Rebuilding Communities from the Grassroots

Sharon Thornberry Megan Newell-ChingCommunity Food Systems Manager Community Resource Developer

OREGON FOOD BANK

Environmental

Stewardship

Jobs

Economic Development

Farm

Viab

ility

Farmland ProtectionCommunity Viability

Food

Se

curit

y

ProcessingCommunity Food

System

Distributing

Recycling Nutrients

Growing Food

Preparing Food

Eating

Retailing

Community Advocates

Researchers and

Educators

Technical Service

Providers

Funders and Lenders

Trade Associations

Policy Makers

Government Agencies

Support System

What is a Food System?It’s the sum of

all activities required to make food available to

people Adopted from CS Mott Group at MSU

Resilience is the opposite of vulnerability.

Resilient food systems can withstand political, economic, social and environmental shocks.

Resilient individuals, households and communities are less vulnerable to changes in fortune that push others into food insecurity.

Resilient Food Systems

VISION: We envision communities across Oregon and SW Washington where citizens are empowered and actively engaged across sectors to attain personal and community food security.

Three approaches:• Community FEAST• RARE Community Food Assessment

Partnership • Food Systems Networking

Oregon Food Bank Community Food Systems

About the FEAST model• FEAST was developed as a response to the need to help

communities move to action around community food systems work.

• These events are organized by a local steering committee and feature local organizations

• A FEAST convenes a conversation that leads to a self-determined organizing plan for food systems work in the community

• Currently, OFB staff serve as facilitators, provide suggestions, feedback and support, but do not direct the outcomes.

What happens at a ?• Stories are shared from the local food system.

• Themes and solutions from other communities are shared.

• Food systems issues and solutions are discussed, distilled and sorted to identify priorities.

• Work groups are established and Organizing Plans created.

Community driven FEAST outcomes have included:• New farmers’ markets • Increased SNAP & WIC acceptance• Expanded community gardens • New donors for food banks• Additional Nutrition Education opportunities

IMPACT • 50+ events to date engaging over 1500 people

• Replicable model- being implemented in 6 states beyond Oregon

• Shown to increase community connections among participants

• 30+% of participants are food producers

• Program nationally recognized by Feeding America’s 2013 Innovation Awards

PUBL

IC

PRIV

ATE

NO

NPR

OFI

TEmergency Food Agencies

Faith-Based Organizations

Nutrition Education Programs

Farm-to-School Coalitions

Gleaners

Community Gardens

Farmers’ Markets

Farms

Food Retailers

Health Care Providers

Food Processors

Fisheries

OSU Extension

Elected Office

Public Health Departments

Jobs Offices

Schools

FEAST engages a broad spectrum of the community to create self-determined organizing plans.

OFB-RARE Community Food Assessment Partnership• 14 Community Food Assessments

(CFA) covering 21 counties (to date)

• Coordination and facilitation of 21 FEAST events

• 80+ Rural grocery store surveys• 7 Local food resource guides

WHY COMMUNITY FOOD ASSESSMENT?

Our qualitative approach:

• Builds community in the process

• Reflects local food system realities through the lens of the local community

• Informs grassroots actions in communities, acting as a guide for local organizations

For Oregon Food Bank, CFAs have identified:

• Improvements to local food systems that can be made by current community groups, with existing resources

• Ways to strengthen emergency food services in Oregon’s rural communities

• Policy solutions and other actions that can improve local food systems and reduce food insecurity

Complete • Current • Planned 13-14

CFA RECOMMENDATIONS COMMON ACROSS REGIONS:

Increase Healthy Food Access

Promote small & medium size growers

Build Food Literacy

Community Food Organizing

Timeline & Outcomes: Clatsop County2009: FEAST (September)

RARE AmeriCorps member- North Coast Food Guide- Clatsop County Food Assessment

2010: North Coast Food Web (501c3) formed2011: - North Coast Food Summit

- River People’s Farmers Market launched

- Food Talk radio show- Cooking Matters Nutrition Classes- 4-H Kids Classes- FoodDay events- Meyer Memorial Trust grant

2012: - 4 new school gardens, Mobile Gardens- Grow the Coast

Timeline & Process: Rogue Valley

2011: - MMT Planning Grant

2012: - Coordinator Hired (Jan)- Steering Committee Formed (March)

- 5 FEASTs (March-May)- 5 Community Conversations (March-June)- Community Food Assessment Report (Dec)

2013: - Food Summit (March)- MMT Implementation Grant (April)- Rogue Valley Food System Council (July)

SNAP in Oregon- March 2013: $105 million+ in SNAP benefits

statewide- Each $1 spent in SNAP generates $1.79 in

economic activity 2012 WIC Fruit & Veggie Voucher

$6.3 million spent in Oregon

Farm Direct Nutrition Program 2012 $2 million statewide- WIC & Seniors

$ The Bottom Line $$ The Bottom Line $

Yes Magazine, 2006

Buying

Local:

Economic

Multiplier

School children hungry on the

weekendFeed them!!

Backpack programQuick, simple, focus on child

Long term, renewable, family focus

Seek community

input

Community Garden

Collective Impact

Sharon Thornberry Megan Newell-ChingCommunity Food Systems Manager Community Resource DeveloperPhone: 971-205-5028 Phone: 503-419-4186

sthornberry@oregonfoodbank.org mnewellching@oregonfoodbank.org

Spencer Masterson Community Resource Developer

Phone: 971-313-8585

smasterson@oregonfoodbank.org Connect With Us on Social Media! http://www.facebook.com/oregonfoodbankcfs

https://twitter.com/#!/OFB_SharonT