PARTICIPANTHANDBOOK

47.6MILLION

AMERICANS RECEIVE FOOD STAMP BENEFITS

$1.40PER MEAL

$29.40PER WEEK

AVERAGE FOOD STAMPBENEFIT

47%OF FOOD STAMP BENEFITS GO TO

CHILDRENF285937448BTHIS IS NOT LEGAL TENDERAND SHALL NOT BE USED FOR SUCH

F285937448B6

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WASHINGTON

16.2 MILLIONCHILDREN IN

THE UNITED STATES STRUGGLE WITH HUNGER

www.foodstampchallenge.com

Table of Contents

What is the Food Stamp Challenge? ............................................... 5

Taking the Food Stamp Challenge ................................................... 6

How to Register .................................................................................7

Ask Your Member of Congress and Local Public Officials to Take the Food Stamp Challenge ........................ 8

The JCPA’s Confronting Poverty Initiative ....................................10

Food Stamp Challenge FAQ ........................................................... 12

SNAP/Food Stamps FAQ ...............................................................14

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Dear Friends,

Thank you for joining so many others across the country who are concerned about the crisis of hunger that plagues millions in America. Since the Fall 2011 mobiliza-tion over 1,000 individuals have taken the Food Stamp Challenge, committing to live on the food budget of the average food stamp recipient – just $29.40 for the week, a scant $1.40 per meal.

Your commitment to taking the Food Stamp Challenge couldn’t come at a more critical time. In the midst of economic turmoil and threats of severe cuts to government pro-grams to address our nation’s debt and deficit, hunger in America has reached historic levels with no relief in sight. Recent studies highlight this disturbing trend: between 2007 and 2010, the number of food insecure households increased more than 33%; nearly one in four U.S. households with children reported an inability to afford enough food. And the U.S. Census Bureau reported that the U.S. poverty rate was 15% in 2013, with one out of every six Americans, or 46.2 million, living in poverty last year.

Not surprisingly, enrollment in federal food and nutrition programs is dramatically on the rise. In October 2013, SNAP participation was at 47.4 million Americans - an in-crease of almost 14 million people compared to the great recession in 2009. Yet even as the number of Americans enduring the gnawing pain of hunger increases, proven federal hunger relief programs such as SNAP are being targeted for significant cuts and potential restructuring that would irreparably limit the government’s ability to bring relief to millions of Americans suffering from hunger. Yet sadly, there is a deafening silence when it comes to protecting programs that serve the poor, the hun-gry, and the downtrodden.

This situation is simply unacceptable. As Jews, and as Americans, we are guided by a moral vision of how we must treat the most vulnerable members of our society. We cannot stand idly by. As the prophet Isaiah says, “If you offer your compassion to the hungry and satisfy your famished neighbor, then your light will shine in darkness.” (58:10)

We are excited that you will join us in this special opportunity to be part of a personal and transformational experience that makes a resounding statement about our collec-tive commitment to confront poverty.

Thank you in advance for your support and involvement.

Sincerely,

Rabbi Steve GutowPresident

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The Food Stamp Challenge is a commitment to live on the food bud-get of the average food stamp recipient for 1 week. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which is responsible for administer-ing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps), the nationwide average monthly benefit in FY 2013 was $117.60, which breaks down to approximately:

$29.40 a week $4.20 a day $1.40 a mealRabbis from all four denominations and community members across the country are taking the Food Stamp Challenge to help them better understand the impact of the SNAP program on a personal level and to highlight the continued need for and importance of programs to alleviate hunger in the United States.

SNAP currently helps more than 47 million low-income people pur-chase food for their families – that’s 1 in 7 Americans. The program is designed as a safety net to help ensure that people have access to food during difficult times, with the majority of people leaving the pro-gram within nine months. Half of food stamp recipients are children; eight percent are over 60 years of age.

Recently, SNAP and other federal food assistance programs have faced the possibility of restructuring and significant funding cuts that would result in fewer people receiving this vital assistance. Now is the time to say “enough.”

