Summer Internship, Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger

Posted by on February 28, 2004

Agency Description: The Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger was formed in 1996 to fight hunger through education, outreach and advocacy. Our education and advocacy programs work to empower community-based food providers, to inform and mobilize concerned citizens, and to help shape public policy. As the sponsor of the annual Walk Against Hunger, the Coalition brings over 3,000 people together each spring to raise funds for community-based food assistance programs. All this happens in a small, close-knit office, easily accessible by public transportation.

Project Background: In the fall of 2002, the Coalition Against Hunger launched the Food Stamp Enrollment Campaign. The campaign is aimed at connecting the 104,000 eligible, but not participating individuals in the city of Philadelphia to the Food Stamp Program. The Coalition has trained over 200 student and community volunteers to assist in conducting outreach at sites throughout the city. Our student and community volunteers visit a wide variety of sites, including health centers, CareerLink centers, food cupboards and soup kitchens, libraries, schools, and supermarkets to conduct outreach, pre-screenings, and application assistance for potentially eligible households. The Coalition also provides food stamp pre-screenings and application assistance via our telephone information hotline. In November 2003 information about food stamps with the Coalition?s Food Stamp hotline number began appearing on SEPTA bus routes and subway lines throughout the city. For more information about this work, check out the Coalition web site: <a href="http://www.hungercoalition.org/">http://www.hungercoalition.org/</a>

We are seeking a student intern who would work closely with Coalition staff to further the goals and objectives of the Food Stamp Enrollment Campaign. Depending on interest and skills, duties might include:
? Organize food stamp screening events, such as supermarket fairs in low income urban neighborhoods
? Pre-screen potentially eligible clients at various community settings. If found to be eligible, provide food stamp application assistance. If desired, accompany clients to their County Assistance Office and directly assist them in addressing barriers to enrollment.
? Pre-screen clients who call the Food Stamp Information Hotline
? Place follow-up phone calls to low-income households who appeared eligible for food stamps when screened. Are they receiving food stamps? If not, why not?
? Participate in the Coalition?s efforts to analyze barriers to participation in the Food Stamp Program. Analyze data on rates of denials, reasons for denials, and reasons why people have been dropped out of the program.
? Work with Coalition staff to formulate policy recommendations to address barriers to food stamp participation.

Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger
2901 W. Hunting Park Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19129
<a href="http://www.hungercoalition.org">http://www.hungercoalition.org</a>; <a href="http://www.hungerwalk.org">http://www.hungerwalk.org</a>
Contact: Karen Wilson, Director
Phone: 215-430-0555
Email: kwilson@hungercoalition.org