AHNC Update: Survey and Meeting Reminder

AHNC Member Survey

Background of Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Coalition:

The Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Coalition brings the voices of hungry families to Washington’s policy makers to insure public policy leads our response to hunger in our state.

The Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Coalition began in 1990 and now supports over 600 anti-hunger advocates across Washington State. AHNC meets regularly to: discuss ongoing and emerging issues affecting hunger in Washington; collaborate and share information about statewide public policy issues and anti-hunger efforts; and, develop an annual legislative agenda that makes progress on our goal to end hunger in Washington.Regular action alerts, session updates, policy papers and an annual lobby day (Hunger Action Day) support this legislative agenda, as well as some federal policy priorities. AHNC also shares data about hunger in Washington.

AHNC governance:

Since 2009, the Coalition has been guided by a Steering Committee: 2 co-chairs and at least 10 members who provide leadership, content expertise and hands-on coalition support, as well as work with AHNC’s part-time staff. After leaving Children’s Alliance in 2009, AHNC has had only a minimal amount of funding for staffing, technology, events, etc. As a result, AHNC has been housed at 3 different organizations (Food Lifeline, Solid Ground, WithinReach) because the structure has not been sustainable for host agencies or the needs of the Coalition.

Your opinion is needed:

Effective July 1, the Coalition will no longer be housed at WithinReach and there is no immediate funding for coalition activities or staffing. The Steering Committee sees this as an opportunity for change: we can re-envision the Coalition to make it more effective for Washington organizations and for anti-hunger policy advocacy in our state.

The Steering Committee wants your thoughts about the future for AHNC.

Click here to take the AHNC Member survey! 

We need short-term options to save the coalition now – and we need a long-term, sustainable vision. We have developed a survey to assess our strengths, weaknesses and priorities for change in the coming months.

What is your vision for hunger policy in Washington? What is your vision for AHNC? What does the coalition need to be more sustainable and more effective? In a period of extremely limited resources, which activities are essential for us to maintain? What needs to change? What should be done differently to build a stronger system for hunger policy advocacy in our state?