New Jersey Anti-Hunger Coalition (NJAHC),
formerly the Statewide Emergency Food and Anti-Hunger Network (SEFAN)
The mission of the New Jersey Anti-Hunger Coalition (NJAHC), formerly the Statewide Emergency Food and Anti-Hunger Network (SEFAN) is to end hunger in New Jersey through education, advocacy and activism.
The New Jersey Anti-Hunger Coalition is a program of the Center for Food Action (CFA). Log on to the CFA website for more information.
History
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New Jersey Anti-Hunger Coalition (formerly SEFAN)
In 1980, the Center for Food Action created the Statewide Emergency Food and Anti-Hunger Network (SEFAN) to support emergency food providers around the state and to raise awareness of hunger in New Jersey. In 2009, SEFAN changed its name to the New Jersey Anti-Hunger Coalition (NJAHC). The NJAHC continues to provide technical assistance and information to food pantries, soup kitchens and other emergency food providers throughout the state. The NJAHC also educates the public and policy makers about hunger and food insecurity and works to increase poor and low-income people’s access to adequate food for healthy living by advocating for responsible public policies on the local, state and federal levels.
Recent Accomplishments
- NJAHC advocated for Governor Corzine to dedicate an unprecedented $4 million in state funds (on-going) for emergency food to help feed NJ’s hungry residents.
- NJAHC’s advocacy efforts lead to a decision by state Food Stamp administrators to eliminate the value of one vehicle as an asset when calculating food stamp eligibility and benefits.
- NJAHC hosted an educational forum for NJ’s Congressional representatives in 2006. As a direct result of this event, a piece of legislation was passed that expanded the Simplified Summer Food Program to include NJ and the rest of the states, making Summer Food accessible to more low-income students when school is not in session.
- As a direct result of NJAHC’s work with the Governor’s office, NJ Department of Agriculture was directed by them to increase breakfast participation, generating an outreach program targeted to 134 districts across the state.
- NJAHC organized a broad group of stakeholders in Paterson schools in an effort to increase breakfast participation among low-income students in that district. This group of stakeholder conducted a successful school meals application campaign through local food providers and is currently working with the district to pilot universal breakfast after the bell in 3 schools where 80% or more of the students are eligible for free or reduced meals.
- NJAHC facilitates a large advocacy network of emergency food providers, anti-hunger advocates and faith-based organizations across the state.
- NJAHC publishes a biannual newsletter focusing on hunger and poverty policy issues, emergency food network topics and nutrition information.
- NJAHC conducts and publishes a biennial statewide hunger survey to document hunger and emergency food trends in NJ.
- NJAHC supports county and city coalitions of emergency food providers to encourage cooperation and improve their access to food and volunteer resources.