Archive for the ‘action’ Category

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Tillamook’s “Share the Loaf” Facebook Contest

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

Tillamook’s new interactive Facebook contest rewards cheesiness in the form of a $10,000 food bank donation to the top “Loaf Note” sharing city. Help us win this $10,000!

You and all your closest Facebook friends are invited to join in sharing the “Loaf Love.” By visiting the Tillamook Facebook page and sharing a free “Loaf Note,” individuals can increase their community’s opportunity to earn a $10,000 donation to a local food bank from Tillamook Cheese. The community that shares the most “Loaf Notes” at the end of the contest will earn the coveted $10,000, so follow the instructions below to start spreading the Loaf!

How To Enter:

1.  Visit Tillamook’s Facebook Page at: www.facebook.com/TillamookCheese

2. Click on the “Share The Loaf” tab.

3. Follow the instructions and choose from over 50 pre-written “Loaf  Notes” or create your own! The cheesier, the better. For example:

“I loaf you like a majestic cheese volcano filled with melted cheese lava fondue on the island of New Cheeseland where fields full of cheese-eating sheep graze and people knit cheese wool sweaters.”

4. Share your cheesy “Loaf Note” on a friend’s wall – there’s no limit to how many people you can loaf! Loaf Notes also don’t cost you a thing, so send away freely!

5. Check out the Top Sharing Communities to watch your town climb to the top with each cheesy “Loaf Note” you create!

The top ten communities that share the most Loaf Notes will receive a visit from the 2011 Loaf Love Tour!*

“Share The Loaf” from now until November 30, 2010. For more details and to participate, please visit: http://www.facebook.com/TillamookCheese.

* Only applicable in the following states: AZ, CA, CO, ID, OR, TX, UT, WA.

Posted in Hunger Action Month, action | No Comments »

Food Stamp Action Needed!

Friday, June 25th, 2010

Call California’s Senators and Tell Them Not to Cut Food Stamp/SNAP Benefits!
The U.S. Senate is considering a proposal to cut billions of dollars in future SNAP benefits in the so-called “Tax Extenders” bill and we need your help.

In order to pay for the American Jobs, Closing Tax Loopholes and Preventing Outsourcing Act (H.R. 4213), Senate leaders are considering a proposal to cut billions of dollars in future SNAP benefits (formerly known as the Food Stamp Program).

Please call Senator Feinstein at (202) 224-3841 and Senator Boxer at (202) 224-3553 today to tell them you oppose cutting SNAP benefits to pay for these provisions.

This legislation, also known as the “Tax Extenders” bill, contains several provisions that are important to food banks and low-income Americans. And while we urge passage of the bill, we strongly oppose raiding SNAP benefits to pay for it. These cuts, totaling an estimated $9.56 billion, would take effect in 2014 and would be damaging to low-income Americans struggling to put food on their tables.

Message/Action:
Calling your Senators is easy. Call today to tell them you oppose cutting SNAP benefits to pay for these or any other provisions.

Important things to remember during your call(s):

  • Ask your Senator to oppose cutting SNAP benefits to pay for the American Jobs, Closing Tax Loopholes and Preventing Outsourcing Act (H.R. 4213) or any other bill.
  • Tell them that passage of this bill should not come at the expense of hungry Americans.

Senator Boxer: 202-224-3553
Senator Feinstein: 202-224-3841

If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Sherrill at lsherrill@foodbankccs.org.

Posted in action, advocacy | 2 Comments »

Take the budget challenge!

Tuesday, June 15th, 2010

Try your hand at balancing the California state budget. This Thursday, June 17th from 6:30-9pm, you can join Assemblymember Buchanan and Senators Loni Hancock and Mark DeSaulnier at a “Facing the Budget Crisis Challenge.”

At this event you will not only get to hear from the three legislators about California’s budget crisis, but will also have the opportunity to give them your direct feedback on how to solve the problems. The event is co-sponsored by Next 10, a non-partisan organization dedicated to giving Californians the tools and information they need to find long-term solutions for our state.

What: Facing the Budget Crisis- Next 10 Budget Challenge
Who: Assemblymember Joan Buchanan and Senators Loni Hancock and Mark DeSaulnier
Where: Dublin Library Community Room, 200 Civic Plaza, Dublin
When: Thursday, June 17th, 6:30-9:00pm
More information: Call us at (925) 328-1515

We very much hope to see you there, and encourage you to spread the word. It is going to take everyone working together to get California back on track and we hope to have your help!

