Matthew conducted needs assessments in select communities throughout Washington State, identifying barriers to food security and developing community driven strategies to increase access to critical anti-hunger and anti-poverty programs. He also worked to create individualized hunger profiles for select districts throughout Washington that included district hunger and poverty statistics.
Hometown Hunger contains three Washington State community needs assessments that highlight some of the challenges facing low-income populations and service providers in those areas. The reports include data analysis of community demographics and food and nutrition programs, findings from interviews with human service providers, and potential solutions gleaned from community forums facilitated by Matt and his field site partner, Rebekah Miller.
Matthew worked with SNA on a nationwide survey to evaluate how indirect cost rates are applied and implemented between school districts and school nutrition programs. From the information gleaned in this study, he developed a set of recommendations that would ensure a fair and equitable process for determining and implementing indirect cost rates. By addressing the widely inconsistent formulas for determining indirect costs, school nutrition programs operating under the National School Lunch Program could maximize their federal per meal reimbursement to offer the most nutritious meals to students in financial need.
Matthew is from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and graduated from the University of California at Santa Cruz with a degree in Religious Studies. In Milwaukee, he volunteered with anti-hunger organizations and as a tutor/mentor for urban youth. As a full-time student athlete in California, he organized campus food drives and continued his work with youth. He also worked on organic agriculture while finishing his undergraduate degree in New Zealand in 2004, and served with the Milwaukee Hunger Task Force on the summer food program.
At CHC’s June 7, 2012, Congressional Awards Ceremony… Read more we will honor Senator Dick Durbin and Senator Roy Blunt. We invite
The goal of ending childhood hunger can be furthered effectively through alliances of anti-hunger advocates and partners from the education… Read more