Greener Village’s Post

USDA funding boosts #Mississippi Food Network’s fresh produce distribution. As the holiday season approaches, funding from the #USDA's Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program is allowing the Mississippi Food Network to buy more fresh fruits and vegetables to distribute through its 430 partner agencies to families in need. Runion adds the network is teaming up with a local television station for a "Turkey Drive" on Thursday. Volunteers will collect donated turkeys and other grocery items outside Kroger stores. Last year, they collected more than 1,100 turkeys and $12,000. This year's goal is to exceed 1,100 turkeys and raise $15,000. Comments from Adam Runion, Communications Coordinator, Mississippi Food Network. https://lnkd.in/e9HMtvMN

The first Friday of September is National Food Bank Day, where food banks accross the UK try to raise awareness , ahead of the winter months, of this much needed and relied on service for many. According to #TheTrussellTrust the below is a list of the most needed items - Food UHT milk Tinned meat (hotdogs, meatballs etc.) Tinned fish Tinned fruit Sponge/rice puddings Coffee (small jars) Long-life juice Pasta sauce Tinned veg (potatoes, carrots, green beans, tomatoes) Tinned meals (spaghetti, chicken or veg curries, chilli) Tinned soup Jam and spreads Non-food items Shower gel Shampoo/conditioner Deodorant Toilet rolls Washing up liquid Laundry detergent pods Wishing all food banks accross the UK a very productive National Food Day and the ongoing support from those that can help, accross the winter months #Nationalfoodbankday2024 #foodbanks #charity #costofliving #volunteering #foodpoverty

The latest data from our annual emergency food network report shows food insecurity is becoming the new normal as people continue to struggle with the cost-of-living crisis. The continued level of elevated need, high costs and declining food donations means projects spend £15,770 a week to stock their shelves. This level of expenditure is unsustainable. Again we appeal to Government to extend the Household Support Fund to help the doors of food banks stay open. https://lnkd.in/eZtz3TYV

🥫🥦 The rising demand for food support is placing unprecedented pressure on foodbanks across New Zealand. In a recent RNZ article, our Food Security Manager, Sonya Cameron, shares insights into the challenges foodbanks face as more whānau turn to organisations like The Salvation Army for help. Changes to the government’s food hardship grant approach is leaving many without support, with referrals then made to foodbanks to meet basic needs.   At The Salvation Army, we’re seeing the impact of this shift firsthand. Through initiatives like Te Kai Mākona, we’re not only providing food but empowering whānau with choice and dignity in their food journeys.   This is a call for collective action—whether through donations, partnerships, or advocacy—to address the growing food insecurity in our communities. Together, we can make a difference. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eBx-FJVJ

Here’s some information on the #foodrecovery aspect of #SB1383. Did you know that the state law requires large generators of #surplusfood to donate it? Read more: https://loom.ly/-kXAn4c

Food Insecurity is a Community Crisis! Our community is facing a food insecurity crisis. Oak Tree 9 will help educate, support, and raise awareness about the amazing work Guelph/Wellington charities do to help people in our community access the nutritious food they need to thrive. Guided by a panel of expert community judges who understand the social, economic and logistical challenges involved, we are inviting local charities to submit applications for our $20,000 grand prize. The money can be used to expand or create programming that will get healthy and nutritious food to those who need it. Building Community Through Food Security Food security is a simple concept that requires a lot of complex coordination. At its core, food security is having consistent, reliable access to safe and nutritious food that brings nourishment and joy. Food security needs a lot of systems (production, storage, distribution and retail) to work closely together. It also requires everyone to have the financial means they need to buy food that is meaningful to them. In addition to being a United Nations Sustainable Development Goal, and a basic human right, food security is a social, economic and environmental driver for our community. Like the other social determinants of health that The Oak Tree Project has explored, food security is an opportunity to build a more equitable, vibrant and resilient community. While it’s easy to overlook the importance of food security when it is not a personal challenge, it is a real barrier for many families to reach their full potential. According to recent data, as many as 1 in 4 children in Ontario lives in a food insecure household, and 18% of households in Guelph-Wellington identify as food insecure. Most of us likely know someone who worries about where their next meal will come from. #OakTreeProject #HopeHouseGuelph @oaktreeproject9

