Just Harvest News
A PUBLICATION OF THE JUST HARVEST EDUCATION FUND
March - April 2004 - Volume 18 No. 2
FRONT PAGE NEWS
WELFARE NEWS:
NATIONAL NEWS:
STATE NEWS:
CHILD NUTRITION :
NEWS BRIEFS:
Click HERE to review our previous newsletter.
By Dawn Bell
In February our Welfare Justice Project organized a busload of activists to join thousands of others for an action in South Carolina. The purpose was to confront the presidential candidates with the real issues of American families (this meeting was televised on C-SPAN); to prepare community activists to take the issues back to their home communities; and to help South Carolina Get Out the Vote for their Primary Election. This article was written by one of our leaders who participated.
I want to tell you about the trip from a novice's point of view. I went with Rochelle (Jackson) and Eugenia(Mosby) on the plane. Others came on the bus. When we arrived at the hotel it was a flurry of action, but full of energy that could be felt the moment you entered.
Friday, January 30, started off with an assembly at the Adams Mark Hotel; then we marched to the Township Auditorium. Everyone was ready to meet the presidential candidates and hear what they could offer, to us the real American population.
With Tom Joyner (a nationally Syndicated Radio Talk Show Host) hosting the program, each candidate gave an opening statement, then was introduced to whoever was asking their questions. Each person explained why they where there and why this certain question had meaning to them. Then the candidate answered. After that both Tom Joyner and Congressman Ron Dellums asked questions of the candidates. Each candidate had the same amount of time. From the standpoint of someone like me who is new to this, it was quite informative.
Then, many organizations "Took it To The Streets" where we did voter registration and voter visibility. We were introduced to many of the other organizations and learned why they were there. Now, I have learned that many of these organizations are grass-roots and started very small, which amazed me, that something so small could affect such change, and rally so many people for the good of others. And I truly felt blessed to be a part of it.
Saturday morning most busses left and the leaders stayed behind to attend workshops on everything from healthcare to TANF. Rochelle and I were involved with the TANF caucus and we got together with others from other states to try and find ways to make our elected representatives be aware of what we want them to do for us. Because they work for us. But some are not doing their jobs; they need to be held accountable.
You may be like me. In a million years I would have never seen myself as involved as I am right now. I didn't grow up in a family that was highly involved in politics. But I am finding out more and more that it is people like us who can make the changes and help improve life for other generations. I don't want my children to have to fight and worry about something I could have changed. We need to take back our government. We need people in office that care about the regular people, not the millionaires that can take care of themselves.
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For the second year in a row, Diane Jackson of Overbrook walked out of Just Harvest's free tax preparation site happy. Jackson, a full time employee of Franciscan Child Day Care Center and single mother of two, received a total refund of $4,204 this year from the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). She plans to use this extra money to help her pay bills and buy a washer and dryer.
Jackson is among over 400 low-income workers that have filed their taxes for free at our Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site so far this year. Those 400 filers have received over half a million dollars in tax refunds, $400,000 of which came from the EITC!
Along with filing tax returns, we continue to educate the community about tax credits for low-income workers and advocate for legislative improvements.
One recent victory is passage of the Good Government Act through the US Senate Finance Committee. This bill would grant $10 million for free tax preparation sites and would include Refund Anticipation Loan (RAL) protections including registration of RAL providers and additional disclosure requirements about fees.
We also continue our partnership with ACORN to target H&R Block for preying on low-income workers by offering RALs. We are also planning a public hearing in front of Pittsburgh City Council to propose legislation to limit RALs.
More good news came in the Treasury Department's proposal for the President's 2005 budget which includes proposals to simplify the EITC and Child Tax Credit and create a uniform definition of a qualifying child. These proposals would allow more eligible people to understand and claim the credits and is a more positive response to erroneous claims than requiring additional paperwork to prove eligibility (the latter is currently being tested).
Meanwhile, the IRS is pursuing disastrous legislative changes which would broaden their authority to share information about immigrant taxpayer with third parties, including the possibility that the applicant is not working legally in the United States. Over 5 million immigrants have Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) allowing them to file income tax returns and build the documented work record that tax compliance facilitates. We will keep you informed of these changes as they develop.
In one final tax note, the IRS has $2.5 billion in unclaimed refunds for the nearly 2 million people who failed to file a tax return in 2000! If you didn't file, you have until April 15, 2004 to claim your money. Call Just Harvest at 412-431-8964 for tax filing help.
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A Fair and Just Food System
by Robert Gronski
Just Harvest's allies, partners, and friends represent a vast and diverse range of secular and religious beliefs. This column presents one such perspective, and does not imply Just Harvest's endorsement of any particular religious doctrine.
Robert Gronski is the policy coordinator for the National Catholic Rural Life Conference, based in Des Moines, Iowa. The US Catholic Bishops' statement and other perspectives on agriculture and food can be found at www.ncrlc.com
As this nation begins the 21st century, farmers are facing the forces of market concentration in agriculture by a handful of large agribusiness firms. The increasing globalization of food is raising new questions that have significant human dimensions and ethical implications. In response, the U.S. Catholic Bishops have reflected on the moral dimensions of agriculture in their recent statement, "For I was Hungry and You Gave Me Food." They ask people of faith to renew efforts to advance the dignity of farmers, ranchers, and farmworkers.
Agriculture and rural life have been longstanding concerns for U.S. Catholic bishops throughout the 20th century. From the 1930s Dust Bowl to the ongoing plight of migrant farmworkers, our food system has been a particular concern for people of good will. Is it right to eat the food brought to us by social and economic injustice?
The bishops raised these questions in light of the everyday experience in rural communities in the United States and abroad:
Do U.S. agricultural policies help to overcome hunger and poverty?
- Do these policies provide a safe, affordable, and sustainable food supply?
- Do they ensure just and decent lives for farmers and farmworkers?
- Do they protect God's creation?
Basic human dignity tells us that farmers must be able to support themselves and their families through their work. The bishops believe that government resources for subsidies and other forms of support should be targeted to small and moderate-sized farms, especially minority-owned farms, and to research that helps smaller farms remain viable.
Agricultural workers deserve a just and decent life. A living wage for their field work would help to stabilize the workforce and stimulate rural communities. Agricultural workers should enjoy the same protections as other U.S. workers, including the right to join together to have a voice in the workplace and bargain with their employers. They should be entitled to health care, unemployment insurance, and Social Security.
To reduce global poverty, the bishops believe greater access to regional and international markets is essential for agricultural development in poor countries. Such fair trade is better than most handouts of aid. Trade agreements should give impoverished nations an opportunity to use protections when necessary, including tariffs and subsidies. Trade agreements should enhance, not dismantle, the agricultural sectors of developing nations so that local farmers can continue to support their families and communities by marketing staple food crops.
Farmers throughout the world now buy necessary inputs such as seeds, credit, marketing support, and transportation from transnational corporations. While global access to products and technologies can bring benefits, it can also centralize control over the food supply chain in a few powerful corporations, and risk the self-sufficiency of farmers.
Protecting God's creation must be a central goal of agricultural policies. Farm policies must promote soil conservation, improve water quality, protect wildlife, and maintain biodiversity. Government resources should be targeted to farms and ranches that practice environmentally sound agriculture.
The bishops end their statement with the realization that taking positions on these issues involves prudential judgments and that people of good will may disagree about the application of social justice principles to specific policies. They conclude: "We hope our reflections will encourage widespread discussion and dialogue on issues related to agriculture and their impact on human life, human dignity, and the common good."
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In September Congress extended TANF (cash assistance) reauthorization for yet another six months due to the disagreements between the House and Senate, giving them until March 31, 2004 to reauthorize the program. Observers expected that the issue would be resolved by now, but these projections proved unrealistic. TANF will probably receive another extension.
One thing is certain, though: there is not enough childcare money in either version of the bill, both of which will require increased work activity. So Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) is proposing an amendment for 6 billion more childcare dollars.
Rochelle Jackson met with Adam Pope, from Senator Arlen Specter's local staff in February. Agreeing that childcare is a priority Sen. Specter is considering signing on to Senator Snowe's bill, but he has not made a final decision yet. Pennsylvania state representative Pat Browne (R-Lehigh) has introduced a resolution in the General Assembly, which urges Congress to pass Snowe's amendment. State Senator Jane Orie (R) will introduce the same resolution in the Senate very soon.
State officials must impress the President and Congress with how their catastrophic policies are devastating the states.
ACTION: There is still work to be done, so continue to call, e-mail or write Senators Specter and Santorum to seek their support and leadership on this very important issue. And insist that your state officials communicate with the federal officials in Washington about the effects of their policies on our state.
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Since January 1, 2004 able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWD's), age 18-49 years old are again eligible for food stamp benefits in Pennsylvania. ABAWDs can now enroll in the Food Stamp Program on the same terms and conditions as other people.
