up with around $1.54 of food left. I still can't believe I consumed an entire jar of peanut butter in seven days. It will be a while before I shop the Jif aisle again!
Many of the participants have discussed the hardest parts of this challenge with one another during the week. For me, the toughest thing was definitely not being able to choose from all the wonderful food in our community. No Johnny Mango quesadilla big plates, no spicy tomato soup from Moko Coffee Shop, no fresh fruit salad from the CSU snack bars. I budgeted my dollars in such a way that I couldn't afford any fresh produce for that matter, something I will reconsider when taking the 21 Challenge again next year. And yes, there will be another campaign in 2009! Next year, we hope to take our initiative to the a whole new level, working with area companies to find participants within the business community, and hopefully, a state representative or two will join in our challenge!
We have had interesting conversations with people curious about the challenge. It has been thought provoking, and very touching. Frequently, you would hear someone talk about how they realized their morning coffee shop run was "two days of food for you!". We need to remember that people in our community do this every day. Many of these neighbors turn to WSEM for assistance through these tough times, and we are so proud of the many sponsors who helped support our mission through their pledges.
I applaud my fellow participants, particularly our wonderful Junior Advisory Board Chair Ann Netzel, who shows such tireless dedication to WSEM day in and day out.
Finally, I dedicate my efforts this week to my fabulous sponsors: Paulette Adams-Flash, Amy Asseff, Sue Atkinson, Tom Barberic, Nancy DaPra, Brandon Davis, Bill Dunlap, Carl Dyczek, Luke Elsass, Dave Gunning, Matt Hildebrand, Lawry Hubert, Brent Keller, Jason Lansdale, Dan & Carrie Malatesta, Danny McGreal, Carlos & Jane Molina, Louise Mooney, Anna Mae Nixon, Kathleen Pelletier, Mark Sarlson, Sarah Shatila and Doug Spiker. For your support, I am so very thankful.
Yours,
Sunny
The final day...
I have never been more excited for a Thursday in my entire life. Today is the final day of our Challenge and I for one am hoping to not have to eat another peanut butter sandwich for a very, very long time.
After my lunch today, I will have the following food left:
1 egg
9 slices american "cheese product"
1 heel of bread
2 pkgs ramen
small amount of peanut butter
For dinner tonight I plan on using the ramen and PB to make delicious "thai" peanut pasta - I will cook both packages of ramen, drain them and add the remaining peanut butter and some soy sauce (courtesy of the sushi counter at Giant Eagle). Delicious!
So tomorrow when I wake up will I continue to eat on $3 a day? No. Why not? Because it is not realistic. It is not realistic to assume that I could continue this, nor that anyone else should have to. $3 a day is simply not enough money to buy nutritious food. But I will wake up tomorrow, as I have every day for the last 7 days, with a renewed appreciation for what families in Northeast Ohio and across America face every day. This is not a 7-day Challenge for them. It is a 365-day Challenge.
As the Challenge ends, we must continue this project in other ways:
-For those that are financially able, make a donation to programs like WSEM that provide families with hot meals, pantry food and outreach services.
-Educate yourself about hunger issues. The Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland's website is a great resource to start with.
-Volunteer at a local food pantry, hot meal program or the Cleveland Foodbank.
-Take action! Write a letter to your congressperson to voice your concerns over the food stamp program. The recently passed Farm Bill of 2008 was a small step forward in getting the qualification levels for food stamps lowered while increasing food stamp benefits, but there is much more to be done. The cost of food continues to rise at a pace far greater than the increase in benefits. Additionally, recipients need to be provided with more information on how to make healthy, nutritious choices with the benefits they receive. You can write to any of the three U.S. Representatives on the House Committee on Agriculture: Zach Space, Jean Schmidt or Robert Latta. You can also write to U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, who is a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry and a member of the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Food Assistance.
Thank you to everyone for their support of this Challenge!
