Piloting Online Food Purchasing in a SNAP

by Dawn Kepler, Project Administrator By early 2018, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants will be able to make purchases online using their food assistance benefits in the following states: Alabama, Iowa, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Washington. Amazon and Wal-Mart are two of the ten online retailers that have been selected by the Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to participate … Continue reading Piloting Online Food Purchasing in a SNAP

Slices of bread and $2 bills.

Bridge Card “Lost Benefit” Information

by Lyndsy Gamet, MiCAFE Stakeholder and Network Partners Manager Michigan’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has determined that it owes some Bridge Card recipients additional benefits that date back to 2014. They refer to the amount as a “lost benefit.” This was an error related to the Heat and Utility Standard Allowance changes. This Allowance was removed for many recipients, and for some it was … Continue reading Bridge Card “Lost Benefit” Information

Dinner plate with pasta, meat, and vegetables.

Putting Food on the Table for the Holidays

By Nicholas Goodman, MiCAFE Network Specialist For many, holidays in December bring joy and excitement. For those living on a fixed income, the social expectations for providing meals at family gatherings can be stressful and overwhelming. Here are some resources to make this time of year less anxiety-inducing: Feeding America has a network of food banks in the southern lower peninsula. You can search by … Continue reading Putting Food on the Table for the Holidays

Woman smiling in the produce aisle.

ELM Joins National Campaign to End Senior Hunger

When it comes to eating a healthy diet, millions of Americans 65 and over face a double whammy: a fixed income, and rising food costs. Nationally, adults aged 65+ have an average annual income of $46,627, and they spend more than $5,500—or nearly 12%—on food. Additionally, this year those who rely on Social Security received just a 0.3% increase in their Cost of Living Adjustment. … Continue reading ELM Joins National Campaign to End Senior Hunger

Large pile of carrots, tomatoes, and other produce.

SNAP Facts!

by Lyndsy Gamet, MiCAFE Outreach and Training Coordinator Let’s talk about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Are you one of approximately 142,000 Michigan Seniors who participate in the program? If not, let me give you a few facts about it, and how to find out if you are eligible. 1) The SNAP program was designed to help individuals to obtain an adequate diet, while meeting … Continue reading SNAP Facts!

Retro black telephone receiver with cord, casting shadow on white surface.

Rhonda – A MiCAFE Success Story

Rhonda is a recent client of the MiCAFE network, a program of Elder Law of Michigan. The MiCAFE network is a community partner network of over 130 organizations and locations across Michigan, including local community centers, churches, senior centers, and housing complexes, which assists seniors 60 and older in accessing benefits through application assistance. Struggling to make ends meet, Rhonda called the MiCAFE network to receive a … Continue reading Rhonda – A MiCAFE Success Story

Two women shopping in the produce section.

Elder Law of Michigan Joins National Movement to End Senior Hunger

Elder Law of Michigan joins nation movement of community organizations come together to increase older adult SNAP enrollment. Lansing, MI (June 22, 2015) – When it comes to eating a healthy diet, millions of Americans 65 and over face a double whammy: their income is fixed, and their spending on food is consuming a larger portion of their budget. Nationally, adults aged 65+ have an … Continue reading Elder Law of Michigan Joins National Movement to End Senior Hunger

Hunger Action Month may have ended, but the fight against hunger continues.

              by: Lindsay Felsing, Director of Economic Security September was Hunger Action Month, a nationwide campaign bringing greater attention to the issue of hunger and mobilizing the public to take action on the issue.  Throughout the month, we blogged about senior hunger and how we work to address the problem in partnership with other community-based organizations, we shared the voice … Continue reading Hunger Action Month may have ended, but the fight against hunger continues.

Let’s talk about Farmers Markets! What are they and how do they address hunger?

by Skye Felsing, MiCAFE Farmers markets have been around for a long time, but recently we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of markets in Michigan. According to the Michigan Farmers Market Association, there are now over 300 markets across Michigan. There were just 90 markets in 2001. So why have they become so popular? What advantages do they give us over our … Continue reading Let’s talk about Farmers Markets! What are they and how do they address hunger?