FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 30,2022

The White House Conference on Hunger, Health and Nutrition was held this past Wednesday, September, 28 – for the first time in 70 years – and laid out the framework for how the administration intends to tackle food insecurity and its health effects in our country for the next 8 years. 

PHOENIX, AZ – After joining a broad network of anti-hunger advocates in calling for action, the Arizona Food Bank Network was pleased to participate in the first White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health in 50 years. This historic moment brought together bipartisan policymakers, researchers, practitioners, advocates and individuals with lived experience. We were grateful that two Arizona advocates who have struggled with hunger and food access barriers were invited by the White House to participate in the conference in person.

There are many proposals in the White House Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition and Health that we are excited about. As advocates for food banks, we are pleased to see strategies to improve access to emergency food, including increased spending for food purchases. We are also pleased to see ideas to provide healthy school meals to all children and to make SNAP accessible to vulnerable populations that are currently excluded, including previously incarcerated individuals and college students. AzFBN similarly applauds the Strategy’s focus on streamlining eligibility and access across benefit programs, recognizing that people struggling to put food on the table are often also struggling with housing, healthcare, and other basic needs. We will join these efforts at both the national and state level to ensure these solid nutrition policies are enacted.

In the months to come, we will also work with policymakers to simplify the eligibility and enrollment processes for nutrition programs, particularly for children, seniors and individuals living with disabilities. AzFBN will support community-driven food sovereignty efforts in tribal communities and improved access to traditional foods. We will invest in local food systems and production through our Friends of the Farm program, which provides food bank clients with access to the wealth of agriculture grown here in Arizona by small farmers. We will partner with healthcare providers to support more patient screenings focused on food insecurity and connect individuals in need to community resources.

These are just some of the ways AzFBN intends to amplify our network’s efforts to end hunger in Arizona communities. We invite you to be a part of our work at www.azfoodbanks.org.