Food insecurity remains a critical issue affecting millions of Americans. Nonprofits working on the frontlines of hunger often face challenges in supplying fresh, local, nutrient-dense produce to their communities. Fresh Food Connect offers a scalable solution to this problem, leveraging technology to connect home gardeners with nonprofit organizations. As Fresh Food Connect CEO Kayla Birdsong highlights, "We are thrilled to partner with frontline organizations across the country providing support to community members facing food insecurity. We know that gardeners are some of the most generous people around, and we are grateful to have the opportunity to engage them in the critical hunger relief efforts happening in their local communities."
Leveraging Technology for Hunger Relief
Fresh Food Connect's mobile app serves as a pivotal tool for nonprofits. Community-based hunger relief and food access organizations, referred to as Operators, can license the Fresh Food Connect technology platform. This platform includes a web portal and mobile app, providing a single-point access to coordinate incoming donations of homegrown produce efficiently. By tapping into this often-overlooked source of fresh food, nonprofits can significantly expand their reach and impact.
How Nonprofits Can Benefit
Nonprofits can utilize Fresh Food Connect in the following ways:
- Expand Food Sourcing: By connecting with local gardeners, nonprofits can access a new and reliable source of fresh, local produce.
- Broaden Community Engagement: Engaging local gardeners helps build a network of community members dedicated to supporting hunger relief efforts.
- Streamline Donation Management: The app simplifies the process of scheduling and tracking produce donations, making it easier for nonprofits to manage and distribute food.
- Increase Transparency and Impact: The app tracks donations throughout the season, allowing both nonprofits and gardeners to see the tangible impact of their contributions.
Addressing Food Waste and Food Insecurity
With an estimated 54 million Americans, including one in four children, facing food insecurity annually, and 40% of food in the United States going to waste, Fresh Food Connect addresses two critical issues. By ensuring surplus homegrown produce reaches those in need, nonprofits can help reduce food waste and provide essential nutrition to their communities.
Core Values and Mission
Fresh Food Connect’s mission is to grow a more local and resilient food system by connecting gardeners with their communities. Their work is driven by the following core values:
- Community: Supporting existing solutions, efforts, and assets within local communities.
- Collaboration: Engaging in transparent partnerships grounded in humility and trust.
- Collective Action: Mobilizing individuals to participate in building resilient local food systems.
- Food Justice: Committing to equity, diversity, and inclusion, and striving to be an anti-racist organization.
Proven Impact
Since its inception, Fresh Food Connect has made significant strides in supporting nonprofits. In 2022, the organization connected over 2,700 gardeners with 82 hunger relief nonprofits across 28 states, resulting in the distribution of 75,000 pounds of homegrown produce to community members experiencing food insecurity.
How to Get Involved
Nonprofits interested in leveraging Fresh Food Connect’s technology to enhance their hunger relief efforts can visit the Fresh Food Connect website to learn more about licensing the platform. Kayla Birdsong encourages all nonprofits to join this initiative: "If you are a gardener, just download the app and you will be connected to an inspiring organization."
By partnering with Fresh Food Connect, nonprofits can play a crucial role in creating a future where everyone has access to nutritious, homegrown food. Visit their website at https://freshfoodconnect.org/ to explore their full story, read impact reports, and discover how your organization can benefit from this innovative solution.
RESOURCE LINKS
- Fresh Food Connect : https://freshfoodconnect.org/gardener-resources/
- Aggie Horticulture https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/
- American Community Gardening Association www.communitygarden.org/
- Harris County Master Gardeners https://hcmga.tamu.edu/
- Health and Human Service Department www.houstonhealth.org
- Texas Cooperative Extension Service - Harris County https://harris-tx.tamu.edu/
- The National Gardening Association www.garden.org/urbangardening/
- Urban Harvest https://www.urbanharvest.org/
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