Healthy Futures, AmeriCorps VISTA: Ending Hunger in America

The Anti-Hunger and Opportunity Corps (AHOC) is here to end hunger in America by means of reducing barriers and increasing access to nutrition programs, such as the Summer Meals, Breakfast in the Classroom and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP, formerly Food Stamps) Programs.

Since the start of the AHOC program in 2011, 100 year-round and 50 Summer Associate members serving in over 30 communities in 19 states have:

• created 74 comprehensive benefits access plans. These plans act as guides for community and faith-based organizations on what barriers were identified in accessing benefits and how those organizations can work alongside one another to overcome those barriers. Members conducted 148 trainings on how to implement these guides within their communities. Moreover, members and volunteers distributed 678,700 materials on how people can access USDA benefits within their communities.

• raised nearly $620,000 in cash and in-kind donations.

• distributed 93,126 materials on how SNAP recipients may purchase fresh items at farmers’ markets. Members also conducted over 300 community nutrition education courses to encourage healthier eating.

• recruited 3,518 community volunteers who served over 10,000 hours in varying capacities, such as arts and crafts, meal distribution and clean-up helpers at Summer Meals sites to SNAP application assistance volunteers.

Due to the efforts of the Summer Associate program alone, 41 new Summer Meals sites opened their doors to feed hungry children last summer. Furthermore, peak Average Daily Participation within our partnering organizations grew from 9,164 children to 16,951 - an increase of over 50%. On a given day during operation, 7,787 more children were receiving healthy meals that could have otherwise gone without.

The Anti-Hunger and Opportunity Corps, an AmeriCorps VISTA project of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger is funded by a partnership between the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and the United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Services.