Release No. 0512.05
Contact: Ed Loyd(202) 720-4623
Susan Acker (703)305-2286
USDA ANNOUNCES THE AVAILABILITY OF $1 MILLION IN FOOD STAMP
OUTREACH GRANTS
WASHINGTON, Nov. 30, 2005 - Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today
announced the availability of at least $1 million in grants for public and
private entities, nonprofit, community and faith-based organizations to improve
awareness of USDA's Food Stamp Program for low-income households.
"These grants will help to ensure that the working poor, immigrants and
elderly are accessing food stamp benefits," said Johanns. "These grants build
upon President Bush's commitment to increase access to federal grants under his
Community and Faith-Based Initiative," said Johanns. "Private, nonprofit groups,
including faith-based and community organizations, play an important role in
helping those in need to learn about and access critical nutrition assistance."
USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) plans to award at least $1 million to
community and faith-based organizations or public agencies, other than food
stamp state and local agencies, to conduct outreach to potential food stamp
participants. Grantees will implement community-based outreach strategies that
educate people about the nutrition benefits of food stamps and how to apply.
USDA encourages community and faith-based organizations to participate in this
competition. The solicitation includes checklists, templates, tools and lists of
resources to assist potential applicants complete their proposals.
The Food Stamp Program, administered by FNS, is the cornerstone of federal
nutrition assistance programs and provides crucial support to working poor and
needy households. The program serves more than 25 million people per month, and
currently reaches about 56 percent of those who are eligible to receive
benefits. Food stamp benefits provide a boost to local economies since every
dollar in new food stamp benefits generates nearly twice that in community
spending.
On Jan. 29, 2001, the president created the White House Office of Faith-Based
and Community Initiatives along with similar offices within federal agencies
that work together to ensure faith and community-based organizations have the
opportunity to assist America's neediest families and individuals. The
solicitation can be found online at
http://www.grants.gov or on the FNS website at
http://www.fns.usda.gov
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