Even in these difficult economic times, no one in the United States should go hungry. We must ensure that SNAP and other programs that alleviate hunger are protected in the federal budget and appro-priations process, and Agriculture Committee legislation such as the Farm Bill.

What is the Food Stamp Challenge?

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Taking the Food Stamp ChallengeIn taking the Food Stamp Challenge, you will personally experience the challenges of hunger in the United States – challenges that the 1 in 7 Americans who use food stamps, including nearly one quar-ter of all American children, face daily. This is a time for education and understanding; a time to say “enough.” When you take the Food Stamp Challenge, you will join thousands of others across the coun-try, including religious leaders, elected officials, celebrities, and other concerned community activists, to build the public and political will to end hunger in the United States.

Participation Guidelines:1. Each person should only spend a total of $29.40 on food and beverages during the week.

2. All food purchased and eaten during the Challenge week, includ-ing fast food and dining out, must be included in the total spending.

3. During the Challenge, only eat food that you purchase for the proj-ect. Do not eat food that you already own (this does not include spices and condiments).

4. Avoid accepting free food from friends, family, or at work, includ-ing at meetings or social events.

5. Keep track of receipts on food spending and take note of your ex-periences throughout the week.

Please Note: You may find it difficult to complete the Challenge due to schedule, dietary restrictions, or health considerations. We still encourage you to register to participate and to complete as much or as little of the Food Stamp Challenge as you are able.

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Register to participate in the Food Stamp Challenge online at www.foodstampchallenge.com.

When you register, you’ll sign the pledge below to participate in the Food Stamp Challenge.

The registration page will prompt you to fill in your name and contact information, set a goal for your personal fundraising efforts, and cre-ate your personalized Food Stamp Challenge fundraising webpage.

You will also receive up-to-date information about the Food Stamp Challenge, SNAP, and further opportunities to make a difference fighting hunger in America.

The website will allow you to share your personal Food Stamp Chal-lenge website with your friends, family, and colleagues. Please per-sonalize the sample note and enter contact information for those in your network. It’s just that easy to get started.

How to Register

I, ___________________, pledge to participate in the Food Stamp Challenge and will live on an average food stamp budget for one week.

21.6% OF ALL CHILDREN

IN THE UNITED STATES

STRUGGLE WITH HUNGER

4 MILLION

AMERICANS ARE KEPT OUT OF POVERTY BY

FOOD STAMPS

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Ask Your Member of Congress and Local Public Officials to Take the Food Stamp ChallengeAsk your Members of Congress to take the Food Stamp Challenge with you! When you commit to taking the Challenge, send invitation letters to your Members of Congress and other local elected officials to describe the Food Stamp Challenge, explain why you are taking it, and invite them to take the Challenge along with you.

Inviting local public officials to join you will raise the profile of your Food Stamp Challenge and put pressure on Members of Congress to learn more about federal feeding programs and hunger in the United States.

When asking Members of Congress to take the Food Stamp Challenge, we have found it more effective to focus on the Food Stamp Challenge as an educational tool, rather than advocacy opportunity. Hunger exists in ev-ery Congressional district, and it is important that Members of Congress understand the needs and challenges of their constituents. However, not all Members of Congress will use this knowledge in the same way, and we want to ensure that no Member opts out of the Food Stamp Challenge because of discomfort with the request to protect SNAP (food stamps) and other feeding programs from budget cuts or structural changes.

SNAP LIFTED 4 MILLION PEOPLE

OUT OF POVERTY IN 2010

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I’m Taking the Food Stamp Challenge – Will You Join Me?

Dear Senator/Representative ___,

Scripture reminds us that often, “The poor person’s wisdom is despised and words are not heard” (Ecclesiastes 9:16). Al-though there are more than 46 million Americans living below the poverty line and millions more hovering just above it, we too often close our eyes and ears to their plight and do not hear the call for justice.

