Help Us Celebrate the Hunger Center’s 30th Anniversary with a 30 for 30 Fundraiser
In the movement to end hunger, people are our most powerful resource. We need you – yes, YOU! – to help us raise awareness about hunger and how the Congressional Hunger Center develops leaders who are working to end hunger in our lifetimes. How can you do this? One way is to host a 30 for 30 Fundraiser.
As part of our 30th anniversary celebration in 2023, we aim to have 30 people host 30 small fundraisers around the country, raising a grand total of at least $30,000. The Hunger Center only receives 50% of its budget from Congress – private donations are essential to keep our programs running. In addition to supporting the Hunger Center, you will be letting your friends and family know about the impact of the Hunger Center and inspire them to action.
What you provide as a 30 for 30 Host:
- Space and refreshments
- Guests
- Your own connection and testimony about the Hunger Center’s work
- The details of your event
What the Congressional Hunger Center provides:
- Suggested event run-of-show and menu of possible event activities
- Fundraising links and follow-up
- Guest speakers (Hunger Center staff, board members, or alums may be able to join in person or remotely to share more about the Hunger Center’s work)
Interesting in hosting a 30 for 30 Fundraiser? Please contact Development Director Laura Tarre at [email protected] or (202) 547-7022 ext. 19.
Why Support the Hunger Center?
The problem of hunger is overwhelming. Food insecurity is an individual problem, but also a national and global concern. As the videos, discussion questions, and activities in this toolkit demonstrate, the negative impacts of hunger – from poor health and reduced educational achievement, to behavioral and mental health problems, to massive humanitarian crises – are costs that all of society bears. Indeed, hunger is a complex problem, but it is solvable. What is lacking is political will. The Congressional Hunger Center trains talented leaders who take on the problem of hunger and build political will along the way – ending hunger once and for all. Founded in 1993 by a bipartisan group of Members of Congress, we invest in people to become the change agents we need to end hunger. Our fellowship and internship programs match the drive for social change with the leadership development needed for this immense task.
Since our founding, we have trained thousands of young leaders, many of whom have gone on to leadership positions in government, corporate social responsibility, and philanthropy. Together, they form a network of leaders who continue to work and learn together to create a hunger-free nation and a hunger-free world. As the famous anthropologist Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” As we celebrate our 30th year, we encourage you to learn about hunger, advocate for nutrition programs and global food security policies, and support the Congressional Hunger Center and our network of leaders. With your help, they will change the world.
30 for 30 Fundraiser Toolkit
We’ve compiled some helpful resources below – videos, key facts, and discussion questions – to help guide your 30 for 30 Fundraiser with your guests. We’ve separated these resources into two categories:
- Domestic Food Insecurity
- Global Food Security Crisis
Food Insecurity in the U.S.: Problems, Programs, and Policy Video Discussion Guide
Watch this video about food insecurity in the U.S.—the scope of the problem, its root causes, and federal policies that combat hunger.
Key Takeaways
- For a person to be considered food-secure, their food supply must meet the following requirements: sufficient, affordable, culturally appropriate, and nutritious.
- Three root causes for food insecurity are: racism; low wages; and the high cost of housing.
- The U.S. federal nutrition safety net comprises three main programs: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC); and school meals.
Discussion Questions
What approaches can you think of that would end hunger and its root causes?
Think back to the requirements of food security. Does using SNAP to shop for the food your family needs at a grocery store meet those requirements? How does that compare to receiving a box of food from a food pantry with limited selection, or no ability to pick what you want for yourself?
SNAP is a federal program, but it is administered separately by each state, territory, or federal entity. Search for your state's version of SNAP on the USDA website. What is SNAP called in your state? How do you apply for it? Does it seem simple?
For every bag of food provided through emergency food assistance, SNAP and federal nutrition programs provide ten bags of food. Yet when you ask people what ending hunger looks like, many people will mention food pantries, can drives, and soup kitchens, but not necessarily SNAP. Why do you think that is?
How many of you have written or telephoned an elected official? Had a meeting with an elected official, or a member of their staff? Why is it important to talk to elected officials about hunger?
You heard our narrators explain why they feel it is important to share their personal stories as advocates. Do you think sharing personal experience is an effective form of advocacy? Why or why not?
What are some examples of moments in history when advocacy has created lasting change?
Did You Know....?
The use of SNAP is a fiscal stimulus that benefits the economy. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities , “SNAP benefits are one of the fastest, most effective forms of economic stimulus because they get money into the economy quickly during a recession. Individuals with low incomes generally spend all their income on daily needs such as shelter, food, and transportation.”
