Resources

Grants Available

If your organization is interested in creating a food bank, maintaining an existing food bank, or is actively involved in healthy feeding efforts to your community we want to support you!

Food Security in America

Accountability Classes

Our hands-on instructional classes and accountability groups will give disadvantaged parents and community leaders and influencers the knowledge to provide healthy meals to their families and encourage healthy eating in their communities.

Kelly’s Kitchen Accountability Classes will guide participants through various cooking exercises to make the best use of ingredients to produce nutritious home-cooked meals.

• Interactive cooking lessons

• Grocery shopping techniques

• Fruits, Veggies, and raw food preparation

• Weekly meal planning

START YOUR OWN GARDEN

Having a garden outside your door can decrease your food costs by $20 to $50 per week.  You don’t have to be a master gardener to grow what you enjoy eating. Below are 4 easy steps to get you on your way to growing your own food.

1. Identifying the spot for your patch is the most important step.  You want to have direct sunlight, good drainage, and shelter from the wind.

2. Determine what you want to grow.  Check with your local county extension office to find what grows best in your area.  Start with herbs and vegetables that don’t need much attention.

3. Clear the ground of debris, weeds, and roots.

4. Plant seeds, water and wait for Mother Nature to take over.

Food Deserts

Feeding Our People

Challenges:

• Maintaining Volunteers
• Delivery of food
• Inaccessible Food Pantries (churches)
• Sourcing food from suppliers
• Communication with food suppliers
• Expired, freezer burned, bad food

Best- practices:

• Pre-bagging food
• Gather information from clients when making delivery/contact (medical supplies, social health)
• Update referral lists regularly
• Start a “Victory Garden”
• Coordinate with local Aging organization who may be able to waive meals on wheels requirements
• Connect with Housing Authorities
• School service groups may have volunteers
• Use volunteers to make phone calls or other ways to maintain distance
• No contact delivery vehicle loading and delivery
• Anonymous food drop-offs

General Tips for starting operations:

• Designate a Food Justice Advisor to manage all things food bank related. This person should maintain a certain supply level based on various factors like population size and specific needs of the area.
• Designate a closet, room, or area for donated foods. Create accessible signage so people can find it easily. If you have space, incorporate a quick drop donation table so people can drop off and pick up donations.
• Have the capability to receive donations at a particular time and/or place. Make this known to the public. Donations will manifest in a variety of ways. Unopened surplus food, food drives, snack and dinner programs, monetary, etc. Determine what you are willing to take and what you won’t accept.
• Log donations, track items, get information from individuals. Have participants fill out information forms so you know who is coming and going. Track inventories over time to determine your area-specific needs.