• We have long worked to strengthen the connection between health and nutrition programs. In 2012, we sponsored a bill to do just that, but our legislation got stuck in Appropriations. This year, we came storming back with AB 191 - and Governor Brown signed the bill into law. The impact: Californians in need will receive an estimated $400 million per year in additional nutrition benefits.  
• We believe that high quality child care can help set young children on a path to lifelong health and healthy eating. In 2012, our efforts to establish increased expectations for nutrition in child care were vetoed by the Governor. This year, we bounced back with AB 290. The impact: nutrition training is a licensing requirement for all new child care providers throughout California.  

These victories helped advance our mission, but we know that there is much, much more to do. While the economy may be recovering, many households are still struggling in the wake of the recession. As we reported last month, over 4 million low-income adults in California struggle to put food on the table. In 2014, we'll make sure our leaders do the right things to address these hardships. We'll advance new initiatives that draw from the anti-hunger, nutrition, and health movements. We'll continue to work. We won't give up. We'll have hope.  

As we plan next year's approach to making measurable improvements in the lives of low-income Californians, we'd also like to plan on your support. Investments in our advocacy efforts pays off. Policy changes like those we described above can bring hundreds of millions of dollars in nutrition assistance to Californians who are struggling to make ends meet.  

For over 20 years, CFPA has been California's trusted policy advocacy organization  applying a unique evidence-based, problem-to-solution methodology to increase low-income Californians' access to healthy food at home, at school, and throughout entire communities.  

Please invest in hope and hard work. Donate to CFPA today.