The new policy - an option available to states -- lifts a restriction imposed by Congress in the 1996 welfare reform act that limited food stamp eligibility to only 90 days during a 3-year period for ABAWD's who weren't employed. Some counties and municipalities (McKeesport among them), were already exempt from the restriction because of high unemployment, but 15,000 people in Pennsylvania are expected to benefit from the new policy, including people in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties.
When Welfare Justice Project Advocate Rochelle Jackson spoke to a group of thirteen women in February at the Allegheny County Jail through Lydia's Place, she shared this good news with them. Since a lot of them have been unemployed for a long time because of substance abuse, they were very encouraged to hear the news. They can now look forward to getting their lives back on track with the knowledge that there will be cash and food stamps to assist them.
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Three months after our Welfare Justice Project organized a Listening Session in Pittsburgh with Welfare Secretary Estelle Richman - attended by over 100 people, many of whom spoke eloquently on the subject -- the Department implemented important new flexible policies to help people pursue education and training while they're on welfare (TANF). The 15-page memo/policy provides clients in approved education/job skills programs with "good cause" to postpone the initial Job Search; to reduce the required hours of employment; or to count certain internships or other education related activities toward their 20 hour per week work
This new policy also requires caseworkers to inform clients about available education and training opportunities throughout the TANF program; to tell certain clients that they may volunteer to pursue education and receive supportive services; to support clients' long range plans for employment.
Thanks to the PA Welfare Coalition, the Income Maintenance Advisory Committee, and advocates across the state who pushed for this change!!! Welfare Justice Project is following up with the Allegheny County Assistance Office personnel to ensure that caseworkers are properly trained on this new policy. If you have questions about this policy or feel that you have not been given an opportunity to take advantage of it, contact Rochelle at (412) 431-8960.
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On February 2, President Bush released his FY2005 Budget Proposal. If accepted, it will cut federal funding for 63 hunger and poverty relief, education, housing, and community safety programs and will eliminate funding for 65 others. Nutrition programs will be hit especially hard if this budget passes.
Among nutrition programs that face cuts or eliminations are the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), the Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP), and the Community Food and Nutrition Program (CFNP). The CSFP will see a reduction of $12 million. The FMNP faces $7 million in cuts. The CFNP would have its budget "zeroed-out."
Although Bush's proposal anticipates reauthorization of federal child nutrition programs, it contains no provisions for expanding access to them. The Food Research Action Center (FRAC) finds this particularly disappointing in light of the "major hunger initiative" Bush was previously considering. Furthermore, this omission contradicts the US Department of Agriculture's goals of reducing hunger and obesity and increasing access to nutritious meal options.
The President's proposal does include enough additional program funds for WIC to allow the program to serve an estimated 7.8 million clients per month. However, FRAC points out that WIC already covers about 7.75 million families monthly, and need could grow to well above 7.8 million if Bush's optimism about the economy proves unwarranted. Plus, the budget's five-year spending program shows decreases to WIC after fiscal year 2005.
The cuts Bush wants are intended to combat the budget deficit of $521 billion. But since he is still asking for massive increases on homeland security and military campaigns, the effect these cuts ultimately will have on the deficit will be minimal.
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Non-profit and grassroots organizations celebrated a guarded victory when opposition from hundreds of organizations, including Just Harvest, forced the FEC (Federal Elections Commission) to limit the scope of a pending advisory opinion. The proposed draft severely limits the ability of non-profits to participate in any federal policy advocacy which would "promote, support, attack or oppose" candidates for federal office. Organizations would have to fund these activities with contributions of $5000 or less-- no funds from corporations or unions allowed. This ruling represents a fundamental attack on free speech and association, and directly affects groups which educate the public about progressive legislative and policy issues.
While opposition to the unprecedented scope of the draft forced the FEC to limit its effect to federal political committees-- explicitly protecting 501(c)(3) organizations and other advocacy groups-the FEC's unilateral expansion of its authority creates a dangerous precedent. Several FEC members say they plan to further regulate advocacy activities. We'll keep you posted, or check out
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The State Food Purchase Program (SFPP) for food banks, and the Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) for at-risk young children and their mothers and for seniors, are helping more Pennsylvanians than ever. But neither would get a penny more next year if Gov. Ridge's budget request were approved by the General Assembly.
The SFPP would remain at $16,450,000 although for several years providers have been asking $17.5 million. According to providers, even minimal inflation will cause services to be cut.
