FRONT PAGE NEWS
WELFARE NEWS:
STATE NEWS:
LOCAL NEWS:
COMMUNITY FOOD SECURITY :
NATIONAL NEWS:
CHILD NUTRITION:
OTHER NEWS:
Just Harvest marked its 17th birthday during the holiday season. Dec. 23, 1986 was the date our Articles of Incorporation were certified. Before becoming an organization, Just Harvest's mission was carried out as the public policy advocacy and community education programs of "Hunger Action Coalition". That organization's direct services programs became Hunger Services Network.
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There is a flurry of activity at the Just Harvest office again for tax season as we work to inform workers about the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and PA Tax Back, prepare the taxes of hundreds of taxpayers, and begin a new partnership with ACORN to stop predatory Refund Anticipation Loans (RALs).
Many commercial tax preparers tempt taxpayers with promises of fast refunds at tax time or even advance refunds in time for Christmas shopping. With these RALs taxpayers are able to get their refunds in 1-48 hours rather than waiting the 8-14 days it takes to have the refund direct-deposited into a bank account at no cost.
Taxpayers are unaware that these fast refunds are actually loans, often with exorbitant high fees and interest. Also, refund loans can be hazardous to a taxpayer's financial health. If the amount of the refund is less than expected, the taxpayer will have to pay back the money. If he/she has already spent it, their credit rating will suffer.
Tax preparation services often cluster in working class and poor neighborhoods. A Brookings Institution study found that nearly $2 billion in EITC dollars were diverted to commercial tax preparers and banks for the fees and interest paid for tax preparation and RALs in 1999. Fifty-three percent of EITC recipients in Pittsburgh purchased a RAL in 1999.
Just Harvest has joined ACORN to target H&R Block for preying on low-income workers with this "product." H&R Block is the largest tax preparation company in the U.S. They earned $134 million in RAL fees in the 2000-2001 fiscal year, due to a 44% increase in cost and an additional 1.7 million RALs processed over the preceding year.
Many other commercial tax preparers also sell RALs to taxpayers at a wide variety of costs.
Our first joint action was held at the Southside H&R Block office December 18. ACORN affiliates throughout the country conducted actions on the same day. Just Harvest and ACORN members educated motorists stuck in rush hour traffic about the dangers of RALs and about Just Harvest's free tax preparation site, then entered the H&R Block office to engage in debate with the manager. We will continue actions at H&R Block offices throughout tax season.
ACTION: Help educate workers about tax credits and their tax preparation options. Contact Kristie at Just Harvest for brochures, posters, envelope stuffers, or a presentation.
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By Dawn Wallhausen, Just Harvest Administrative Assistant
With all the recent talk about food security and the links between hunger and obesity, the news media has taken notice. In a New York Times article published on October 21, 2003, Michael Pollan addressed how government-subsidized agri-business affects the nutrition value of lower-cost foods. Then on December 8 of this year, ABC News broadcast an expose of the nation's obesity epidemic, implicating not only unbalanced agricultural funding, but also unlimited advertising by the junk food industry.
In The (Agri)Cultural Contradictions of Obesity, Michael Pollan writes, "Cheap corn… is truly the building block of the 'fast-food nation'". Whether transformed into corn syrup for sodas, used as cheap animal feed, or for bulking up highly processed snacks, cheap corn has enabled the food industry to super-size without significantly increasing the cost of production.
As Peter Jennings points out in ABC News's How to Get Fat Without Really Trying, popcorn you buy at movie theatres actually costs less to produce than the bag it comes in! Pollan notes that corn syrup has transformed the average bottle of Coca-Cola from 8 ounces to 20. Corn fed animals facilitated the up-sizing of Big Macs and Chicken McNuggets for pennies on the dollar, and the McNugget, "is really a most ingenious transubstantiation of corn," including fillers and binding agents made from the stuff. But meeting the needs of hungry people is clearly not just about making food as inexpensive as possible.