-Ann
After my lunch today, I will have the following food left:
1 egg
9 slices american "cheese product"
1 heel of bread
2 pkgs ramen
small amount of peanut butter
For dinner tonight I plan on using the ramen and PB to make delicious "thai" peanut pasta - I will cook both packages of ramen, drain them and add the remaining peanut butter and some soy sauce (courtesy of the sushi counter at Giant Eagle). Delicious!
So tomorrow when I wake up will I continue to eat on $3 a day? No. Why not? Because it is not realistic. It is not realistic to assume that I could continue this, nor that anyone else should have to. $3 a day is simply not enough money to buy nutritious food. But I will wake up tomorrow, as I have every day for the last 7 days, with a renewed appreciation for what families in Northeast Ohio and across America face every day. This is not a 7-day Challenge for them. It is a 365-day Challenge.
As the Challenge ends, we must continue this project in other ways:
-For those that are financially able, make a donation to programs like WSEM that provide families with hot meals, pantry food and outreach services.
-Educate yourself about hunger issues. The Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland's website is a great resource to start with.
-Volunteer at a local food pantry, hot meal program or the Cleveland Foodbank.
-Take action! Write a letter to your congressperson to voice your concerns over the food stamp program. The recently passed Farm Bill of 2008 was a small step forward in getting the qualification levels for food stamps lowered while increasing food stamp benefits, but there is much more to be done. The cost of food continues to rise at a pace far greater than the increase in benefits. Additionally, recipients need to be provided with more information on how to make healthy, nutritious choices with the benefits they receive. You can write to any of the three U.S. Representatives on the House Committee on Agriculture: Zach Space, Jean Schmidt or Robert Latta. You can also write to U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, who is a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry and a member of the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Food Assistance.
Thank you to everyone for their support of this Challenge!
-Ann
Hunger and Stress
Hunger and the struggle to find healthy foods is hard and it effects everything.
My first few days of this challenge did not see a problem in finding the food or managing my dollars, I relied on pasta, canned veggies and fruit although I didn't eat as much as I did previously. I also wasn't thinking about a food stamp stipend for my wife and 2 kids or my son's food allergies. I did find a grocery store out of town and managed my food in another city. However, it has caused issues with other facets of my life. Worrying about food and money in a more extreme fashion and not eating as well has effected my energy and attitude in a negative way. Say now you are leading a family, working part time and have the real issue of how to choose between grocery money, going to a food pantry or evening meal and paying for your monthly bills (more people than ever are going to food pantries and pantries are getting less food...read here). Here is the where the hunger and poverty become complicated. It really comes down to this, where are other community resources, how good am I at budgeting, what I am responsible for, etc.
I also wanted to attach part of an article from the Akron Beacon Journal from June of this year. I think it puts the regional rise in food assistance in perspective.