If the General Assembly agrees with Rendell, this would be the third year in a row without a state increase in the FMNP-- puzzling since the PA Dept. of Agiculture has launched a "Pennsyvlania Preferred" marketing campaign and the FMNP checks must be spent on Pennsylvania grown fruits and vegetables. If the law-makers would add $603,000, bringing the total up to $2 million this year, 14,000 more low-income seniors who have been waiting eagerly to participate will be able to do so.
However, there was better news in other parts of Rendell's budget. He asked for a $700,000 increase for school meals and big increases in health care and education.
On the down side, some House Republicans are looking to meddle with the state sales tax as a way to decrease the property tax. This is the one unfinished item in last year's budget which passed December 23, six months late. Shifting the burden to the sales tax would harm those who can least afford it - and adding food and clothing (presently exempt items in Pennsyvlania) - would hurt even more people.
ACTION: Call your state representative and senator. Tell them to increase funding for key anti-hunger programs: the State Food Purchase Program and the Farmers Market Nutrition Program, to tax the corporations fairly, and to leave the sales tax as it is.
(Thanks to PA Hunger Action Center for their insights for this article)
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The Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture's (PASA) thirteenth annual conference brought together over 1400 people in February. The conferees-most of them farmers-- gathered to share their visions for a more socially just and environmentally sustainable future for the world's food and agriculture systems.
Anuradha Mittal, Co-Director of the Institute for Food and Development Policy, presented shocking information highlighting the link between governmental policies, the loss of community farms, and our
increasingly unstable food security system.
Over the last few decades, she said, the US government has given less priority in its policy making to America's family farms. Typical agricultural policies favor large-scale agribusinesses by way of generous subsidies and lowered market prices, allowing wealthy agricultural corporations to buy out small farms. Such policies have led to a mass exodus of farmers from their farmland, and a domination of large corporations in the world's available food supply.
However, it's possible to change these daunting trends. Fighting for a more secure food system is everyone's struggle because we all need food to survive. As Mittal states, "Food is both personal and
political." We make a choice every time we put something into our mouths. Small farms are more productive, more efficient, and contribute more to regional development than do large corporate farms. To gain greater security within our food systems, we need to fight for governmental policies that
prioritize the products and needs of local farmers. Every action we take, whether it is enforcing new policy priorities, advocating for community farms, or shopping at local farmer's markets, can make a difference. As PASA's message reflects, it is time for "the new face of agriculture," and we all play a part in making it happen.
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The Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center's latest School Breakfast Report Card gave its highest rating of "Star Performer" to the Sto-Rox School District.
Sto-Rox (McKees Rocks and Stowe Township) launched its breakfast program after 2 years of organizing and advocacy by Just Harvest in the early '90's.
Just Harvest organized in several school districts to get the School Breakfast Program into their schools. Realizing the old saying that "breakfast is the most important meal of the day" and that some children came to school without eating, some school districts embraced the idea of helping children eat healthy breakfasts, but most fought it.
Sto-Rox School District was one of the toughest nuts to crack. The superintendent wanted a breakfast program but the board was dead-set against it. We're pleased to see that our work finally paid off, though. Sto-Rox today rates as a "Star Performer" and high in the "Getting the Job Done" (serving breakfast to most low-income children) category as well. Congratulations Ruth Hogg, school food service director.
While Sto-Rox is the only school district in Allegheny County to receive the honor of "Star Performer" we also had Cornell in the "Getting the Job Done," and Northgate in "Improvement Needed," because they only served 13% of the needy students. Northgate was another district where, in 1993, officials insisted the children didn't need the program. No school districts in Allegheny County were in the "Failing the Children." category.
Statewide, total participation rose in the 2002-03 school year by 7,000 breakfasts per day, or 4%. Nationally Pennsylvania ranked 37th in participation in the program.
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In response to a request from PA Hunger Action Center (PHAC) Congressman Todd Platts (R-York and Adams counties) called on President Bush for more money in next year's federal budget to meet the nutritional needs of rural children
The congressional letter asks the President to increase spending for the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) by $1.84 billion over ten years. The money is needed to get more sponsors for the CACFP program and to change the rules so more children can participate in both programs. Additional funding for these programs will help meet the nutritional needs of rural children.
Anti-hunger advocates across the state persuaded 11 other Pennsylvania congresspeople to sign on to Cong. Platts' request, including Mike Doyle, Tim Murphy and Phil English from western PA.
During a January visit to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank Just Harvest approached Representative Melissa Hart (R) for her support. Food Bank Director Joyce Rothermel and Just Harvest's DeShauna Ponton, together with several food pantry representatives present, won a commitment from Cong. Hart to join in the budget request.
