All around Colorado, there are children who dread the last day of school before summer vacation. Instead of looking forward to days filled with outdoor activities, they look ahead and see themselves without much to do in the summer, and all too often, without food.

They think of the empty cupboards and refrigerators, and of missing the school cafeteria and the meals they are served during the school year.

Summer should be a fun and carefree time for children, but in Colorado, summer vacation is the time of year when children are most at risk of experiencing hunger. Hunger interferes with children’s ability to learn, grow, and stay healthy.

To read the rest of this article click here.

COPrevent: New SNAP Report Released: “Building a Healthy America: A Profile of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program” Report Contains All You Ever Wanted to Know About SNAP.

Overview of the AmeriCorps VISTA Summer Associates Program

AmeriCorps VISTA operates a short-term program during the summer months, known as Summer Associates.  This program enhances an existing AmeriCorps VISTA project by providing individuals for 8 to 10 weeks, alongside year-round VISTA members, in an intensive level of summer service.

As a Summer Associate, your contributions will have an actual and credible impact on those being served.  Your work may involve: working on Summer Meals Programs insuring low-income children eat during the Summer months; developing a curriculum of enrichment activities for youth participating in Summer Meals Programs; recruiting and training volunteers to work on SNAP (food stamp) assistance; increasing access to nutritious food for low-income individuals and families through community outreach and collaborating with other agencies to host USDA outreach; and working with farmers’ markets and community gardens in building their capacity.

Start Dates

• May 29^th – August 6^th  (10 Week Program)
• June 11^th – August 6^th (8 Week Program)

General Eligibility

• Summer Associates must be at least 18 years of age at the time of placement
• Be a U.S. Citizen, National or Legal Resident
• Able to commit and serve on a full-time basis for 8 – 10 weeks
• Not listed on the National Sex Offenders Public Registry

Benefits and Support

Associates are eligible to receive:

• A $1,174.60 Segal AmeriCorps Education Award or a $125/mo summer end-of service stipend
• On-site orientation and training
• A living allowance to cover necessities during service
• Involvement in the AmeriCorps VISTA Alumni Network and eCommunity

To apply, first create a profile and application at http://my.americorps.gov then apply to the “Anti-Hunger and Opportunity Corps Summer Associate” listing.

To learn more about the AmeriCorps VISTA Summer Associate Program and other AmeriCorps opportunities, visit www.americorps.gov or call (800) 942-2677.

By now you’ve probably heard about Canstruction® Colorado 2012: Hungry for Change which was displayed at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Canstruction® Colorado 2012: Hungry for Change was an exciting design/build competition and exhibition in which local designers build large-scale structures made entirely of cans of food. After the exhibition, the food was donated to local food banks.

Check out this great blog post by the Colorado Convention Center.

In addition to the many noteworthy attractions, the breathtaking scenery, and the cultural diversity, Durango prides itself on providing high level services to its citizens.  Because of my background in food security work at soup kitchens, I was eager to meet with the staff, volunteers and guests at the Manna Soup Kitchen.  As we walked in the door at 8:30 A.M. with our laptops, banners and materials, I was immediately struck by two things:  volunteers dancing and singing to Frank Sinatra and the quiet, lighthearted banter of Manna’s guests.  To say that people seemed comfortable would be an understatement.

Mealtimes at Manna consist of socialization, good food and additional forms of assistance.  At a guest services table, there was a volunteer who distributed vouchers for free haircuts, referrals to the Durango Food Bank, hygiene products and public transportation vouchers.  There was even a local kindergarten class that happily marched in for lunch with backpacks full of cans from a food drive that they held.  As a new member of Hunger Free Colorado, it was exciting to be a part of such community togetherness.  We distributed over 100 hotline cards, helped several people apply for assistance programs, and answered questions about existing benefits.

Based on the success of our trip, I’m confident that we will continue to form valuable and lasting partnerships with community organizations across the entire state of Colorado.

For those of you who don’t know, the Farm Bill is the piece of legislation that authorizes and funds SNAP, along with other nutrition programs. We are working to strengthen and protect SNAP by:

1. Preventing changes to the funding structure of SNAP that would negatively impact Colorado (i.e. block grants)

2. Protecting and expanding eligibility rules

3. Protecting and expanding benefit levels

4. Expanding access to healthy food

We were thrilled to get to work with such a great group of stakeholders from nonprofits and corporations. Working together allowed us to offer so many different perspectives on the importance of SNAP in Colorado. Thank you to Senator Bennet for taking the time to meet with us and demonstrating concern for hungry people in Colorado. We look forward to our continued partnership with Senator Bennet and his staff as the Farm Bill reauthorization process moves forward.With the help of the Colorado Delegation, we are confident that we can end hunger in Colorado.

To learn more about SNAP in the Farm Bill and sign on to our organizational fact sheet, click here.

The Hungry for Change 10,000 plate campaign was a great opportunity for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to partner with Hunger Free Colorado to help raise awareness about the issue of hunger, which impacted an estimated 900,000 individuals in our state in 2010.  CDPHE staff and visitors contributed nearly 200 plates, displayed in our lobby during all of February.

