Title
Gainesville-Alachua County Hunger Abatement Plan (B)
This item involves a request for the City Commission to hear a presentation on and adopt the Gainesville-Alachua County Hunger Abatement Plan (HAP).
Explanation
On June 3, 2009, Hunger Summit II was held at Trinity United Methodist Church in Gainesville, Florida. Six (6) Committees were formed at the original Hunger Summit on September 18, 2008. The Committees were:
1) Food Stamps Program Committee
2) School Board Meals & Summer Youth Food Committee
3) Adults & Aging Food Program Committee
4) USDA Food & Nutrition Services Program Committee
5) Food Bank & Food Pantries
6) Self Sufficiency Committee
The Committees worked from September 2008 through May 2009 developing recommendations contained within the HAP. The recommendations address actions that need to be implemented by federal, state, and local authorities as well as local non-profit organizations, all of which are engaged in providing nutritional assistance services to residents of the City of Gainesville and Alachua County. Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan and City Commissioner Jack Donovan headed the City's discussion on hunger on this community initiative, and County Commissioner Rodney Long headed the discussion on the County's side.
The City of Gainesville was one of six (6) co-sponsors of the Hunger Summit II. Other sponsors included Alachua County Board of County Commissioners, United Way of North Central Florida, Florida Department of Children and Families, Alachua County Medical Society, and the Alachua County School Board.
Hunger Summit I was the starting point for a community based initiative to identify causes and solutions to hunger in the City of Gainesville and Alachua County. Three major issues identified include:
1) the failure to enroll vast numbers of needy residents in federal programs for which they are eligible;
2) the need for expanded and organized collaboration among local non-profit organizations and faith-based agencies; and
3) the need to create local capacity to take advantage of local food resources now being discarded, plowed under, and otherwise wasted.
The six (6) committees asked that the City of Gainesville and Alachua County Board of County Commissioners adopt the HAP and authorize their City and County Managers to assist with the implementation of the plans.
The Alachua County Board of County Commissioners adopted the HAP on July 14, 2009. The HAP recommendation includes the use of Channel 12 to promote existing nutrition programs and using the lobbying efforts of the City to promote Federal and State action.
In addition, the Committee requested that the City and County Communication offices help produce a DVD that could be provided to various local programs and services to use as a training tool to promote self sufficiency among agencies customers.
Co-Chairs/Representatives of the various Committees will be making the presentation to the City Commission.
Fiscal Note
Costs associated with the HAP would be mainly in-kind services and staff for the implementation of the HAP. These in-kind services can be absorbed within the existing budget.
Recommendation
The City Commission: 1) hear a presentation on the Gainesville-Alachua County Hunger Abatement Plan; 2) approve and adopt the Hunger Abatement Plan; and 3) direct the City Manager to assist and implement the recommendations of the Hunger Abatement Plan.