Children who are food-insecure are more likely to suffer from asthma, mental health problems, more frequent colds and stomachaches, and poor educational performance. The toxic stress associated with food insecurity and poverty leads to a lifetime of negative health outcomes.
Nearly two-thirds of Americans will experience at least one year of relative poverty – falling below the 20th percentile of income distribution – at some point between the ages of 25 and 60. Many Americans are just an illness or job loss away from needing to access the social safety net.
Activities
- Use Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap tool for your area. How many people experience food insecurity in your county? In your state? How does your state or region compare to other states or regions?
- Write a postcard to your Congressional representatives advocating for continued support of federal nutrition programs. Afterward, call your Congressional representatives with the same message.
- Read this article on why it’s important to call your representatives
Postcard Text
Dear [Congressional representative]:
I am writing to advocate for your continued support of federal nutrition programs. More than one in ten Americans experience food insecurity, and more than 41.5 million Americans rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to help to meet their daily needs. People suffering from food insecurity are much more likely to have chronic health problems and poor educational outcomes. Support for federal nutrition programs is not only a moral responsibility; it also makes financial sense: studies show that increased use of SNAP benefits provides a fiscal boost to the economy. SNAP, WIC, and school lunch programs not only benefit the recipients, but the greater community as well.
Thank you,
[NAME]Global Food Security Crisis
Watch this video from the Australian Broadcasting Company that gives a comprehensive breakdown of the global food crisis:
Key Takeaways
- The global food crisis is caused by the 3 Cs: Covid, conflict, and climate change. Covid and conflict have affected the distribution and cost of food, while climate change has affected the ability to reliably produce food.
- The three Cs have brought 44 million people to the brink of famine in 2022, up from 27 million in 2019.
- The world currently has enough food for everyone, but cost and distribution remain problems. There are just a few countries – including Russia and Ukraine – that export key foods to many other parts of the world.
Discussion Questions
How would the global food crisis still exist without the war in Ukraine? What are the ties between conflict and food security?
There are global food distribution challenges that could be solved with more locally produced agriculture, yet climate change is threatening the reliability and resiliency of local crops and livelihoods. How can this problem be addressed? What role can governments play?
Global food insecurity is invariably tied with global poverty. How can we build long-term economic development in the Global South while also addressing the immediate needs of those experiencing hunger and famine?
The global food crisis is an enormous and daunting problem. What role can leaders – at the international, national, and local level – play in easing this crisis?
Activities
- Write a postcard to your Congressional representatives advocating for the United States Government to continue to address the global food crisis programs. Afterward, call your Congressional representatives with the same message.
- Read this article on why it’s important to call your representatives
Postcard Text
Dear [Congressional representative]:
I am writing to advocate for your support of the United States Government’s efforts to address the global food crisis. Covid, the conflict in Ukraine, and climate change have led to more than 1.3 billion people going hungry around the world. In this interconnected world, we cannot ignore a crisis affecting the futures of more than one billion of its citizens. I urge you to support measures to support malnutrition treatment and prevention, emergency food aid, and other efforts that lessen this catastrophe. A fed world is a secure world.
Thank you,
[NAME]30 for 30 Fundraisers
In the movement to end hunger, people are our most powerful resource. We need you – yes, you! – to help us raise awareness about hunger and the ways that the Congressional Hunger Center develops leaders who are working to end hunger in our lifetimes. How can you do this? One way is to host a 30 for 30 Fundraiser.
As part of our 30th anniversary celebration in 2023, we are aiming to have 30 people host 30 small fundraisers around the country, raising a grand total of at least $30,000. The Hunger Center only receives 50% of its budget from Congress – private donations are essential to keep our programs running. In addition to supporting the Hunger Center, you will be letting your friends and family know about the impact of the Hunger Center and inspire them to action.
What you provide as a 30 for 30 Host:
- Space and refreshments
- Guests
- Your own connection and testimony about the Hunger Center’s work
- The details of your event
What the Congressional Hunger Center provides:
- Suggested event run-of-show and menu of possible event activities
- Fundraising links and follow-up Guest speakers (Hunger Center staff, board members, or alums may be able to join in person or remotely to share more about the Hunger Center’s work)
Interesting in hosting a 30 for 30 Fundraiser? Please contact Development Director Laura Tarre at Laura Tarre or (202) 547-7022 ext. 19.