JUST HARVEST EDUCATION FUND
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Mission Statement
Founded in 1986, Just Harvest is an anti-hunger and anti-poverty organization serving Allegheny County, Pennsylvania . Oour Mission Statement and Core Values follow: Mission: Just Harvest educates, empowers and mobilizes people to eliminate hunger, poverty, and economic injustice in our communities by influencing public policy, engaging in advocacy, and connecting people to public benefits. Core Values: •Everyone has a fundamental right to food. Hunger is unacceptable. •All people, regardless of their economic circumstances, are entitled to dignity, rights, and a voice in policies that affect them. •Hunger is political, and to end it requires collective political will. •Sound public policy that promotes economic justice is the first and best line of defense against hunger and poverty. •Just Harvest constituents’ perspectives shape the organization’s approach to addressing policy issues and providing services.
About This Cause
Founded in 1986, Just Harvest is a membership-based non-profit organization that is connecting the citizens of Allegheny County to public benefits and advocating for stronger safety net programs with the aim of eliminating hunger and poverty in our community. Just Harvest Education Fund serves individuals and families by helping them access public benefits such as food stamps, summer food, the earned income tax credit, and school meals. Our public policy advocacy arm, Just Harvest: A Center for Action Against Hunger advocates for the improvement of these benefit programs through our public policy advocacy efforts. We organize recipients of these benefits and other community members to use their voices to protect and improve the policies and programs that lift struggling Pennsylvanians out of poverty and keep so many of our neighbors from going hungry. Just Harvest works to change the unjust public policies that create poverty and hunger. Our services are aimed at helping struggling individuals and families access the safety net benefits they are eligible for and that can make a critical difference in their lives. Food Stamps/SNAP: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (or “food stamps”) is our nation’s first line of defense against hunger. It is a public benefit that you can use to supplement your food budget to provide you and your family with nutritious food. SNAP is a federal government program administered in Pennsylvania by the state’s Department of Human Services (DHS). Just Harvest helps hundreds of families apply for these benefits each year. Since beginning this program in 2007, Just Harvest has processed nearly 10,000 food stamp applications, resulting in millions of dollars in benefits to keep food on the table for people in need. Major support for Just Harvest’s SNAP application assistance program is provided by the PA DHS. For a five minute eligibility screening and help completing your application over the phone call us at (412) 431-8960. Fresh Access; Our Fresh Access program fights hunger by improving access to nutritious food at more than a dozen area farmers markets. At these markets, open May to November, our kiosk allows customers to shop with food stamps using their ACCESS/EBT card to purchase a variety of fresh produce, baked goods, meat, and dairy products. We also provide food stamp shoppers with Food Bucks to help them purchase fruits and vegetables at the markets. Launched in 2013, Fresh Access and food bucks have enabled food stamp users to spend more $109,000 on good food choices at local farmers markets. The program also provides convenient service and more sales for farmer/vendors by accepting credit and debit cards from all consumers. For help finding a participating market near you go to www.justharvest.org/fresh-acccess or call us at (412) 431-8960. Tax Help: The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is the nation’s largest antipoverty program and can increase a family’s annual income by as much as 45%. Unfortunately, many people lose much of their refunds to commercial tax preparers in preparation fees and advance refund loans. From January to April each year, Just Harvest provides certified, free tax preparation assistance. We have day, evening, and Saturday hours to accommodate the busy schedules of working families. Since launching the program in 2003, we have completed more than 25,000 federal tax returns accounting for nearly $47 million in tax refunds. You can schedule an appointment starting the second week of January by dialing 2-1-1. Case Advocacy: Food Stamps, LIHEAP, Cash Assistance (TANF) Are you having trouble applying for or receiving public benefits through the Department of Human Services? Just Harvest can provide you with assistance. Call our advocates at (412) 431-8960. Community Solutions: Just Harvest works to improve access to summer, afterschool, and school meals among low-income households, and to improve food choices in low-income neighborhoods lacking healthy food shopping options. For assistance, call us at (412) 431-8960. You can learn more about these programs at www.justharvest.org/get-help Just Harvest’s Food Stamp (SNAP) Application Assistance Program is made possible by a contract with the PA Department of Human Services. Our Tax Assistance Program is made possible by grants from the United Way of Allegheny County and the Internal Revenue Service. Other major support of Just Harvest Education Fund programs is currently provided by: Allegheny County Health Department, City of Pittsburgh, Food Research and Action Center MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, The Food Trust, U.S. Department of Agriculture . . . and many individual contributors. Just Harvest Education Fund is a proud partner agency of the United Way of Allegheny County 16 Terminal Way Pittsburgh, PA 15219 (412) 431-8960 www.justharvest.org