2024 Anti-Hunger Advocacy Day
Wednesday, February 21, 2024
11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Every year, anti-hunger advocates from across the state of Arizona gather at the Capitol to advocate on anti-hunger legislation. This year, more than 100 community members advocated for continued funding for Reduced Price School Meals, urging our lawmakers to take action on measures that would help many Arizonans who face food insecurity.
What’s on our minds this year?
Reduced Price School Meals - Funding for reduced price meals at Arizona's public schools expires this summer. Accessible nutritious meals are an important part of ensuring that no child goes hungry and all are able to learn. We are asking the legislature to renew this funding!
The Day’s Speakers
rev. ellie hutchison, emcee — Arizona Faith Network
Cher Thomas, Land Acknowledgement — Akimel O’otham People
Rep. Tim Dunn (R), LD25 — HB2054 sponsor
Rep. Nancy Gutierrez (D), LD18
Dr. Punam Ohri-Vachaspati — ASU Research, Professor of Nutrition
Stephanie Miller — parent and social worker from Flowing Wells United School District
Melissa Harvey — School Nutrition Association Arizona & Madison Elementary School District
Lupe Conchas — founding AzAHA member formerly of Bread for the World
Khalil Rushdan — AZ Village Network & AFN
A host of legislators and Capitol staff joined us, meeting with constituents over a shared lunch. A big thank you goes out to everyone who made time in their very busy schedules for us, and to St. Mary’s Community Kitchen Catering for providing us with lunch! Arizona Food Bank Network made sure each table was provided with information sheets, breaking hunger data down by district, so that lawmakers and participants were able to familiarize themselves with average household income, SNAP participation, and food insecurity rates in their areas.
Activate Food Arizona’s Farm Express Shuttle also joined us for the day, parking in front of the Capitol building. The Farm Express shuttle exists as a mobile produce market to help bring fresh, affordable produce to areas of the valley with limited access to fresh food, and on Wednesday, they gave us the opportunity to learn about their work, including the ways geography can impact hunger, and provide us with fresh produce!
We were introduced in both the House and Senate galleries; a special thanks is owed to Rep. Patty Contreras and Sen. Mitzi Epstein for taking the time to introduce us to their collogues and raise awareness about our priorities within the government chambers.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our 2024 Advocacy Day! Stay tuned to learn more about our work this year.
