AmeriCorps Wellness 360

Looking Forward at

First Grace

Food Access

Healthy

Green

Food Access means all community members have access to “good food”. The W.K. Kellogg Foundation describes such food as being:

Fair

Affordable

Food Security

When a person does not have access to “good

food” they become “food insecure”. Some access issues that lead to food insecurity are:

Access Issues

Living in a “food desert”

People in this situation do not have adequate grocery stores close to them. They must rely on convenience stores or take the bus/walk/ride bike to the nearest grocery store. This limits the amount of food that people can purchase in one trip.

Access Issues (Continued)

Transportation issues

Although many farmer’s markets take food stamps, it can be difficult for low income community members to find transportation to the market locations.

Access Issues (Continued)

High price of healthy food

Those who are on a limited budget often must make the choice between purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables and purchasing cheap foods that make you feel full for less money. Because of government subsidies, it is often the unhealthy, empty calorie foods that are the cheapest.

The Need

Ohio has been particularly hard hit by economic troubles. Akron unemployment levels are in double digits and Emergency Food Providers have seen dramatic increases in the need for food.

Solving the problem

The issues of food access and foodinsecurity can be addressed by thinking about them in terms of:

Community Food Security

Community Food Security

“Community food security is a condition in which all community residents obtain a safe, culturally acceptable, nutritionally adequate diet through a sustainable food system that maximizes community self-reliance and social justice.”

--Mike Hamm and Anne Bellows

6 Principles of CFS

Low Income Food NeedsLike the anti-hunger movement, CFS is focused on meeting the food needs of low income communities, reducing hunger and improving individual health.

Broad GoalsCFS addresses a broad range of problems affecting the food system, community development, and the environment such as increasing poverty and hunger, disappearing farmland and family farms, inner city supermarket redlining, rural community disintegration, rampant suburban sprawl, and air and water pollution from unsustainable food production and distribution patterns.

6 Principles (Continued)

• Community FocusA CFS approach seeks to build up a community’s food resources to meet it’s own needs. These resources may include supermarkets, farmers’ markets, gardens, transportation, community-based food processing ventures, and urban farms to name a few.

• Self Reliance/EmpowermentCommunity food security projects emphasize the need to build individuals’ abilities to provide for their food needs. Community food security seeks to build upon community and individual assets, rather than focus on their deficiencies, CFS projects seek to engage community residents in all phases of project planning.

6 Principles (Continued)

• Local AgricultureA stable local agricultural base is key to a community responsive food system. Farmers need increased access to markets that pay them a decent wage for their labor, and farmland needs planning protection from suburban development. By building stronger ties between farmers and consumers, consumers gain a greater knowledge and appreciation for their food source.

• Systems-OrientedCFS projects typically are “inter-disciplinary,” crossing many boundaries and incorporating collaborations with multiple agencies.

These principles are from The Community Food Security Coalition www.foodsecurity.org

What We've Done So Far

The following slides illustrate how we have put the 6 principles of Community Food Security to work during our 2010-2011 AmeriCorps year

People’s Choice Food Pantry

Shoppers have the opportunity to choose which groceries will fit their own situation the best. This allows not only less food waste, but a greater sense of dignity.

Local Produce

Our AmeriCorps team has introduced fresh produce into the pantry. Some of the produce comes from the Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank and some is surplus donated by local farmers.

Kitchen Utensils

Thanks to a generous donation from Local Roots Co-Op in Wooster, The pantry was able to start offering pots, pans, and other kitchen utensils.

Spice Drive

We organized a spice drive to be able to offer spices at pantry. For families that rely on the food pantry, spices can turn ordinary foods into something special.

Newsletter

Our newsletter includes healthy recipes with a focus on pantry ingredients. We spotlight vegetables and further engage the area by including profiles of local community members.

Cooking Demos

Our demos show pantry shoppers how to use unfamiliar ingredients, highlights recipes from our newsletter, and gives shoppers the chance to sample delicious pantry food.

Farmer's Market Outing

To address the issue of transportation to the Farmer’s Market, our team has collaborated with Countryside Conservancy. We will give interested community members a ride to the market, and the conservancy will give a lesson on how to stretch your food dollar while there.

Community Meals

The AmeriCorps team plans the first Saturday free lunch.

Focus on fresh, local ingredients

Provide service with dignity

A dinner party that the whole community is invited to.

After School Program

Gives children the opportunity to eat more fruits,vegetables, and healthy foods

Gives them the opportunity to exercise

Teen Meal

Opportunity to introduce teens to new foods like Quiche and Spaghetti Squash

Gives teens the chance to learn valuable cooking skills

Wellness Fairs

Our MLK wellness fair allowed the community to gather information on a variety of important social services. We plan on having more fairs that will enable a conversation between the community and the organizations that serve us.

Outreach

The AmeriCorps team has also partnered with a church in the Summit Lake Neighborhood to develop an after school program focused on feeding healthy food to hungry kids.

Outreach

The AmeriCorps team has worked with Freedom House, a homeless shelter for veterans, and cooked a meal to share with the residents.

Building The Future

The following ideas can help us continue to follow the 6 principles of Community Food

Security

Volunteer Recruitment

As our programs grow we can recruit volunteers from the community to help build self reliance. We will be looking for volunteers to help:

Community gardenShare recipes for newsletterTeach community members basic cooking

skillsAssist with pantryAssist with community meals

Building Relationships

We will continue to build relationships with other groups that are committed to attaining Community Food Security. Such groups include:

Crown Point Ecology CenterCountryside ConservancySummit Food Policy CoalitionOhio State University Extension OfficeFreedom House

Getting Thing Done....In Ohio!

Our Program is generously funded by: