The Food Bank of Delaware’s Anti-Hunger Coalition hosted a forum with Delaware

Health and Social Services Secretary Rita Landgraf and First Lady Carla Markell

on improving food assistance access to Delawareans this morning at the Food

Bank’s Newark warehouse.

To culminate the Anti-Hunger Coalition’s first year of work Markell presented the

group with a proclamation declaring December 10, 2009 as Delaware Anti-Hunger

Coalition Awareness Day.

“It’s important that we make sure Delawareans have access to food, especially

children,” she said.

“We are proud that December 10 has been declared Anti-Hunger Coalition Awareness Day,” said Food Bank of Delaware President and CEO Patricia Beebe. “The problem of hunger continues to escalate in our state. It’s imperative that we work together with state government to find cost-effective ways to reduce and eliminate hunger.”

Landgraf encouraged Delaware nonprofits and community-based leaders and groups to have an open dialogue with state government in an effort to help more Delawareans. “It’s going to take all of us,” she said.

“The current economy has created opportunities for making improvements to the way nonprofits and the state do business together,” said Beebe. “Thousands of more Delawareans are reaching out for assistance and it’s our responsibility to have systems in place that work and make food and other benefits accessible.”

In addition to discussing ways to increase accessibility to government benefits, Landgraf stressed the importance of the food stamp program. “Many families assume that because they’re working they do not qualify for food stamps,” she said. “This is not true.” By state fiscal year 2010, officials estimate that more than 115,000 Delawareans will be eligible for food stamp benefits. 

Landgraf also reported that last year, $155,255,312 in federal money infiltrated Delaware’s economy through the food stamp program. “For every food stamp dollar, two dollars is generated for our local economy,” she added.