As part of a national effort led by The Jewish Council for Public Affairs, I will be taking the “Food Stamp Challenge” from _____ through _____(dates), living on the national average food stamp benefit of just $1.40 per meal per day ($29.40 per week). Nearly 45 million Americans, over half of them children, depend on this program for basic nutritional sustenance.

I invite you to join me in this effort to learn about and high-light the continued challenge of hunger in the United States.

We are called to “Defend the poor and the orphan; deal just-ly with the poor and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy” (Psalm 82:3-4). Over 1,000 community members, in-cluding Members of Congress have already taken this impor-tant Challenge. Please join me in heeding this call and tak-ing the Food Stamp Challenge. If you have any questions, or would like to commit to joining me in taking the challenge, please contact Robin Rosenbaum, Program Manager at the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (rrosenbaum@thejcpa.org, 202-212-6037).

Sincerely,

15.1%OF AMERICANS NOW LIVE BELOW THE POVERTY LINE

$1.40 PER MEAL

$29.40PER WEEK

AVERAGE FOOD STAMPBENEFIT

F285937448BTHIS IS NOT LEGAL TENDERAND SHALL NOT BE USED FOR SUCH

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WASHINGTON

ONEINSIXAMERICAN

HOUSEHOLDS ARESTRUGGLING

AGAINST HUNGER

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The JCPA’s Confronting Poverty InitiativeThe Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) is the representative voice of the organized Jewish community. The JCPA serves as a cata-lyst that heightens community awareness, encourages civic and social involvement, and deliberates key issues of importance to the Jewish community. For more than sixty-five years, the JCPA has identified issues, formulated policy, developed strategies and programs, and given expression to a strongly united Jewish communal voice on a wide range of domestic and international issues. The JCPA has an un-paralleled capacity to mobilize grassroots activism through our net-work of 14 national organizations and 125 local Jewish Community Relations Councils.

The Jewish community’s commitment to ending poverty is encapsu-lated in the Torah, where it is commanded, “If there is among you a poor man, one of your brethren… you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother” (Deuteronomy 15:7). In-spired by this commitment to care for and support the most vulner-able among us, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs has advocated on behalf of low-income individuals through its national Confronting Poverty Initiative.

The JCPA’s Confronting Poverty Initiative powerfully engages the Jewish community in anti-poverty advocacy, education, outreach, and activism against a backdrop of profound need. The Confronting Poverty Initiative has successfully raised poverty as a priority on the Jewish communal agenda by mobilizing activists and community or-ganizations to fight poverty in a coordinated, sustained, and effective way. The JCPA works actively with our national and local partners to speak out loudly on behalf of vulnerable populations and to cham-pion the protection of human needs programs that provide essential services and help bring wholeness back to the millions whose lives have been fractured by recent challenges.

Clockwise from top: Rabbi Steve Gutow and Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) volunteer at the Washington, DC Central Kitchen. Participants in the Child Nutrition Seder event coordinated by the Miami JCRC’s Intergenerational Advocacy Initiative. University of Arizona student helps build a Habitat for Humanity home with the Tucson JCRC.

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Clockwise from top: Participants of the African American Jewish Community Leaders Mission to Birmingham. Volun-teer and recipient of services at the Fighting Poverty with Faith Resource Fair for the homeless in New York City, NY. A member of the Mission to Birmingham painting the home of a low-income senior.

Through our network of affiliated Jewish agencies, interfaith partners, and civic organizations, the JCPA continues to address this poverty crisis in our communities. The Confronting Poverty Initiative re-mains dedicated to providing the resources and tools to educate our communities about the challenges of poverty facing our country, en-gaging Jewish activists in this cause, and inspiring strategic advocacy efforts. The innovative program models, effective communication resources, and committed leadership provided by the JCPA are un-paralleled and make a critical difference in addressing this profound challenge.

Together, the myriad elements of the Confronting Poverty Initiative constitute a substantial contribution toward achieving the JCPA’s goals of building a committed core of activists, creating a mobilizing structure to facilitate anti-poverty activism and coalitions, strength-ening connections between service and advocacy, and amplifying the Jewish voice on poverty policy issues.