Both ABC News and Pollan observe that agriculture has been funded by the government since the Great Depression. ABC News, however, focused on increased advertising by the food industry as a reason for the jump in Americans' caloric intake. While advertising doubtless plays a role, Pollan's analysis digs deeper, pointing out radical changes in farm policy during the Nixon administration.
From the New Deal until 1972, farmers could borrow from the government when crop prices were low and repay the loans when the market improved, or hand over their crops if the market failed to rebound. The government then sold from their own storehouses when prices peaked, making back a majority of the money lost to loans.
But when prices for staple foods began to soar after Nixon's 1972 grain deal with Russia, angry consumers pushed him to desperate measures to drive down the cost of groceries. His administration encouraged massive grain overproduction, dismantled government storehouses, and replaced agricultural loans with direct grants.
As a result, argues Pollan, the US now spends $19 billion per year on agricultural subsidies, and feeds the overproduction back to us as junk food. Add to that the $33 billion that ABC News says the food industry spends annually to advertise junk food to us and to our children, and it is easy to see why obesity is on the rise. Keep in mind that much of the processed food advertised on television is marketed directly to kids, encouraging poor eating habits early in life that often continue into adulthood.
The food industry points to lack of exercise as the cause of obesity. But more trips to the track are hardly a complete solution, when you consider that a 150 pound person must walk for a full hour to burn the calories in one 20-ounce Coke.
ABC News praised Kraft's recent approach of "making every product a little healthier" and suggests that public policy should regulate the junk food ads targeted to children. Pollan proposes a more balanced approach to subsidized agriculture. Both make valid points, but even more must be done; for public policy to be effective in promoting good nutrition and fighting hunger, we need more democratic and locally sustainable practices in food production, distribution, and consumption.
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The Severe Weather Emergency Shelter (SWES) is open 7PM - 7AM if it is 20° F or colder with the wind chill, or if there is heavy snow or freezing rain. The SWES information hotline is updated by noon daily to announce if it will be open that evening. It will operate until March 31, 2004.
Severe Weather Emergency Shelter
620 Smithfield Street
(412) 779-1329
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Need help or know someone who does? Take a look at the Allegheny County DHS Information and Referral Desk's Community Referral Packet. It is designed for social service providers but has great resources for all: www.county.allegheny.pa.us/dhs/provider/provider.info/html
WELFARE NEWS
Bonuses to states. In September the US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) awarded $200 million in bonus payments to states for Welfare-to-Work accomplishments, i.e. getting clients off TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) and into any kind of job. HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson claims that the bonuses reward states for helping families achieve self-sufficiency. On the contrary, critics of current welfare policy argue that the bonus funds poverty fail to preserve a safety net to catch struggling families when they fall. Pennsylvania received $12,692,557 for its wonderful (is this sarcastic?) work in fiscal year 2002. What will come of this money, is the question? (JONI: Is the point of this that the state hasn't said what the bonus $ is for, or that we don't know? What do we want it to be for?)
What Happens to the People who Leave? On the other hand, a recent study by the Urban Institute shows that TANF "Leavers" who were not working, did not have a working spouse and were not receiving TANF or SSI rose from 9.8 percent in 1999 to 13.8 percent in 2002. These so-called "disconnected workers" are less likely to have a high school diploma, and are more likely to have health problems, to have been jobless in the past three years, or struggling with other serious barriers to employment.
Welfare Spending Shifts. Some people argue that because of the drop in welfare caseloads, states don't need additional federal funds. But actually, a shift in spending has occurred and states now use those funds for work supports and other services. Only 38% of TANF funds are spent on cash assistance, but more than one million other low-income families receive supportive services with TANF money. For instance, 18% of the funds are spent on childcare and 12% on employment and work supports. If reauthorization forces states to implement new work requirements without additional funds, these supportive services will disappear.