Posted in action, advocacy, budget | No Comments »

Please vote for our friends at Vallejo People’s Garden

Friday, May 28th, 2010

The community garden on Mare Island is competing with other communities around the country for a $25,000 grant from Nature’s Path Organics. The only way to win the $25,000 grant from Nature’s Path Organics is by getting the most votes. To date, they are in first place with 466 votes. Your vote counts.

Voting for Vallejo to receive this funding only takes about 60 seconds.  Here’s how:

1.  Go to  http://www.justmeans.com/contestidea?ideaid=NDUz and click on “VOTE” on the right

2.  Create an account by giving your name, email address, and making up a password

3.  Check your email and click on the link to activate your account.    Now you’ve voted for us!

Bonus points:  you can add a message of support in the comment box.

Please pass this message on to anyone you think would support our effort.    Anyone with an email address can vote, and the deadline for votes is May 31.

Thank you for your support!

Or you can vote on facebook…

http://apps.facebook.com/gardengrant/index.php?action=fbchallengevotenow&cid=Mjk=&type=application&cfid=3&fbapp=1

Posted in action | 2 Comments »

10,000 Letters Campaign: Make Your Voice Heard

Thursday, May 13th, 2010

Governor Schwarzenegger’s proposed budget would eliminate the California Food Assistance Program, cut Supplemental Security Income, and decimate the CalWORKS program and other vital services, all of which will exacerbate hunger in your community and throughout the state.

With just a short time left before Governor Schwarzenegger introduces his May Revision budget, it’s imperative that voices for health and human services are heard loud and clear in the Capitol! 

That’s why the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano is partnering with other human services organizations across the state in asking everyone to generate letters for the “10,000 Letters Campaign”.  Our shared goal is to generate 10,000 letters to members of the Assembly and Senate Budget Committees and other leaders in opposition to the Governor’s proposed budget as soon as possible! 

We know that several thousand letters have already been generated – NOW we need your help to ensure we meet (and hopefully surpass) our goal of 10,000! 

Please click on the links below for your legislators, print out, sign, record your name, city and zip code (below your signature), and mail or fax each letter as soon as possible. We urge you to ask your family members, friends, colleagues, and anyone else to do the same. Thank you!

Assembly Member Joan Buchanan
Assembly Member Noreen Evans
Assembly Member Nancy Skinner
Assembly Member Tom Torlakson
Assembly Member Mariko Yamada
Senator Mark DeSaulnier
Senator Loni Hancock
Senator Pat Wiggins
Senator Lois Wolk

To locate your State representatives, visit www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html. If you are having difficulty opening any of these documents, please email Patty McDowell at pmcdowell@foodbankccs.org.

Posted in California, action, advocacy, budget, hunger, legislation, need | No Comments »

Help us Stamp Out Hunger

Thursday, April 22nd, 2010

Letter carriers will be collecting food for the Food Bank as they deliver the mail on Saturday, May 8. This is our largest one day food drive bringing in over 200,000 pounds of food every year. If you leave a bag of nonperishable food by your mailbox, prior to your regular mail delivery, on this day, your letter carrier will pick it up and deliver it to the Food Bank.

You can also donate online through the Virtual Food Drive, if you prefer by visiting: http://foodbankccs.org/events/upcoming-events.html. When you donate, be sure to choose your post office from the “Company” drop-down menu. This will allow your local letter carrier to get credit for your donation.

Text stamp6 to 30305 for mobile reminders about the Food Drive. (2 -3 texts; standard text message rates apply.)

Help us promote the Letter Carriers’ Food Drive

Send us your photo.

Send a photo of you promoting the Letter Carriers’ Food Drive (May 8, 2010). You can make a sign or a banner, spell it out in the sand, get creative. Use cardboard, paper, fabric… whatever material you’d like. Take the photo by yourself, with your family, with your dog, at your favorite landmark, or even in your front yard.

Email your photos (or videos) to foodbankoutreach@gmail.com.

We’ll post a photo gallery on here on our blog, Picasa album, facebook page, YouTube and other social networking sites. Submit your photos by noon on May 7 and we will randomly pick a winner from the submitted photos to win a collectible Food Bank die-cast truck.