In Jewish life, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs is the organiza-tion that prioritizes critical human needs in our national agenda, grows our commitment to take care of the most vulnerable members of our society, and organizes partners across the country to engage in this sacred work. In American interfaith life, the JCPA creates and leads coalitions of Jews, Christians, Muslims, Hindus, and other faith groups that together stand up to combat the crisis of poverty and pro-vide hope through our advocacy work.

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Food Stamp Challenge FAQ1. What is the Food Stamp Challenge?The Food Stamp Challenge is a personal opportunity for you to experience the challenges of a food-stamp recipient for one week, living on the food budget of the average food stamp recipient – just $29.40 for the week, a scant $1.40 per meal.

2. Who is organizing the Food Stamp Challenge?The Food Stamp Challenge is sponsored by Jewish Council for Public Affairs as part of our Confronting Poverty Initiative to move individuals and communities to action and advocate for clear, immediate policy solutions to address the root causes of poverty.

3. How do I register to participate in the Food Stamp Challenge?Register to participate in the Food Stamp Challenge online at www.foodstampchallenge.com. When you register, you’ll sign the pledge to participate in the Food Stamp Challenge and be prompted to reach out to your network to ask for support of your participation. You will also receive up-to-date information about the Food Stamp Challenge, the SNAP program, and continued opportunities for involvement.

4. How do I turn my Food Stamp Challenge into a long term action to overcome hunger?To multiply the impact of your Food Stamp Challenge, you can reach out to your networks to raise money to help us make hunger and poverty alleviation a key priority, both in government and within the organized Jewish community. When you reach out to your network – family, friends, col-leagues, and other contacts – for their financial support, you are enabling them to join you in taking action to overcome hunger and poverty. Your personal page can serve as portal to raise funds for the JCPA’s Confronting Poverty Initiative.

5. Why is supporting advocacy and direct service important?The current rates of poverty in the United States are simply unacceptable. The JCPA, through our Confronting Poverty Initiative, has been a leader in advocating for public policies and pro-grams that make a difference in the lives of millions. Taking the Food Stamp Challenge and ask-ing those close to you to make a contribution to support your participation is a meaningful way to demonstrate personal commitment to the cause of ending hunger and poverty in the United States. Your support makes possible the JCPA’s coordinated anti-poverty advocacy initiatives, in-novative programs and mobilizations (like this one!), creative resources and tools for community engagement, and community grants to JCRCs to deepen local anti-poverty engagement. By par-ticipating in the Food Stamp Challenge and helping to raise funds for the JCPA’s Confronting Poverty Initiative, you are supporting Jewish leadership that makes a meaningful difference in the struggle to fight hunger and poverty.

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6. Why should we do a Food Stamp Challenge now?The Food Stamp Challenge is important for several reasons. Food stamps and many other federal feeding programs are facing steep cuts and possible restructuring in a number of pieces of fed-eral legislation, including the budget. These cuts would severely restrict many families’ access to healthy food and could also limit spending, thus impeding economic growth. Block granting the food stamp program would greatly restrict its flexibility, which could prove traumatic for many families in the event of another economic recession or natural disaster.

7. The food stamp program, also known as SNAP or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is meant to be supplemental. Why is it worthwhile to attempt to live on food stamps alone for this Food Stamp Challenge?Although the food stamp program is meant to be supplemental, it represents the majority of the food budget for many families enrolled. The Food Stamp Challenge provides a tangible demon-stration of how food and other resources are inequitably distributed in the United States. As such, the Food Stamp Challenge experience can only begin to touch upon these issues. We cannot fully recreate the many complex ways poverty manifests itself. We cannot address all the problems as-sociated with lack of access to healthy food, healthcare, education, and employment opportunities, and the realities of the day-to-day struggle in one breath. But we have to begin somewhere. And learning about hunger and the food stamp program through a personal experience is a powerful and effective place to start.