ACTION: Contact your congressperson and Senators. Tell them welfare reauthorization must include 1)reject increased work requirements; 2) increase funds for child care, 3)expand options for people with significant barriers, 4)restore benefits for legal immigrants.
| In Harrisburg, a victory finally came with the Senate's unanimous passage of House Bill 44. The bill that will finally restore TANF cash assistance and food stamps to eligible individuals previously convicted of a drug felony.
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Join Just Harvest's Welfare Justice Project and hundreds of other activists in South Carolina the last weekend in January.
- We plan a dialogue (broadcast live by MSNBC) between the presidential candidates and people living the reality of poverty and injustice.
- We will join a Get Out the Vote campaign for the Feb. 3 primary election. (South Carolina is an important primary state.) There's plenty of room on our bus. Call Rochelle at Just Harvest to join.
Congress adjourned until January after a FY 2004 omnibus spending bill cleared the House but stalled in the Senate over Democratic Senators' objections to consideration without roll call votes. Most government programs, including child nutrition programs, continue FY 2003 funding levels under Congress' Continuing Resolution.
When Congress reconvenes January 20, welfare reauthorization will be among its first tasks.
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STATE NEWS
The long-awaited completion of the Pennsylvania budget --six months overdue and the last state budget in the nation to be passed-- was a welcome sight to most advocates. Drug and alcohol treatment, mental health services, mass transit and the Human Services Development Fund (HSDF) can celebrate nearly full restorations in funding after months of intensive advocacy work.
Legislators also gave the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture more flexibility in the State Food Purchase Program (SFPP) by allowing more funds to be spent on transportation. This provides the opportunity to bring in free surplus commodities from the USDA and should result in more total food in Pennsylvania food banks.
The increase in the personal income tax creates new revenue for needed services, but there was no movement to close corporate tax loopholes, a less regressive option that would generate more revenue for the state.
Just Harvest and Pennsylvania Hunger Action are beginning to prepare requests for the 2004-2005 budget.
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For 25 years Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center has fulfilled its mission to "eliminate the causes of hunger in order to ensure food security for every Pennsylvanian" through advocacy and education. Just Harvest News spoke with Berry Friesen, Executive Director, to learn more about their work.
Q: What were some major focuses and successes of 2003?
A: We worked with several groups in Pennsylvania to end monthly income reporting for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Several things are also in progress. We got ten Pennsylvania Congressmen to ask for changes in the law so more rural children have access to child nutrition programs.
Q: What is your response to the increase in Pennsylvania's food insecurity?
A: The whole country is experiencing an increase, but Pennsylvania's is going up faster. We aren't sure really how to explain it. Loss of manufacturing jobs is a big contributor. People working these jobs in Pennsylvania saw their income go from $15-$20 an hour to $7-$8 an hour. Those families are some of the newly food insecure.
Q: What are PA. HAC's plans for 2004?
A: We will continue working on Child Nutrition and TANF Reauthorization, and on school breakfast and summer food outreach. Long-term, an important part of our work will focus on getting more fresh foods into the diet of low-income families. The Farmers Market Nutrition Program is a definite way, but we need to expand access.
To learn more about Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center visit www.pahunger.org or call (717) 233-6705.
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LOCAL NEWS
Rejecting Mayor Murphy's "unrealistic" budget, City Council passed a "bare-bones" budget December 31 which counts on new revenues from city authorities and amusement taxes. Savings through cooperation with the new county administration also figured in Council's deliberations, as well as hopes that Act 47 will allow the city broader taxing authority.
Anti-hunger groups dogged council members until the bitter end, avoiding a dramatic cuts. But still, Hungry people will receive only 50-75% of what they requested - a total of $282,000 --despite evidence of increasing need. "This vulnerable population is paying for the past excesses of the city government," said one observer in the elevator. "If the city had concentrated economic development on communities instead of big ticket items like stadiums and upscale department stores, we wouldn't be in the mess we're in now."
Councilman Jim Motznik, leader of the majority group on council, said that, in order for this budget to work, the mayor must embrace it. As of this writing, Murphy has neither signed nor vetoed the bill.