Tell your friends about the campaign using your social networks online like Facebook, Myspace, LinkedIn, Twitter and more. Or just do it the old fashioned way in person or by phone.

Privacy Information

We respect your privacy. Just because you send us your photo via email doesn’t mean that you’ll automatically be signed up to our enewsletter or receive letters from us in your mailbox. But we think you’ll like what we have to say, so why not give us a try and sign up online at www.foodbankccs.org. You can always unsubscribe at any time.

Posted in National Association of Letter Carriers, Stamp Out Hunger, action, event, food drive | No Comments »

Tune in to Idol Gives Back on April 21 and Support Your Local Food Bank

Friday, April 16th, 2010

The Feeding America nationwide network of food banks is among the charities that will benefit from this year’s American Idol fundraising special, Idol Gives Back. Be sure to tune in to Idol Gives Back on Wednesday, April 21 at 8/7c PM on FOX. We’re excited not only for their generosity, but also for this great opportunity to spread awareness about hunger in our country — a true national emergency! See how you can get involved in Idol Gives Back and support the fight against hunger in America.

The Emmy Award-winning television event and musical celebration will raise awareness and funds to benefit various U.S. and international charities, during the Top 7 Results Show.  Donations made to the Idol Gives Back Foundation will help the children and families most affected by these tough economic times. You can get more information about the event and hear from Season 9 Finalists on the new Idol Gives Back section of American Idol’s website (http://www.americanidol.com/idolgivesback/). Visitors to the page can make donations prior to the event or join the Help Me Give Back program and raise their own funds by creating individual fundraising pages or joining fundraising teams.

All of the funds raised by the Idol Gives Back Foundation and granted to Feeding America will support the campaign for a Hunger-Free America ensuring that the Feeding America network will continue the fight against hunger with innovative programming and persistent advocacy.

Posted in Feeding America, Give a Little Feed a lot, action, donation, event, hunger | 1 Comment »

Child Nutrition Reauthorization Advances to Senate

Thursday, April 8th, 2010

On March 24, the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry unanimously approved the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Bill.  The advancement of this critical piece of legislation is a step forward in achieving an end to childhood hunger by 2015, and has the potential to increase access to nutritious food for children during the school day, afterschool, in the summer, over weekends and extended school holidays. 

Now the current bill is moving to the full Senate for a vote later this spring or early summer.  So it is a critical time for us, as caring citizens, to ask our legislators for their support in fully funding Child Nutrition Reauthorization in order to end child hunger in this nation. 

We urge you to simply call the Congressional switchboard at 202-224-3121 and tell your senator “we need a strong Child Nutrition Reauthorization Bill as soon as possible at the President’s proposed level of $10 billion over 10 years so we can achieve the President’s goal of ending child hunger by 2015”.  A comprehensive and fully funded Child Nutrition Reauthorization Bill needs to pass quickly so that our children do not have to wait another year to have access to the nutritious foods needed to lead healthy and productive lives. 

For more information about engaging in advocacy efforts during Child Nutrition Reauthorization, please click here to join our mailing list.

George Miller reads a book about nutrition from children served by the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano County in his office in Washington, DC.

Posted in action, advocacy, hunger, nutrition | No Comments »

You’re invited

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

For 4 days only — March 18 -21, shop at Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, Gap Outlet, and Banana Republic Factory Stores and enjoy 30% off while 5% of the amount you spend is donated to Feeding America. So in a time when our communities need it most, your shopping counts for more.

Posted in Feeding America, action, donation | No Comments »

Pound For Pound Challenge

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

For the second consecutive year, Feeding America will partner with General Mills, Subway, 24 Hour Fitness, Walgreens, The Biggest Loser to encourage Americans to lose weight through the Pound For Pound Challenge. The program is built around the incredible success of The Biggest Loser, a reality show that challenges and encourages overweight contestants to shed pounds in a safe manner through diet and exercise. Individuals can go to www.pfpchallenge.com to pledge their weight-loss goals or donate money to the challenge online. (Remember every $1 donated to the Food Bank provides 3 meals to people in need in our community.) For every pound pledged, the Pound for Pound Challenge sponsors will donate 14 cents to Feeding America, up to a maximum donation of $800,000. We even have a facebook group you can join to share ideas and get support.

Posted in Feeding America, Pound For Pound Challenge, action, donation | 1 Comment »

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