Maryland Hunger Solutions Receives Henry L. Dixon Community Action Award for Food Supplement Program Outreach
Contact: Jennifer Adach, 202.986.2200 x3018
Baltimore, Md. – May 22, 2012 – In honor of its successful effort to offer Food Supplement Program (FSP) outreach at two tax assistance sites in Montgomery County this past tax season, Maryland Hunger Solutions was named the 2012 recipient of the Henry L. Dixon Community Action Award for Organizational Achievement by the Community Action Board in Montgomery County.
The Henry L. Dixon Memorial Awards recognize individuals and organizations in the community that fulfill the promise of the Community Action Board, “to change people’s lives, embody the spirit of hope, improve communities, and make America a better place to live.” The awards are named in honor of the late Henry L. Dixon, a longtime member of the Community Action Board who was a vocal representative of the Board and a friend to low-income residents of the County.
Maryland Hunger Solutions intern Elizabeth Rosenberg also was recognized for her leadership and individual volunteer commitment in support of the FSP initiative, and was an honoree for the Marcia Plater Community Action Award for Individual Achievement.
“Maryland Hunger Solutions is truly honored by this recognition, and we thank our partners at the Community Action Agency for their support of this program,” said Maryland Hunger Solutions Director Cathy Demeroto. “We look forward to continuing this successful outreach strategy, and bringing it to even more tax assistance sites for next year.”
During the 2012 tax season, Maryland Hunger Solutions partnered with the Montgomery County Department of Health & Human Services’ Community Action Agency to conduct FSP outreach at two tax sites in Montgomery County. Coupling outreach for the Food Supplement Program and the EITC often is a smart match. Often people who are eligible to receive the EITC also are eligible to receive FSP, plus clients coming to VITA sites typically bring all of the documents needed to complete the FSP application.
The two sites – the Community Action’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites in Takoma Park-East Silver Spring Center (TESS) and the Wheaton Services Center – were staffed with FSP Outreach & Resource Navigators, who educated clients about FSP. Throughout the three month program, navigators reached 543 low-income households, screened 332 to see if they were eligible for FSP, directly assisted in filing 56 applications, and referred families in need to local resources.
Maryland Hunger Solutions will accept the award at a ceremony held tonight (May 22, 2012) at the VISArts Center (155 Gibbs Street, Rockville, Md.). The ceremony starts at 6:30 p.m.
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Maryland Hunger Solutions is the lead research, public education, and advocacy group in Maryland dedicated to using public programs to end hunger in Maryland. Maryland Hunger Solutions is an initiative of the Food Research and Action Center. For more information, visit www.mdhungersolutions.org or follow us on Twitter.
