Tag: slow food usa

Senator Blanche Lincoln has introduced a new version of the Child Nutrition Act.

While it includes stronger nutrition standards and some support for Farm to School initiatives, it only increases funding for Child Nutrition Programs by $500 million per year, which is half the funding President Obama has proposed, and much less than what Slow Food USA has advocated for.

The Senate Agriculture Committee will begin reviewing the bill this Wednesday, March 24th. Our very own Senator Cornyn is a member of the committee, so it’s critical he knows our position!

Please take a moment today to call Senator Cornyn’s DC office at (202) 224-2934 and ask him to support:Helping schools serve healthier food by making the full investment of $1 billion per year for child nutrition programs – including $50 million for Farm to School programs.

I’m asking Senator Cornyn to help schools serve healthier food by investing $1 billion per year in Child Nutrition programs.?
Please include $50 million over five years to support Farm to School programs, which link schools to local farms and help the local economy.

Phone number for Senator Cornyn: 202-224-2934

When the receptionist answers, say you’re a constituent (“I live in Austin”) and ask to speak with the staff member who works on child nutrition.

When you get through to the child nutrition staff member, say your name, where you’re from and whom you represent. If you’re calling on behalf of a Slow Food chapter, mention the size of your membership and mailing list – and feel free to mention that our network has sent 725 emails to Cornyn’s office in the last few weeks.

Ask the staff member if the Senator supports:

Helping schools serve healthier food by making the full $1 billion investment in Child Nutrition. ?
Including $50 million to support Farm to School programs, which link schools to local farms and help the local economy.

If the Senator’s position is the same as yours, thank the staff member. If it’s not, explain why you believe in healthy school food. Offer to send the staff member more information and encourage the legislator to re-consider the issue.

If the staff member wants more information, ask for his/her email address and follow up immediately. This is a great opportunity to become someone on whom the staff relies for information.

If you don’t get through to anyone and you’re leaving a voicemail, state your name and phone number, where you’re from and whom you represent. Encourage the Senator to support our policy goals (listed above).

Tens of thousands of citizens are calling for legislators to fully fund school lunch, strengthen nutrition standards and link schools to local farms when Congress updates the Child Nutrition Act this year. Slow Food USA is carrying out the Time for Lunch Campaign to raise awareness of the legislation and encourage Congress to get real food into schools. The Child Nutrition Act is likely to be reauthorized by Congress in “early 2010”. The Time for Lunch Campaign launched with a National Day of Action in 2009 that brought 20,000 people together at more than 300 “Eat-Ins” nationwide. We are strengthening our efforts nationally and locally as we approach the reauthorization day. You can help out by getting involved in Central Texas.

If you’d like to get more involved, here are 2 easy steps you can take to create change.

Spread the word: After you contact your representatives through the Slow Food USA website, you will receive a thank you email that includes text to send to your personal network, asking people to contact their representatives. Please send this out to your email contacts so we can more people to take the same easy steps to contact their local representatives.

On Labor Day 2009, over 100 concerned parents, farmers, chefs and food citizens gathered at Rain Lily farm as guests of Slow Food USA/Slow Food Austin to show support for getting REAL FOOD in school cafeterias.

Thank you for joining us at Rain Lily Farm on Labor Day for the Slow Food Austin Eat-In Potluck!

We took action: Over 100 people came together to enjoy the potluck and discuss school meal issues. 28 letters calling for change through the Child Nutrition Act were signed at the event and immediately sent to representatives. Over 80 signatures were added to the Slow Food USA petition advocating for REAL FOOD in schools.

Our chapter President, Sara Weber, was interviewed by our local public radio station, KUT.

The movement continues: to learn more about how you can help get Real Food into our schools visit Slow Food USA’s Time for Lunch site.

Be part of Slow Food Austin! Here’s how:

1. Become a member.
2. Sign up for our newsletter. (over on the right side of this page!)
3. Attend our first Happy Hour on 9/30 at Annie’s Cafe and Bar.
4. Attend a Slow Session on the 1st Thursday of every month.
5. Buy tickets for Slow Food Austin’s first annual fundraiser, “Raw Talk and Tasting” on October 21st at the Barr Mansion.

On Labor Day, people in communities all over the country are gathering for public potlucks to take part in Slow Food USA’s Time for Lunch Campaign. This day of action sends a clear message to Congress: It’s time to provide our children with REAL FOOD in school.

Slow Food Austin has partnered with Rain Lily Farm to host a local potluck eat-in. Come on out and enjoy a meal with community members who want to get REAL FOOD in our schools.

Please bring a dish to share along with your own plates, utensils, beverages and cups.