16.4 MILLION CHILDREN, OR 22% OF ALL CHILDREN

UNDER AGE 18,

LIVE IN POVERTY —

A LARGER PERCENTAGE THAN ANY OTHER AGE GROUP

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SNAP/Food Stamps FAQ1. What is SNAP?SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. It is the program formerly known as ‘food stamps’.

2. What does SNAP do?SNAP helped put food on the table for 47.6 million people in 2013. It provides low-income house-holds with electronic benefits they can use to purchase food at stores authorized by the US De-partment of Agriculture. SNAP is the cornerstone of federal food assistance programs and provides crucial support to needy households and to those making the transition from welfare to work. The U.S. Department of Agriculture administers SNAP at the federal level through its Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). State agencies administer the program at state and local levels, including determination of eligibility and allotments, and distribution of benefits.

3. What is the intended purpose of SNAP?The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is meant to supplement a family’s food budget. Although SNAP is intended to be supplemental, for many recipients it is their entire food budget.

4. Why is the SNAP program beneficial for communities?Although SNAP benefits may be used to purchase only food, a typical food stamp household will use some of the cash previously used to buy food to meet other pressing needs, including housing, energy, and medical goods that compete for a household’s budget. Thus, food stamps not only in-crease spending for food purchasing but also increase the household’s non-food spending at com-munity-run businesses.

Additionally, SNAP is fully funded at the federal level; at present, states are responsible only for ad-ministration costs. Thus, enrolling eligible individuals and families increases the amount of capital flowing into the communities, which leads to economic stimulation and a stronger local economy.

5. How much does SNAP cost?The costs of SNAP to the federal government fluctuate with the economy and with the pattern of poverty in America. As the number of people in poverty rises, SNAP participation grows, and the total program costs increase. When poverty decreases, so does reliance on SNAP. Participation and cost data for the latest available month can be found on the US Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service website.

The list below shows changes in participation and federal costs over the history of the program:

• In 1970, it served 4.3 million people a month and cost $577 million• In 1980, it served 21.1 million people a month and cost $9.2 billion• In 1990, it served 20.1 million people a month and cost $15.5 billion• In 2000, it served 17.2 million people a month and cost $17.1 billion• In 2005, it served 25.7 million people a month and cost $28.6 billion• In 2012, it served 40.3 million people and cost 64.7 billion.• In 2013, it served 47.6 million people and cost 76.0 billion.

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6. Why is SNAP needed?From 2010-2011, SNAP provided more than 45 million Americans with much-needed food; more than half of these were children. Without SNAP, those people would have gone hungry and faced serious nutritional and other health issues.

7. What is the average benefit from SNAP?According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which is responsible for administering the Food Stamp Program, the nationwide average monthly benefit in Fiscal Year 2013 was $117.60, approxi-mately $4.20 a day or $1.40 a meal.

8. Who can apply for SNAP?Anyone can apply for SNAP benefits, but eligibility varies by state and is based on financial and other factors. In general, the federal government requires that households earning below the fed-eral poverty line and with less than $2,000 in countable resources, such as a bank account, be considered eligible for SNAP benefits. However, many states allow families with slightly higher incomes to be eligible as well.

9. Where can I go for more information? The SNAP program is administered by the US Department of Agriculture; for more information, please visit http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap.

The Food Research and Action Center is also an excellent resource for information about SNAP and other federal feeding programs: http://frac.org/federal-foodnutrition-programs/snapfood-stamps/

FROM 2004-2007,

31.6 % OF AMERICANS EXPERIENCED POVERTY FOR

AT LEAST 2 MONTHS.

THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN POVERTY

IN 2012

46.5 MILLION

IS THE LARGEST NUMBER SINCE THE

GOVERNMENT BEGAN PUBLISHING DATA.

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WASHINGTON OFFICE 1775 K Street NW, Suite 320

Washington, DC 20006(202) 212-6036

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