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COMMUNITY FOOD SECURITY
Special events, educational workshops, and creative marketing to increase business were among the ideas floated at an enthusiastic meeting of vendors from most of the area farmers' markets.
The thirty-five vendors at the December 3 meeting also reviewed a customer survey conducted by the Farmers' Market Alliance, the sponsor of the meeting. Key findings were: most shoppers are female, over age 40, high school graduates, shop at the market weekly, and prefer fresh products to those found in the grocery stores.
The survey found that most customers learn about the markets from "word of mouth," and about one quarter of them from the media. The Alliance's work receives major support from the RK Mellon Foundation.
(Just Harvest is on the Steering Committee of the Farmers Market Alliance, a local coalition which promotes farmers markets)
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Organizing and movement-building for more community control of our nation's food supply led the agenda as over 500 activists met recently for the annual conference of the Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC).
The national conference brought together activists from diverse organizations working on issues of hunger, family farms, global trade, sustainable and organic agriculture, nutrition, and food safety.
CFSC's top legislative priority is passage of a "Farm to Cafeteria Act" which would help schools purchase food for their lunch and breakfast programs from local farmers and food processors. As the recent local hepatitis outbreak has so vividly shown, reliance on a global food supply can create unforeseen health risks as well as harmful economic impacts as money leaves our community instead of supporting local commerce.
In a grassroots organizing training workshop, the Los Angeles-based Center for Food and Justice profiled their ground-breaking victory in eliminating junk food from LA public schools' food programs. Conferees also learned about strategies for bringing supermarkets to low-income neighborhoods.
ACTION: Learn more about Community Food Security at CFSC's website http://www.foodsecurity.org.
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NATIONAL NEWS
Jim Weill, president of Food Research and Action (FRAC) cites the poor economy as well as the "growing inequality of income… and harmful holes in the safety net" as reasons for the surge in food insecurity and hunger --for the third year in a row-- reported by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) in October.
Food insecurity rose significantly between 2001 and 2002, affecting 4 percent more households last year than in the year previous. Defined as "lacking steady financial access to a sufficient diet," 12 million households nationwide --up from 10.7 to 11.1 percent-experienced food insecurity.
Pennsylvania's food insecurity levels, although better overall than nationally, showed a much sharper growth of nearly 12 percent during the same period, up from 8.4 to 9.4 percent. This means about 450,000 families in Pennsylvania are food insecure.
Food deficiencies went unresolved in 2.7 percent of Pennsylvania households last year, leading at least one family member to skip meals. That's up from 2.1 percent in 2001. National hunger rates increased, as well, but as with food insecurity rates, not as markedly as the Pennsylvania hunger statistics.
ACTION: Take steps to alleviate these growing problems by:
- Writing to your federal legislators and urging them to increase funding for the child nutrition programs that include school breakfasts and lunches and summer food;
- Asking state legislators to increase funding to the State Food Purchase Program, which supports Pennsylvania food pantries;
- Getting involved in efforts locally to repair and sustain our safety nets - ask Just Harvest how you can help.
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CHILD NUTRITION
Two recent USDA studies examine certification accuracy for free and reduced-price meals in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). The findings confirm what child nutrition advocates across the country have been saying all along: the numbers of children who receive free meals but are not eligible is lower than previous estimates; requiring more verification of information would pose a significant barrier for eligible children who want to participate; and that considerably more eligible children miss out on free school lunch than those who get meals they are not eligible for. The Healthy Children Through Better Nutrition Act of 2003, sponsored by Reps. George Miller (D-CA) and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), would expand and improve the school meals programs. "Because it is hard to learn well on an empty stomach, there is no greater investment in education and economic security than the school nutrition programs. For millions of poor children…the only full meal they get every day is served at school," said Woolsey.
