July 08, 2015 by BFC in Food Access Food Justice Food Program Social Services
If you follow this blog with any regularity you’ve probably seen several posts focusing on Bread for the City’s campaign to change the third-party referral system for local food pantries. Here a ‘referral’ means a written letter from an agency/organization vouching that a client ‘deserves’ access to food, clothing, furniture, or other goods. Referrals were required as proof of a client’s eligibility – regardless of any primary proofs they could provide on their own (income statements, lease etc).
July 05, 2015 by BFC in Advocacy Public Benefits Racial Justice Social Services
Forced Annuitization and the Grim Realities of Racial Health Disparities
“You just get out what they put in/But they never put in enough” —Stephen Merritt, The Magnetic Fields
Social Security redistributes money from African-Americans to white Americans. This claim might sound outrageous to those with prejudiced views of public benefits and those who understand the effects of Social Security’s progressive benefits formula, but it nonetheless is true, according to a 2013 paper by C Eugene Steurle, Karen E. Smith, and Caleb Quakenbush of the Urban Institute.
July 02, 2015 by BFC in Advocacy Legal Clinic
Bread for the City has written extensively on this blog about the 2004 Language Access Act, and most notably, the DC Department of Human Services’ (DHS) repeated failures to follow the law. Senior Supervising Attorney Allison Miles-Lee testified before the DC Council on July 1st in support of the Language Access for Education Amendment Act, and about what she is witnessing on the front lines each day.
June 29, 2015 by BFC in Legal Clinic Our Staff
*Remarks by S. Tyler Hale at Venable LLP’s 2015 Civiletti Pro Bono Awards Recognition Ceremony*
June 26, 2015 by BFC in Advocacy Public Benefits Racial Justice Social Services
The SSI Resource Limit and Home Ownership Exclusion
Ms. Smith, a Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipient, came to me with a writ of restitution. That meant that her landlord would soon show up at her door with Federal Marshalls and a moving crew to throw her and her stuff out on the street.
June 01, 2015 by BFC in Development Donors Fundraising
We schlepp a lot of food. Like, a lot. Every week, our drivers retrieve thousands of pounds of healthy, wholesome, delicious groceries from all across the city, which means our trucks get more than their fair share of wear and tear.
When it became obvious late last year that one of our two trusty box trucks wasn’t going to make it past Valentine’s Day, we reached out to our community for help covering this un-budgeted expense. And we were blown away by the response. I’m pleased to introduce our fab new truck (with lift!) in all its glory. BEHOLD!
May 22, 2015 by BFC in Volunteering
Bread for the City lost a dear friend recently, Judy Stahl. Judy served Bread for 22 years as a weekly volunteer, donor, advocate, and fundraiser. She loved our clients, our staff, and her fellow volunteers. She was smart, compassionate, and fun.
I had the privilege of speaking at Judy’s memorial service, and I thought that, to honor Judy, I would share my thoughts with you. Here goes…
May 19, 2015 by BFC in Development Fundraising Good Hope Gala
WOW. Just WOW! That’s all there is to say about Saturday’s Good Hope Gala. We had a blast enjoying great food, bidding on awesome auction items, dancing the night away with the Brass Connection Band, and of course, raising money to support our poverty relief services in the District.
How much money, you ask? Together, we shattered all of our goals and raised a whopping $770,000 through our Good Hope Gala. Now that deserves a virtual round of applause!
Holiday Helpings is here!
To join in on this wonderful holiday tradition, get your special holiday meal, volunteer, donate, or run a fundraising drive.
Join the Festivities!