The Beacon Journal wrote in Jun 08, 2008 the following: Nearly one in 10 state residents — or 1.08 million people — received food stamps last year, according to statistics from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.That overall number has climbed by more than 208,000 in the past five years — a 24 percent increase.And counties are reporting an even heavier influx of applications since the beginning of the year.Stark County experienced a record-high in April with more than 37,000 people getting food stamps. That same month, 27,511 families in Summit County received help — about 2,000 more than the average last year.Food stamp recipients rise 40% in Portage ''The people who were wondering 'Should I or shouldn't I?' are coming through our doors now because there is no other option,'' said Victoria Berbelis-Borden, who oversees the program for Summit County.The federal food stamp program, which expanded across the U.S. in 1974, provides money for low-income families and individuals to buy food. Nationwide, there are an average of 27.5 million people receiving benefits each month.A family of four earning less than $2,238 a month might be eligible for up to $542, depending on if they meet certain criteria.Reasons why more people are using food stamps today because of the increasing cost of gas and groceries, and job losses, experts said. With more money going to gas, for example, the working poor have fewer dollars to spend on food, they said.''As factories and businesses continue to close around the state, that's going to continue to affect the number of people who are on food stamps,'' said Brian Harter, a spokesman with the state Department of Job and Family Services.Last year in Ohio, $1.3 billion worth of food stamps were handed out, up 45 percent from five years earlier. The average monthly benefit was $102. (That average already has risen $5 this year.)''When people think about the hungry, they think of a homeless person walking down the street without food,'' said Debby Missimi, director of food services for Family and Community Services, which offers hot meals and has food pantries in Kent and Ravenna.''With this economy, that's not the case. It could be your neighbor. It could be someone in your family. It could be someone who sits next to you in church. In this economy, the face of hunger has changed.''Life can change quickly Teresa Croasmun, 51, never thought she would need food stamps.But the one-time nursing assistant ended up on disability for a mental condition years ago. And her husband, Timothy, 47, lost his decent paying job at a tool and die shop in Cleveland.They lost their house in Bedford. Then, their mobile home in Streetsboro.Now they live in a cramped second-floor apartment in a subdivided house in Ravenna. Their 6-year-old daughter lives with relatives.They started getting $60 a month in food stamps last December and still seek help from local food pantries to get by. The Center of Hope Christian Cupboard in Ravenna and Streetsboro Church of Christ's food pantry have been godsends.''It's not the way I was raised,'' Teresa Croasmun said while sitting barefoot in her living room. ''We were raised to be independent and provide for ourselves.''She always envisioned she would be the one handing out the food — not one of the people who needs the help. She chuckled at the thought.Timothy recently landed a minimum-wage job doing packaging at a company in Kent. The only downfall is getting there. They also might lose their food stamps because of his job.''It's looking like I can't even afford to get him to work,'' she said, alluding to the gas prices.Food stamps are helpful, she said, but there is a drawback. They can be used only for food. She wishes toilet paper was allowed under the program.Still, she considers herself lucky to receive food stamps.''We're grateful it's there,'' she said.Another reason In addition to the growing need for help, the increase in the number of people using food stamps could be related to the lessening stigma of being on public assistance, some experts said. Several years ago, actual food stamps were done away with and recipients now receive an Ohio Direction Card that operates similar to a debit card.''Some people may have been hesitant to stand in line at the food store and peel off food stamps,'' said Donn Aukerman, assistant director of the Wayne County Department of Job and Family Services. ''But now, a guy swipes his VISA and the next guy swipes American Express and the next guy swipes an Ohio assistance card and nobody is the wiser.''However, Teresa Croasmun and her neighbor Judy Deffenbaugh, 57, who has been on food stamps since the mid-1990s, disagreed.Some people still stare at them at the store with that ''get a job'' look in their eye, Teresa Croasmun said.''We're liked and we're not liked,'' Deffenbaugh said.One problem for many people on food stamps is that they don't stretch as far as they have in the past because of price increases at the grocery store.That's put a strain on food banks and pantries, where people are turning when the money runs out.''What we're seeing at the hunger centers is that they help but they don't last all month,'' said Josie McElroy, director of development for the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank is distributing 10,000 pounds more per day now than last year. A portion of that can be