Your local government assistance office could be recognized nationally for its outstanding work! The USDA Hunger Champion Award Program honors local county assistance offices who go above and beyond to help eligible clients obtain benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps). The program aims to recognize and support those local county assistance offices that make an enduring effort to embrace the mission of SNAP: “to increase food security and to reduce hunger by providing children and low income people with food, a healthy diet and nutrition education.”
In a recent innovation, Yorkville Common Pantry in New York City uses iPads to help clients do their shopping – USDA is looking for creative local assistance offices who use innovative approaches to help eligible clients access SNAP.
Local county assistance offices with a unique and creative approach to serving their clients will be selected as the 2012 Hunger Champions. Awardees will be acknowledged at the 2012 State SNAP Directors conference, and will be recognized with a certificate noting their extra effort, commitment and passion for assuring that the SNAP participants have the nutrition assistance they need. In addition, all nominees will be listed as exemplary offices on the USDA Food and Nutrition Service website.
Any individual, agency or organization who has worked with, observed or has personal experience with a local county assistance office that provides exemplary service to SNAP clients and/or applicants may nominate that office to be honored as a Hunger Champion.
Download the application form here.
Nominations must be submitted by August 31, 2012.