This bill would make children who are already enrolled in other low-income entitlements automatically eligible for school meals and provide incentives for non-profits to serve meals year-round. The bill would also establish standards for vending machines and would introduce more fruits and vegetables into the school menu.
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Just Harvest's Board of Directors set our annual budget for the new year at just over $340,000 at its December meeting.
The budget plan includes an initiative to enhance Just Harvest's public visibility and strengthen grassroots fundraising. We plan to add a part-time marketing and communications coordinator to our 5 ˝ person staff to assist in this effort.
Just Harvest's agenda for 2004 includes public policy advocacy and outreach on numerous economic justice issues: food assistance and welfare policy, child nutrition programs, the Earned Income Tax Credit - including free income tax preparation for low-income people, strengthening farmers' markets, improving access to supermarkets in low-income neighborhoods, and government budget priorities at federal, state and local government levels.
Our total budget includes $238,000 for the Just Harvest Education Fund (our community education and outreach arm) and $102,000 for Just Harvest: A Center for Action Against Hunger (our lobbying/advocacy arm. Grants from foundations, government, and religious groups will provide about 60% of the total revenue. Other major revenue categories include:
- Membership dues and contributions (12%)
- Special events such as Empty Bowls and the Harvest Celebration Dinner (11%)
- Campaigns such as Attorneys Against Hunger (7%)
- Other fundraising activities and contracted services (10%).
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From doctor's appointments to children's extra-curricular activities, there aren't enough hours in the day for many mothers to shop at farmers' markets. Lack of time and inconvenient market hours are the number one barrier (49%) preventing WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) recipients from shopping at farmers' markets, survey results reveal.
Just Harvest and the Farmers Market Alliance surveyed 100 WIC FMNP recipients at five WIC Allegheny County offices to identify barriers and ways to improve the program.
In addition to time, location of farmers' markets is a common barrier (26%). No one identified dislike of fresh produce or not knowing how to prepare it as a limitation. All survey participants support continuation of the program.
While personal time schedules are a difficult issue to address, we will continue working with WIC offices and Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to promote farmers' markets and explore strategies to increase WIC participation.
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to Birmingham Foundation for a generous grant for our Give Paychecks a Boost Campaign! and to all our recent contributors for making this campaign a success...
And to our Generous Annual Campaign Donors.
Throughout the community, Just Harvest supporters stepped up to the plate to fight hunger and economic injustice in response to our year-end membership appeal. During November and December, more than $16,000 in individual gifts has been contributed to Just Harvest's work, giving us a strong start for the new year. And thanks to all our recent contributors for making this campaign a success:
Anonymous, Creative Asset Services, East Liberty Presbyterian Church, Jackson/Clark Partners, Milan Vranish Insurance Agency, Oakmont United Methodist Women, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Riverview United Presbyterian Church, Sisters of St. Francis of Millvale, Tree of Life Congregation, Workable Alternatives Foundation, Joyce Abercrombie, Robert & Sharon Abraham, David Alexander & Iris Young, Bruce & Gail Antonoff, Mary Arenth, Myron Arnowitt & Nancy Niemczyk, Edward & Cindy Asner, Andy Beckerman, Cynthia & George Balchunas, Robert Baldis, Edward & Miriam Bamonte, Esther Barazzone, Martin & Norma