It was a great to see so many of PA's representatives sign on to this letter...
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Reviewing Allegheny County's grants of CDBG funds for next year, we were startled to see $265,000 for a training center for FiServe. Now, Fiserv a worldwide multinational financial services company ,whose clients have assets between $250 million and $25 billion, doesn't need to be feeding at the trough of public monies ear-marked for low and moderate income people.
At the same time, the County's Dept of Economic Development cut the anti-hunger requests from $420,675 requested to $300,000 despite the continuing needs of unemployed and under-employed families. CDBG, Community Development Block Grants, have helped hungry people in Allegheny County and Pittsburgh for many years.
Fiserv reported their fourth quarter net income climbed 20% to $82 million, or 42 cents a share, from $68.2 million, or 35 cents a share, a year ago. Do they really need to be taking money from hungry people?
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Studies by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the American Psychological Association (APA) revealed a link between ads for candy and sugary foods and the epidemic of childhood obesity.The Kaiser report, which looked at more than 40 studies on the media's role, notes that the number of tv ads seen by children doubled from 20,000 to 40,000 since the 1970's. Most of the ads targeted to children are for candy, cereal and fast food. Also, 15.3% of children aged 6-11 were overweight in 1999-2000, versus 4.2% in 1963-70. Sally Kalson, a vigilant and concerned local columnist, in reporting on this phenomenon, joins many others to call for the advertisers to take some responsibility in curbing these ads.
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Just Harvest Education Fund is pleased to announce a grant of $5,000 from the Dominion Foundation, a 2003 Dominion Community Impact Award, for the work of our Welfare Justice Project and our Give Paychecks a Boost Campaign.
We also send our special thanks to MAZON: A Jewish Response To Hunger for the first installment of a two-year $34,000 grant. A major supporter of Just Harvest for more than a decade, MAZON (the Hebrew word for "food") raises funds principally by asking American Jews to contribute 3% of the cost of their life-cycle celebrations and has awarded grants totalling over $30 million since 1986 to nonprofit organizations working in the United States and abroad to reduce hunger, malnutrition, and poverty.
Just Harvest extends a warm thank you to all our recent contributors:
Anonymous, Christ United Methodist Church, Community of Reconciliation, Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Newlonsburg Presbyterian Church, Religious Society of Friends, St. Brendan's Episcopal Church Cries Advocacy Committee, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Edmund E Wojciechowski Funeral Home, Paula & Donald Addlespurger, Joan Adibi, Howard Wolfe Aikens, Carol Anderson, Mary Austin & Ron Shapiro, Robert & Loretta Barone, George & Jane Becker, Mark Bibro, Bernard & Joan Bloch, Terri Blow, Glenrose Bradford, Lynn & Marc Brodie, Joan & Joseph Bruno, John Burchfield, Donald Burnham, M. Christine Byrne, Betsy & David Caldwell, Carol Caliendo, Lonnie & Paul Carey, J.R. & Loretta Carroll, Jeanne Clark, Leslie & John Clark, Ann & Rob Conley, Darla Cravotta & David Webber, Sylvia Denys, Robert & Gene Dickman, Julian & Rhoda Eligator, Antoinette Espy, Donna Fenner, Mary Gilligan, Lee Grossman, Daniel Gup & Terri Klein, Eva & Howard Havliscek, Anne Hawkins, Charles Herrold, Gloria Highsmith, Joan Isenberg & William Hashinger, Eileen Jardini, Andrew Jeanett, Amy Kellman, Jennifer Kiley, Mary & Gabor Kish, James & Anne Kuhn, Barbara Lebeau, David Lefkowitz, Robert & Laura Marin, Virginia Mason, Mary Elizabeth McCarthy, Linda McCollester, Vivian McElhinny, Howard & Shirley McIlvried, Cynthia McNulty, Gregory Meitus, Carole Morrow, Helen Ortman, Harold & Ann Paxton, Elizabeth Perry, Suzanne Polen, Donald Presutti, Anna Rossi, Ann Ruszkowski in memory of Elke Balchunas, Lorraine Sauchin, Harold Scheinman, Elinore Seidenberg, John & Anne Singleton, Marjorie Spenser, John Stember, Ruth Succop, Lowell & Rachel Swarts, Sandra Swetland, Peter Tanzer, Tom Taylor, Bonnie Thurston, Mary Beth Toomey, Dorothy Turnbull, Connie & Gene Vascov, Lorraine Vinograd, Jean Weaver, Albert & Shirley Wein, William Whitaker & Cheryl Simpson, Eve Wider, Gina Wilson, Jane Allen Work, and Laura Zinski
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On February 11, Just Harvest said farewell to Congressional Hunger Fellow Roxanne Caines. During her six-month fellowship, sponsored by The Congressional Hunger Center's Bill Emerson National Fellows Program, Roxy spent much of her time researching the WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) and talking to WIC recipients about their experiences shopping at local farmers' markets. She also talked to WIC workers about effective ways to promote the FMNP.
