10 Food Stamp Outreach Ideas for Faith-Based Organizations

Help your congregation and community learn about the nutrition benefits of the Food Stamp Program. With food stamp benefits, low-income people can purchase more healthy food such as fruits and vegetables, whole grain foods and dairy products. Food stamp benefits also bring Federal dollars to your community that can help the economy.

You can:

Or better yet, contact Jim Brenizer, Project Coordinator for the Lucas County Food Stamp Outreach Program, Toledo Area Ministries (TAM) by cell phone 419-410-7502, or email at jbrenizer@tamohio.org to obtain materials.

2. Form an outreach partnership with your local food stamp office. Go to http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/outreach/coalition/map.htm for a locator map. Develop and implement an outreach strategy for your community.

As you know, TAM Lucas County Food Stamp Outreach Program has already established this through a grant with one of our grant partners being the Lucas County Department of Job & Family Services. Please contact Jim Brenizer as above.

3. Staff a food stamp information table to give out information or pre-screen for food stamp eligibility after worship service or during other sponsored events. Use the pre-screening tool available at www.foodstamps-step1.usda.gov.

TAM Food Stamp Outreach Program would be pleased to schedule visits through project coordinator, Jim Brenizer in coordination with your upcoming events. He will be happy to have the website pre-screening tools with him, too.

4. Put food stamp information in bulletins, newsletters, or other items given or mailed to the congregation or community.

Materials may be requested by contacting Jim Brenizer at jbrenizer@tamohio.org.

5. Train all staff including parish nurses, lay leaders, faith leaders, and others with basic information about food stamps and where and how residents can get more information about food stamp benefits.

Those interested may contact Jim Brenizer at jbrenizer@tamohio.org about the upcoming training opportunity scheduled for the last two weeks in April. See recruitment flier over.

TAM Food Stamp Outreach Program would love to help facilitate this with your congregation as a part of our outreach (although this is not one of our current grant deliverables).

TAM Food Stamp Outreach Program already has these materials available in several languages per the USDA downloads.

This will be an upcoming activity of all of our Feed Your Neighbor sites!

We would love to add our presence at your event, with material and pre-screening activities. Call Jim Brenizer at 419-410-7502.

10. Encourage local elected officials to speak about the positive economic impacts of food stamp benefits for community residents and the local economy.

Case Examples of Individual or Family Success Stories This Reporting Period:

Jim Brenizer, FS Outreach Project Coordinator, relays the following success story:

I was asked in March to see a family being helped by The Bridge Ministries, the outreach ministries branch of the church our FS Outreach project is housed in, and spoke with a 77 year old father, who is a veteran, and his two adult sons.  The three live together and meet the definition of a household/assistance group.  The father had a stated income from pension of $806.00 per month, and reported living from check to check. He and his sons were renting.  We went through the pre-screening tool and after entering their information, the tool indicated that they would be eligible for food stamps with the approximate monthly benefit estimated at $345.00.  I gave the father written information about how to apply for food stamp assistance.  He indicated that he and his sons would apply at the local JFS office and they had transportation.  I also provided the father with contact info for veterans’ assistance programs for our county.  I also provided the two sons with additional information on community resources that could assist with job searches, training, etc.

I learned this week from The Bridge Ministries Director, Sandra Avilez, that this family had successfully applied in March for food stamp benefits and received the Ohio Direction Card.  Their monthly benefit is currently calculated at $500.00, which is a huge increase in their useable resources for food.  As a result, they are now more economically secure, able to save money and have not returned to The Bridge Ministries for direct assistance.  Father is also benefiting from contacting the local veterans’ offices.  Sons are on the path to receiving job training and eventually finding jobs through the local office of The Source.  Sandra states that they are all very grateful and would be willing to share their success story with us and others. 

Young single female, just out of a bad relationship, able to apply for food stamps at $155/mo.  Has also linked up with FYN at Epiphany Lutheran – would not have known about food stamps had we not been there to offer screenings and is thankful we are able to help her fill out her paperwork and turn it in for her to JFS.

Middle-aged gentleman who recently lost his job and has no assets came to Trilby FYN and was pre-screened by us.  He appears to qualify for benefits at $155/month and was tearful about ability to receive help.  States he is a welder by profession and had been working steady for 30 years and was laid off late last year.  He is also able to get help with food through this FYN site once per month.  Appreciated us helping him fill out his application and turning it in for him.

Senior Center gentleman who was recently screened with household size of 4 was very appreciative of ability to be screened and for us to turn in his application in.  He had life-saving brain surgery 6 months ago.  Projected benefits are $508/month. 

Three gentlemen living together screened and appear to be eligible for benefits.  We completed their application and turned in for them.  All three gentlemen did not know about food stamps and say that if they get the projected $358/month benefit, it will allow them to live in their apartment and not be evicted, like their landlord is currently threatening.  They also appear to be able to receive expedited food stamps.

Lady who works part-time at a senior center appears to be eligible for $72/month benefit and says it means a lot to her to make ends meet.  She will be telling all her friends about food stamps and have them contact our program to find out more.