explained by the food bank moving into a larger facility, McElroy said.Need spreading The need also is spreading out of urban cities into suburbs and rural areas. In the Akron region, the number of people receiving food stamps in Medina, Portage and Wayne counties is increasing at a faster rate than the urban counties of Cuyahoga, Stark and Summit.Medina — one of the fastest growing counties in the state in terms of population — has experienced a jump of 42 percent in the past five years. The amount of money being handed out there climbed from $3.8 million to $6.3 million.Meanwhile, Portage and Wayne have seen the number of food stamp recipients rise 40 percent and 31 percent, respectively, over the same time period.Wyandot County, the home of Upper Sandusky in Northcentral Ohio, had the largest percentage jump in the state at 59 percent — although that represented an increase of only 349 people.Fairfield County, just southeast of Columbus, was second at 57.2 percent. The others in the top five were: Van Wert (54.8 percent), Williams (50.1 percent) and Ottawa (50 percent). ''[The economy is] even catching up in the rural areas,'' Aukerman said. ''There are fewer jobs and a need for more assistance.''Only one county in Ohio had a decrease in the number of people receiving food stamps. Nine fewer people received benefits last year in Holmes, a rural area filled with Amish who generally don't use public assistance programs.As expected, the biggest increases by number were in the urban counties. Franklin County, the home of Columbus, had the amount of food stamp recipients grow by 28,294 or 31.7 percent over the five-year period. Cuyahoga, Hamilton, Montgomery and Lucas followed. Summit, the fourth-most populated county, was sixth with an increase of 8,421 or 19 percent.''I don't see any end to it,'' Summit's Berbelis-Borden said. ''It really is scary.''Beacon Journal Nearly one in 10 state residents — or 1.08 million people — received food stamps last year, according to statistics from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
My first few days of this challenge did not see a problem in finding the food or managing my dollars, I relied on pasta, canned veggies and fruit although I didn't eat as much as I did previously. I also wasn't thinking about a food stamp stipend for my wife and 2 kids or my son's food allergies. I did find a grocery store out of town and managed my food in another city. However, it has caused issues with other facets of my life. Worrying about food and money in a more extreme fashion and not eating as well has effected my energy and attitude in a negative way. Say now you are leading a family, working part time and have the real issue of how to choose between grocery money, going to a food pantry or evening meal and paying for your monthly bills (more people than ever are going to food pantries and pantries are getting less food...read here). Here is the where the hunger and poverty become complicated. It really comes down to this, where are other community resources, how good am I at budgeting, what I am responsible for, etc.
I also wanted to attach part of an article from the Akron Beacon Journal from June of this year. I think it puts the regional rise in food assistance in perspective.
The Beacon Journal wrote in Jun 08, 2008 the following: Nearly one in 10 state residents — or 1.08 million people — received food stamps last year, according to statistics from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.That overall number has climbed by more than 208,000 in the past five years — a 24 percent increase.And counties are reporting an even heavier influx of applications since the beginning of the year.Stark County experienced a record-high in April with more than 37,000 people getting food stamps. That same month, 27,511 families in Summit County received help — about 2,000 more than the average last year.Food stamp recipients rise 40% in Portage ''The people who were wondering 'Should I or shouldn't I?' are coming through our doors now because there is no other option,'' said Victoria Berbelis-Borden, who oversees the program for Summit County.The federal food stamp program, which expanded across the U.S. in 1974, provides money for low-income families and individuals to buy food. Nationwide, there are an average of 27.5 million people receiving benefits each month.A family of four earning less than $2,238 a month might be eligible for up to $542, depending on if they meet certain criteria.Reasons why more people are using food stamps today because of the increasing cost of gas and groceries, and job losses, experts said. With more money going to gas, for example, the working poor have fewer dollars to spend on food, they said.''As factories and businesses continue to close around the state, that's going to continue to affect the number of people who are on food stamps,'' said Brian Harter, a spokesman with the state Department of Job and Family Services.Last year in Ohio, $1.3 billion worth of food stamps were handed out, up 45 percent from five years earlier. The average monthly benefit was $102. (That average already has risen $5 this year.)''When people think about the hungry, they think of a homeless person walking down the street without food,'' said Debby Missimi, director of food services for Family and Community Services, which offers hot meals and has