Beckerman, Celeste & Bill Behrend, Thomas & Gladys Benedek, Dan & Carol Berger, Ron Berlin, Nancy Bernstein & Rocky Schoen, Fran Bertonaschi, Aya Betensky & Robert Kraut, Arthur & Mary Bittner, Edith Blattner, Morton & Susan Blinn, Raymond & Ginny Bowman, Glenrose Bradford, Susan Brandt, Bruce & Kathleen Brennan, Donna & Edward Brett, Robert Brown, George Brownell, Trudy Brubaker, Richard & Marie Byrne, David & Betsy Caldwell, Virginia Caretto, Stephen & Jean Carr, Timothy Carr,Peter & Darla Carras, Loretta Carroll, Miriam Cherin, Rosemary Coffey, Alan & Lois Cohen, Moe & Greta Coleman, Edward & Jennifer Copus, Beth Daponte & Tony Smith, Emily DeFerrari & Mel Packer, John & Claudia Detwiler, Nathlyn Diamondstone, Patricia Dobler, Judith Dodd, Thomas & Marilyn Donnelly, Patrick Donohoe, Mary Ann Dorsey, Sy & Ruth Drescher, Charles & Deborah Drummond,Charlotte Dunnmore, Mary Edmonds, Frederick Egler, Jr. & Kathleen Buechel in honor of Mr. & Mrs. Frederick Egler, Sr., James & Kathryn English, Toby Exter, James Farabaugh, Alexander Federowicz & Margaret Laske, William Finch, Ed & Sally Fish, Abe & Selma Fleishman, Karen & Paul Flora, Doreen & John Fraser, Glenn Freund, David & Joan Gauthier, Dolores Gluck, Donald Goughler, Martin & Madeline Grodin, James Hammer, Elizabeth Hand, Mark Hastings, Howard & Eva Havlicsek, Anne Hawkins, Sr. Bonnie Heh, Gunther & Klara Heilbrunn, Mark Heine & Helene Bender, Maxine Heller & David Mooney, Dennis Hennessey, Gloria Highsmith, Henry & Elsie Hillman, Tom Hoffman & Janet Catov, Eugene Ieni, Dennis Inserra, Ivan Itkin,Walter & Irene Jacob, Cliff & Nora Johnson, Anne Rose Jones, Philip Joyce, Margaret Just, Jean & Joshua Kablack, Sally Kalson & Edward Feinstein, Mary Kellers, Ward Kelsey, Chandler & Louise Ketchum, Adam Kirshenbaum, Mary & Gabor Kish, Sara Klein, Elizabeth Klimchock, Marie & Sam Kocoshis, Lucille Koehler, Barbara Krupp, David Krupp, Leonard & Mildred Kuntz, Ginny & Millard Landis, Carrie Leana & David Goldman, Sally Levin, Lawrence & Claire Levine, Richard & Susan Loether, Richard & Muriel Longini, Brigid & Clark Lund, Cherie & Stanley Maharam, Louise & Michael Malakoff, Bette McDevitt, John McDowell, Anne McGough, Bridget McNamee, Linnea & Wesley McQuiston, Melvin & Susan Melnick, Joel & Nancy Merenstein, Patricia Miller, John Mosley, Suzanne Motheral, Barbara Murock, Joann Narduzzi, Bob & Liane Norman, Marianne Novy, Fr. John O'Malley, Pam & Dick Oestreicher, Thomas & Barbara Onieal, David Orenstein & Alexandra Gruskos, Theodore & Shirley Pajak, Thomas Pandaleon & Faith Schantz, Drs. Indra & Devyani Pandit, Jack & Mary Paradise, Nicholas Parrendo, Frank Perrino, Charles Peters, Jeffery & Theresa Peters, Phil & Rhonda Peters, Michele Petruccelli, Eugene & Mary Pochapsky, Phyllis & Martin Pomerantz, Pat & Don Rampolla, Shirley Ravets, Marcella Raynack, Marcus Rediker & Wendy Goldman, Ken Regal, Abby Resnick & Roger Day, Caroline Roberto, J Edgar & Mae Rosenberg, David & Lynette Rosser, Ann Bass Roth & Richard Roth, Joyce Rothermel, James Ruck & Gail Britanick, Bill & Molly Rush, Herman & Marian Rushofsky, Ann Ruszkowski, Ann Ruszkowski in memory of Helen MacDonald, Ed Ruszkowski, Lorraine Sauchin, Thomas & Marilyn Schaub, Joyce Schlag, David Schubert, David & Elizabeth Segel, Mim Seidel & David Blaushild, Peter Shane & Martha Chamallas, Steve & Dot Shreve, Len & Phyllis Shufler, Ed & Dorothy Sites, Brian Skea, Ramin Skibba, Dorothy Sloan & Maureen Watson, David Smith, Seth & Stephanie Spaulding, Beverly Spiro & Michel Lambert, Richard & Katherine St. John, Judy & Jerry Starr, Rosanne & Dan Stead, Suzanne Steidl, Mary Louise Stewart, Rich Surdyk, Edward & Sylvia Sussna, Lowell & Rachel Swarts, Pat Swedlow & Tom Kerr, Jean Szoch, Tom Taylor, Lee Terkel, Bonnie Thurston, Mary Beth Toomey, Gloria Trotman, Vell Truehart, Barbara Valaw, Cynthia Vanda, Ned & Karen Vanderven, Charles & Janet Vukotich, Margaret Ward, Jean Weaver, Nancy Welfer, Sarah Wellinger,Virgina & Willard Wellman, Howard Wiley, Cynthia Williams, Gina Wilson, John & Jacqueline Wilson, Philip Wion, and Elizabeth Wolfskill.
