Highlights of Just Harvest’s History: 2006- Just Harvest's free tax preparation program helps more than 1500 low-income taxpayers share $2.2 million in refunds. 2005- Just Harvest sponsors the nation’s first demonstration opposing Pres. Bush’s proposed budget. 2005 – All five viable Democratic candidates running for Pittsburgh Mayor attend or send a representative to our spring forum and pledge to work towards eliminating poverty. 2004- Just Harvest and advocates across the state win a liberalized policy about education and training from the Department of Welfare. 2004 – Just Harvest successfully challenges City Council, the Mayor and the state oversight committees about providing summer lunches to children affected by closed pools and recreation centers. 2003- Eighth Empty Bowls Dinner feeds over 1,000 participants. 2003- Just Harvest launches free tax preparation service, helping low-income taxpayers get thousands of dollars in income tax refunds. 2002- Just Harvest publishes the Welfare Rights Handbook, a 54-page guide to help welfare recipients know and defend their rights in the welfare system. 2002- Just Harvest receives its third Victory Against Hunger Award from the Congressional Hunger Center. 2002- Just Harvest relocates to new, larger office space at 16 Terminal Way on Pittsburgh’s Southside. 2001- Just Harvest helps organize Farmer’s Market Alliance to revitalize and strengthen local farmers market in order to improve economic opportunities for local family farmers and access to fresh local produce for low-income consumers. 2001- Just Harvest organizes a public hearing attended by more than 100 current and former welfare recipients. Just Harvest’s Welfare Justice Project wins key commitments from Pa. Department of Public Welfare to improve treatment of clients applying for food stamps. 2001- Just Harvest launches “Give Paychecks A Boost “ to maximize participation by low-income workers in the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Pennsylvania Tax Back program. 2000- Just Harvest and graduates of our Women’s Leadership and Organizing Project win reopening of a WIC nutrition program office in Duquesne, PA. 2000- Student Hunger Action sponsors local teach-in and goes to Harrisburg with other groups to lobby for improved welfare policies and minimum wage. 2000- Boss Bruce Springsteen invites Just Harvest to collect donations at his Pittsburgh performance. 2000- Farmers Market Nutirition Program for seniors expands to Allegheny County. After a decade of advocacy, Just Harvest wins new commitment by Allegheny County allowing County anti-hunger funds to be used for direct food purchases by food banks. 1999- Just Harvest launches Welfare Justice Project to mobilize welfare recipients and supporters to advocate for just welfare policy in Washington and Harrisburg. Members meet with policymakers in Harrisburg, convene public hearings attended by hundreds, and educate the community about the harmful impact of welfare reform. 1998- Research conducted as part of Just Harvest’s Hometown Hunger study is published in the medical journal Pediatrics. The research demonstrates that hungry children are seven times as likely as other low-income children to have significant emotional and behavioral problems. 1997- Just Harvest responds to passage of federal welfare reform law with advocacy campaign about Pennsylvania's State Plan on Welfare. Just Harvest hosts appearance by Peter Edelman, former US Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services, who speaks on welfare policy to audience of 500. 1996- To build public understanding of the human impact of welfare, Just Harvest and City Theatre collaborate on Through a Glass Darkly, an original play written and performed by seven local women telling their own stories of struggle and hope in the welfare system. The play is performed numerous times before audiences as far away as Louisville, Ky.1996- Just Harvest plays key role in launching the Southwestern Pennsylvania Food System Council, a broad-based effort to make our food supply more affordable, accessible, and nutritious. 1996- Just Harvest initiates Women’s Leadership and Organizing Project (WLOP) to train low-income women in advocacy and leadership skills on issues that affect their lives. 1995- Just Harvest launches Summer Food Outreach Campaign. Every year since, the campaign has helped hundreds of low-income families find summer food sites for their children. 1994- Following two years of field research, Just Harvest releases Hometown Hunger, the most comprehensive study ever done on childhood hunger in Allegheny County. Part of the national Community Childhood Hunger Identification Project(CCHIP), the study reveals that an estimated 7,000 children in Allegheny County are hungry and 22,500 are at-risk of hunger. 1993- Just Harvest and a statewide coalition block legislation that would cut 160,000 of Pennsylvania’s poorest people off welfare and medical assistance. 1993- Just Harvest selected by World Hunger Year for the Harry Chapin Food Self-Reliance Award. Just Harvest also wins the Pennsylvania Public Health Association’s Rodale Award for Health Promotion. 1993- Just Harvest is part of national coalition that wins passage of the Mickey Leland Childhood Hunger Relief Act, adding $2.5 billion in federal funds to the fight against childhood hunger. 1992- Just Harvest brings a public housing resident to Washington, D.C. testify before US House of Representatives Select Committee on Hunger about the lack of grocery stores in inner-city neighborhoods. 1991- Just Harvest launches "Real Life Civics” to teach public policy and advocacy skills to high school students. 1990- Just Harvest wins creation of City of Pittsburgh Food Policy Commission to address the problems of supermarket abandonment of inner-city communities. This leads to new zoning policies, improved marketing of city economic development funds to food stores, and a short-lived city-sponsored shuttle for public housing residents to otherwise inaccessible supermarkets. 1990- Just Harvest wins commitment of $280,000 for food pantries and soup kitchens from Allegheny County Commissioners. The first installment of a now-annual commitment of local government funds (federal CDBG) to fight hunger. 1989- Following a yearlong campaign, Just Harvest wins first-ever commitment of $150,000 for emergency food assistance programs from the City of Pittsburgh. We continue to successfully advocate for these funds each year. 1988- Just Harvest develops "Hungry Puppets,” a creative educational presentation for youngsters. Several public performances are held at schools, libraries, and and places of worship. 1986-1991 Just Harvest wins implementation of new School Breakfast Programs in Pittsburgh, Highlands, Woodland Hills, West Mifflin, and Sto-Rox school districts. These programs now serve nutritious meals to approximately 10,000 children every school day. 1986- Hunger Action Coalition (founded 1975) separates its public policy advocacy and community education programs from its direct services programs. Just Harvest is founded to continue advocacy and education mission. Hunger Services Network is formed to carry on direct services to hungry people.