Blog Hunger Action Day 2021 is Friday, February 12! February 11, 2021 Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Share on Email Welcome to Hunger Action Day 2021! Our annual lobby day for constituents to talk directly with your lawmakers in support of priorities to fight hunger and poverty is virtual this year. This year you’ll join advocates across the state without having to leave home or work. Together yet apart, our collective voice is still powerful! (Note: Registration closed on Feb. 10 – if you missed it, please join us next year!) Before Hunger Action Day: Be sure to download Zoom and Microsoft Teams on your computer or phone —legislators use both platforms, so be prepared! Check out our recorded webinar (and slides) from earlier this week: how a virtual legislative session works, what to expect on Hunger Action Day, how to participate in the democratic process from home. Then download AHNC’s 2021 legislative agenda and check out the resources below to learn more about our issues. Virtual Meeting Information & Links: You will receive an email by the end of day on Thursday (Feb. 11) that includes IMPORTANT information about how to join our virtual Hunger Action Day main room and the meeting links for your legislative appointments. If you do not receive an email, send an email to hungeractionday@gmail.com immediately so we can send you the information as soon as possible. Agenda for Hunger Action Day: 8:30 am: Grab your coffee, tea, and morning snack and open the link for our virtual main room. We’ll spend some time together as a big group to talk about our priorities then use breakout rooms so you can meet with your legislative district neighbors to plan your meetings with your lawmakers. 10:00 am: Most legislative appointments start at 10:00 am. Be sure to check your email for your appointment times and meeting links. Feel free to go about your normal business in between appointments. If you do not receive this email by end of day on Thursday, email hungeractionday@gmail.com and we will send you the information as soon as possible. 10:00 am – 3:30 pm: Rejoin our virtual main room at any time in between appointments. The room will be open all day and staffed with volunteers to answer questions and receive your feedback from your meetings. Please come back to our virtual room with your legislative district neighbors to regroup, provide feedback to AHNC staff and volunteers about your meetings, discuss your appointments together, and ask any questions about issues that came up. We really want to know what worked – and what kinds of issues we should follow up on with legislators or you, so please don’t be shy! Drop into our virtual “Columbia Room” through the day! 1:30 pm: The House is scheduled to begin floor debate and vote on bills (technically: bills on the “second reading calendar”). One of our priorities, HB 1342 (eliminate school lunch co-pays) is currently scheduled for a vote this afternoon. Bill schedules may change, but you can check the House Floor Calendar to see which bills are being considered, then tune into TVW on television or at www.TVW.org to watch the floor debate and final vote. Find the livestream for House Floor Debate on TVW’s schedule. Resources for a successful Hunger Action Day: Find materials, including our fact sheets and recording trainings—all the things you need to make your Hunger Action Day appointments a huge success! Recorded webinar: How a virtual legislative session works, what to expect on Hunger Action Day, how to participate in the democratic process from home Download our Hunger Action Day logo to use as your virtual background for meetings. Check out how to prep for meetings with legislators and 10 lobbying tips – and get familiar with legislators of 2021-23 (faces, committees, contact info) Our 2021 Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Coalition Legislative Agenda Fact sheets: SNAP Fruit/Veg Match Programs Funding for Food Bank Programs HB 1342: Eliminate the School Lunch Co-pay Local Farms Healthy Kids – Farm to School Grants HB 1151: Food and Cash Assistance to Fight Hunger & Poverty Other ways to get involved: Share AHNC’s Legislative Priorities to your networks with these downloadable graphics (#waleg #HungerActionDay) If you were not able to meet with your state legislators, please send them a personal email to let them know you attended Hunger Action Day and would like them to support anti-hunger priorities. Find step by step talking points to write your email in your own words using this template. Post a “thank you” to your legislator for their support of Hunger Action Day Questions or Problems: Contact hungeractionday@gmail.com Or call AHNC Director, Claire Lane at 206-446-0966 Thank you for joining Hunger Action Day!