ACTION: Join Just Harvest! Send your membership contribution today!
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John McCutcheon delighted a crowd of 130 at the historical Homestead Carnegie Library Music Hall with his songwriting, storytelling and musical talents. The benefit concert for Just Harvest on November 9 was opened by local musican and Just Harvest Board President Mike Stout. Many concert-goers were inspired by John's commitement to social activism and Just Harvest hopes to welcome him back to Pittsburgh soon.
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Lots of people are discussing the 2004 elections and ways to get new people registered and voting. (Only about 30% of the eligible adults in the country actually vote!). Here are some tips about ways you can make a difference:
- Go get some registration forms at the Allegheny County Elections Department - corner of Forbes and Ross Sts behind the City Council Building. They have regular business hours, and will give you a pack of registration forms (phone: 412-350-4550)
- Become familiar with the forms. They're pretty self explanatory.
- Decide who you want to register. Suggestions: young people; independents; low-income people. To vote in the April 27 primary in Pennsyvlania you must be registered in either the Democratic or Republican party and you must have your form into the office by 5pm on Tuesday, March 29.
- Be sure to collect the person's card after they complete it and turn it in yourself. Keep the person's name, address and phone number so you can follow-up when the election gets closer.
- For more details call Joni at Just Harvest.
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Join us on Sunday, February 29
At Rodef Shalom Congregation
4905 Fifth Ave (Oakland at 5th & Morewood)
From 3PM to 7PM
Empty Bowls provides a simple meal of soup and bread and a beautiful handmade pottery bowl for each donor. Tickets are $18 in advance, $20 at the door. Come and enjoy the children's activities, musical guests, and silent auction. Proceeeds benefit Just Harvest and The Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank. Contact Just Harvest at 412 431 8960 for more information or to purchase tickets by phone.
Just Harvest Theatre Benefit, Sunday, April 4. "Accidental Death of an Anarchist" by Dario Fo at O'Reilly Theatre. Marx Brothers meet Karl Marx in this audacious, irreverent, hilarious farce. Brilliant expose of political corruption, media manipulations, and political idiocy, Italian-style. Reception at 1pm, performance at 2pm. Tickets: $35. (Make check payable to Just Harvest and mail to 16 Terminal Way, Pittsburgh 15219)
RUN FOR OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Do you want to run for our Board of Directors? New board members will be elected at our Annual Meeting on May 4, 2004. The term is two years and the meetings are first Tuesday evenings, every other month. If you are interested please contact Just Harvest at 412 431 8960.
Free Tax Help
For low-income working individuals
January 27- April 15, 2004
at Just Harvest
16 Terminal Way, southside
We will prepare SIMPLE tax returns free of charge
Call for appointment
412-431-8964
NO WALK-INS
Part of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program of the IRS. To locate a VITA site in your community, contact IRS at 1-800-829-1040
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