“The problem is real, there are people genuinely struggling... and there's so many more that weren't there before." With our Food Hubs like South Auckland Christian Food Bank facing a demand for support that's higher than ever, and still increasing, it takes a real team effort to try and keep up with the need. Have a read of the story from NZ Herald below for some frontline insight into the current level of need, as well as how we're collaborating with not only our network of food donors, but also non-food donors such as The Period Place, who donate other essential items like menstrual products, to alleviate financial stress from Kiwis, and help improve food security in NZ. Everyone can play a part, and if you'd like to make a real difference for Kiwis in need yourself, 100% of any donation to our Pitch In campaign will be used to purchase kai and essential items for those who need it most! 🙌 You can Pitch in here! https://lnkd.in/dV7Ww7eP #foodsecurity #foodwaste #costofliving #foodrescue #socialimpact

What a fantastic initiative from Senator Dean Smith. With food insecurity becoming an issue for more and more Australians, increasing access to fresh, affordable, nutritious foods is vital. Over the last two years, I’ve had several conversations with primary producers who have all expressed a desire to redirect produce to food relief agencies, schools and charities, but transport costs are too high. What a great way to improve access to food and decrease the negative impact of food wastage on the planet. https://lnkd.in/gtiw3idu

The economy is faltering and more people are facing hardship. The Government is increasingly relying on Aotearoa Food Rescue Alliance members like The Salvation Army New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga & Samoa to take care of people in need. That’s why it’s right and proper that the Government funds foodbanks and food rescue. Food rescue is the most cost effective way to provide food relief. Food rescuers collect good nutritious food at risk of becoming waste and distribute it to people in need. Aotearoa Food Rescue Alliance members delivered over $70 million worth of food for just $12 million in total costs in the last financial year. That’s a spectacular return on investment and much better than providing funds for charities to purchase food. Food rescuers don’t need or expect the Government to fund all their work. Foundations, businesses and individual donors all play their part too. The Government should be on the team, making sure its citizens get the nutrition they need.

Addressing food insecurity....not 'just a food bank' anymore! "For a long time, there was this ongoing belief that somehow we’re going to food bank our way out of this problem. We’re not,” said Tom Mantz, CEO of Feeding Tampa Bay. “What we’re really trying to do is build a much more thoughtful infrastructure that addresses long-term economic issues and communities.” A new building central to the nonprofit’s “experiment in the unknown” is expected to raise more people out of food insecurity. Feeding Tampa Bay’s new Causeway Center by the numbers 215,000 - Square footage of The Causeway Center 28,000 - square footage of refrigerated warehouse area, including freezer and special dry area for beans and rice 11,000 -square-footage of new kitchen that will pump out meals, including those served at Trinity Cafe locations that cater to low-income families and homeless people. 4,500 - number of 5-tier food racks 550 - parking spots, including 50 for trucks 35,000 - square footage of community space* 150 million - annual meal capacity 1,000 - number of trucks worth of fill dirt used to elevate center 13 feet above ground level 8 feet - height above 100-year floodplain $60 million cost of the 5-year project 1 million - number of food insecure in the Tampa Bay region *The south side of the building, dubbed “Community Place,” will be the welcoming face of the center for those seeking social services — where as many as 25 different nonprofits may be taking advantage of free office space. In addition to a grocery store and café, there will be computer stations for visitors to apply for jobs and benefits. Free classes will be offered on topics like taxes and financial literacy. It also includes Causeway Hall, a venue for public events with space for 485 people. Surveys conducted by the nonprofit found that almost a third of the people they serve do not have access to medical care. Community Place will have two medical examination rooms staffed by BayCare Health. Another partnerships is with Metropolitan Ministries, which will save roughly $200,000 a year by storing its donated food at the new warehouse, according to its CEO Tim Marks. In exchange, it will assign case managers and people trained in helping others find social services at the center. Feeding Tampa Bay Food Bank Metropolitan Ministries BayCare Health System