Roxy said she enjoyed the chance to learn more about our other projects, as well. She felt that what she learned here will influence the similar work she is performing on a national level at RESULTS in Washington D.C. Furthermore, she looks forward to discussing her work here with colleagues in the hunger fellows program, as our policy-driven approach differs from that of many of their placements.
We also welcome interns Corinne Ogrodnik and Patti Iampietro. Corinne has been getting the word out about our free tax preparation services and scheduling appointments. Patti is working with Deshauna Ponton to distribute information about WIC into the community and to plan for the Summer Food Outreach Program.
New temporary employees and volunteers are working tirelessly on tax preparations. They are: Rich Surdyk, Pat O'Malley, Dawn Wallhausen, John Fraser, Kellie Kasbee, Sarah Vignale, Brittany Rogers and Terri Blow. Terry returns as a volunteer operation here after several years away. A former resident at Broadhead Manor, Terry was one of our earliest graduates of the Womens Leadership and Organizing Project. Today she lives in North Braddock and works at UPMC.
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Pennsylvania's Primary Election is Tuesday, April 27. You must be registered by Tuesday, March 29 and you must be registered in a party, if you want to vote in the Primary.
Along with the primaries in the other states, this one will help the Democratic Party decide on their candidate for President at its national convention on July 26. Candidates on the Pennsylvania ballot for President are: John Kerry, John Edwards, Howard Dean, Dennis Kucinich and Lyndon LaRouche. Although Kerry will probably be the party's nominee, your vote for another candidate and his "delegates" can help that candidate and his ideas get representation at the convention. Republican voters will decide whether incumbent Arlen Specter or Congressman Pat Toomey will face off with Democratic nominee Joe Hoeffel in November for the seat. Specter has been in the Senate for 24 years. Toomey thinks Specter is too moderate.
There are three Democrats contesting for the Attorney General seat: David Barasch, Jim Eisenhower, and John Morganelli.
Other seats in the state legislature are also contested in this election. Who wins these seats is important. These people make decisions in Harrisburg every day about your life. To learn more about these contests, read the newspaper every day or call Joni at Just Harvest, 412-431-8960.
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Come to a Public Forum
Sunday, March 28 at 6pm
First Unitarian Church
Ellsworth and Morewood in Shadyside.
The Attorney General candidates will discuss their positions on the USA PATRIOT Act.
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Free Tax Help
For low-income working individuals
at Just Harvest
16 Terminal Way, southside
We prepare SIMPLE tax returns free of charge
Call for appointment
412-431-8964
no walk-ins
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Just Harvest Theatre Benefit, Sunday, April 4. Accidental Death of an Anarchist by Dario Fo at O'Reilly Theatre. "...audacious, irreverent, hilarious..." "...political idiocy, Italian-style." Reception at 1pm, performance at 2. Tickets: $45. (Make check payable to Just Harvest and mail to Just Harvest, 16 Terminal Way, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.
Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation presented by American Express and Jenn-AirŪ Monday April 26, 2004 from 5:30 to 8:00 pm at the Marriott Pittsburgh City Center.
Enjoy an amazing evening of succulent cuisine from over 50 of Pittsburgh's greatest chefs, fine wines, fabulous silent auction items. Proceeds benefit anti-hunger organizations including Just Harvest.
For tickets or additional information: 412-681-1110 or online at www. tasteofthenation.org
Tuesday, May 4- Just Harvest Annual Meeting and Board Election. Keynote speaker: County Exec Dan Onorato. First Baptist Church, Bayard & Bellefied, Oakland. 6pm dinner. 7pm program. Dinner is free but RSVP by April 30 is required.
We (You) Can Do Better! Get your books early! enjoy Coupon Books need sellers. This year we only sold 83 books, bringing in $617 for Just Harvest. You and your friends can save thousands of dollars by using the discounts in the book, and the enjoy is locally owned and published. The books will be ready in August. Call now to put in your order
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