food pantries in Kent and Ravenna.''With this economy, that's not the case. It could be your neighbor. It could be someone in your family. It could be someone who sits next to you in church. In this economy, the face of hunger has changed.''Life can change quickly Teresa Croasmun, 51, never thought she would need food stamps.But the one-time nursing assistant ended up on disability for a mental condition years ago. And her husband, Timothy, 47, lost his decent paying job at a tool and die shop in Cleveland.They lost their house in Bedford. Then, their mobile home in Streetsboro.Now they live in a cramped second-floor apartment in a subdivided house in Ravenna. Their 6-year-old daughter lives with relatives.They started getting $60 a month in food stamps last December and still seek help from local food pantries to get by. The Center of Hope Christian Cupboard in Ravenna and Streetsboro Church of Christ's food pantry have been godsends.''It's not the way I was raised,'' Teresa Croasmun said while sitting barefoot in her living room. ''We were raised to be independent and provide for ourselves.''She always envisioned she would be the one handing out the food — not one of the people who needs the help. She chuckled at the thought.Timothy recently landed a minimum-wage job doing packaging at a company in Kent. The only downfall is getting there. They also might lose their food stamps because of his job.''It's looking like I can't even afford to get him to work,'' she said, alluding to the gas prices.Food stamps are helpful, she said, but there is a drawback. They can be used only for food. She wishes toilet paper was allowed under the program.Still, she considers herself lucky to receive food stamps.''We're grateful it's there,'' she said.Another reason In addition to the growing need for help, the increase in the number of people using food stamps could be related to the lessening stigma of being on public assistance, some experts said. Several years ago, actual food stamps were done away with and recipients now receive an Ohio Direction Card that operates similar to a debit card.''Some people may have been hesitant to stand in line at the food store and peel off food stamps,'' said Donn Aukerman, assistant director of the Wayne County Department of Job and Family Services. ''But now, a guy swipes his VISA and the next guy swipes American Express and the next guy swipes an Ohio assistance card and nobody is the wiser.''However, Teresa Croasmun and her neighbor Judy Deffenbaugh, 57, who has been on food stamps since the mid-1990s, disagreed.Some people still stare at them at the store with that ''get a job'' look in their eye, Teresa Croasmun said.''We're liked and we're not liked,'' Deffenbaugh said.One problem for many people on food stamps is that they don't stretch as far as they have in the past because of price increases at the grocery store.That's put a strain on food banks and pantries, where people are turning when the money runs out.''What we're seeing at the hunger centers is that they help but they don't last all month,'' said Josie McElroy, director of development for the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank is distributing 10,000 pounds more per day now than last year. A portion of that can be explained by the food bank moving into a larger facility, McElroy said.Need spreading The need also is spreading out of urban cities into suburbs and rural areas. In the Akron region, the number of people receiving food stamps in Medina, Portage and Wayne counties is increasing at a faster rate than the urban counties of Cuyahoga, Stark and Summit.Medina — one of the fastest growing counties in the state in terms of population — has experienced a jump of 42 percent in the past five years. The amount of money being handed out there climbed from $3.8 million to $6.3 million.Meanwhile, Portage and Wayne have seen the number of food stamp recipients rise 40 percent and 31 percent, respectively, over the same time period.Wyandot County, the home of Upper Sandusky in Northcentral Ohio, had the largest percentage jump in the state at 59 percent — although that represented an increase of only 349 people.Fairfield County, just southeast of Columbus, was second at 57.2 percent. The others in the top five were: Van Wert (54.8 percent), Williams (50.1 percent) and Ottawa (50 percent). ''[The economy is] even catching up in the rural areas,'' Aukerman said. ''There are fewer jobs and a need for more assistance.''Only one county in Ohio had a decrease in the number of people receiving food stamps. Nine fewer people received benefits last year in Holmes, a rural area filled with Amish who generally don't use public assistance programs.As expected, the biggest increases by number were in the urban counties. Franklin County, the home of Columbus, had the amount of food stamp recipients grow by 28,294 or 31.7 percent over the five-year period. Cuyahoga, Hamilton, Montgomery and Lucas followed. Summit, the fourth-most populated county, was sixth with an increase of 8,421 or 19 percent.''I don't see any end to it,'' Summit's Berbelis-Borden said. ''It really is scary.''Beacon Journal Nearly one in 10 state residents — or 1.08 million people — received food stamps last year, according to statistics from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
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