Our Prevention Services Division sees the impact of hunger on communities and individuals in many of our programs that focus on health promotion and disease prevention programs for children, youth and adults.  The health issues related to hunger, including obesity, heart disease, diabetes and development delays for children, are challenges facing our communities and a focus of our work.  Raising awareness about the issue of hunger and its impact on Coloradans hopefully will bring more resources for solving the issue of hunger in our state.  Thanks to the CDPHE staff, clients and visitors that added their voices to the Hungry for Change campaign.

Christopher E. Urbina, MD, MPH

Chris Urbina, M.D., M.P.H. is the executive director and chief medical officer of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.  He is an associate professor of the Colorado School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine.

At the Department of Public Health and Environment, in addition to his role as the executive director, Dr. Urbina is also responsible for the supervision of the Director of Environmental Programs, Director of Public Health Programs, Director of Community Relations, and the Chief Operating Officer.

Outside of the department, Dr. Urbina is a member of the Association of Teachers of Preventive Medicine and the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the Center for Public Health Practice Advisory Committee.

Dr. Urbina received his medical degree from the University of  Colorado School of Medicine, his bachelor’s in biology from Stanford University and his masters in public health from Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health.  In 2010, in 5280 Magazine, he was selected as one of the ”Best Doctors in Public Health and Preventive Medicine,” and he received “Excellence in Public Health Practice” from the Colorado School of Public Health in 2009-2010.  He is board certified in family practice and preventive medicine.

Starting the day without breakfast or coffee; how bad could it be right? By 9 am the headache started, and my desire to cheerfully greet co-workers was well below normal. And, despite having several items on my to-do list that require focused thought, I found myself drawn more to the short and fast items, and my mind was jumping from one task to another even within that list of short tasks.

I know that I would not want to start every day like this. Unfortunately, it is the reality for thousands of Colorado’s kids each day. When a child does not get an adequate breakfast, attention problems, moodiness, headaches, and a lack of interest in learning are the result. I hear about these outcomes frequently as a staff member at Hunger Free Colorado, but to experience them myself brings a new level of desire in seeing universal breakfast in every school in the state.

If you are still unsure of the impact school breakfast has, spend a day in the same situation and see how you feel.

Prior to breakfast beginning, my collegues and I had the opportunity to speak with Maria Magdaleno, the Kitchen Manager. Maria’s philosophy of her work is that children should be loved and respected; her job is more than food. Part of her meal program at Holly Ridge includes creating a warm environment for  the children. This positive environment shines when the breakfast participation numbers show nearly 200 students eating breakfast in the cafeteria daily.

“I like being with my friends,” was one second grade boy’s answer when I asked what he liked about breakfast. His comment eludes to the comfort found in the Holly Ridge cafeteria. There wasn’t a rush or a harsh feeling to be found anywhere. With a choice to eat breakfast or play on the playground, most children at this school choose breakfast first with less playground time. That’s not the norm.  It’s amazing how much one person, such as Maria, can affect so many by caring. Let us all remember to cherish and respect the children in our lives.

When I visited Fremont Middle School, Cynthia and I arrived well before school began. Upon entering the cafeteria, we saw a stage with coolers and thermal bags lined in particular order, each destined for  specific classrooms. As soon as the bell chimed, students of all grades entered the cafeteria, collected their bags and coolers and tromped off to class. One P.E. class remained in the cafeteria to eat breakfast and take attendance. Withing ten minutes, all the bags had disappeared, so we set off to see breakfast in action. To our chagrin and happiness, we totally missed breakfast! Many rooms showed no evidence of breakfast for they were already cleaned-up and starting on classwork. The remaining classrooms were nearly finished with breakfast and all were engaged in academic activities. We both left the school shocked and impressed. Congratulations Susan McDowall on running such a smooth service!

Our next stop was Fremont Elementary. When we pulled up to the cafeteria I was a bit confused as I looked at the building which was too small to be an entire school of 400+ students. Cynthia explained that the school is across the street from the cafeteria. Sure enough, I looked at the street and saw the orange cones blocking access to the street during the school day so children can safely cross back and forth. I have to admit that at first thought, I remembered the school where I taught in California and how the hallways there were outside, so it wasn’t that unusual. But, then I thought about the snow in Colorado. My face must have shown my intrigue and concern, because Cynthia quickly explained that yes, the cafeteria staff do struggle to get the carts of food across the street, but they don’t complain. She said it with such admiration and pride that I couldn’t wait to meet the women behind Fremont Elementary’s Breakfast in the Classroom.

Sure enough, inside the school, both Vicky Lampton and Bev Hand had a system in place to deliver the meals and milks to each classroom efficiently. After delivery of the food, we waited for a bit until the students arrived for school. As we sat, they all discussed the school and greeted the staff and children. Breakfast here is a community event; from bringing the food into the classroom for a very pregnant teacher to knowing that there were two new students in one of the classrooms, they all helped eachother out. Same as with the middle school, we went in search of classrooms to watch the eating in progress soon after the students entered the rooms. Again, the students and staff were on task and starting school work within 10 minutes! Well, the primary students were using clean desks under 15 minutes, but that short amount of time is still wonderful. We all know the benfits of a complete breakfast and the positive effects of breakfast on students. Thinking of that, this may be the best use of 10 classroom minutes ever!