CAF America’s Post

🌏 On this International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste, we urge leaders worldwide to advance policies that reduce #foodwaste & address #climatechange by ensuring safe, surplus food is redistributed to feed people. We have seven policy recommendations that can help make this happen. 1️⃣ Issue clear food safety guidance for donated food  2️⃣ Provide comprehensive liability protections for food donors and food recovery organizations  3️⃣ Require standardized date labels  4️⃣ Create tax incentives and remove tax barriers to food donations  5️⃣ Enact food waste deterrence policies  6️⃣ Offer government grants and incentives for food donation  7️⃣ Adopt a national law or policy on food waste that includes food donation Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/epkhVdRc #FLWDay #IDAFLW

The recent Map the Meal report is a call to action. How could it be that in a country with such wealth that so many of our neighbors are struggling to put food in the table. Here are two suggestions: first we all need to talk about this problem (because if people don’t know how much hunger there is, we can move the needle on this problem. Second - policies MUST change. We need action at the federal, states and local levels to help people by lifting them up support so that they can rise above these struggles. What other innovative ideas do you have ? #endhunger Feeding America @FeedingNewYorkState Island Harvest Food Bank

Did you know that food insecurity rates in Massachusetts have skyrocketed by a staggering 33%, with low-income families experiencing a devastating 80% increase? What’s more, Latinx and Black residents are experiencing food insecurity at nearly double the rate of white residents. Please join Health Leads in our work to elevate local leaders living and working in the state’s hardest hit communities who are best positioned to tackle this crisis head on. Health Leads serves as the co-backbone with Vital CxNs for the Neighborhood Food Action Collaborative (NFAC) which supports Boston residents to develop and steward local food access networks. NFAC is uniquely able to reach the Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), immigrant, disabled, and elderly individuals traditionally underserved by food banks, pantries, and other resources. Together, we’re centering community members, creating leadership opportunities for them to undo the unjust systems that cause racial health inequities, and increasing the availability of affordable, nutritious, and culturally responsive foods within the communities of Mattapan, Dorchester, Roxbury, Roslindale, and Hyde Park. Over the past three years, NFAC has fed over 20,000 individuals in Boston food swamp neighborhoods, advocated for policy improvements in food assistance public programs, and created a network for improved cross sector coordination and collaboration to maximize community resources and increase food access. Our goal is to uplift this unique model for addressing food insecurity, demonstrating how those who are most impacted by this challenge could be shaping similar cross-sectoral partnerships across the country. We are $300,000 away from our fundraising goal to launch phase two of this work in July, which includes continuing the current collaborative, partnering with the Boston Food Access Council to center community in influencing food access policy solutions, and adding a unique peer-to-peer SNAP enrollment effort centered on reaching aging and immigrant populations. Please consider giving today! Join the City of Boston Office of Food Justice, the Boston Public Health Commission, the Dunkin' Joy in Childhood Foundation, the Boston Food Hub, the Biogen Foundation, and Takeda to ensure NFAC grows its team to connect more residents with the essential resources they need and build a better, more equitable food ecosystem in Greater Boston. Even if you aren’t able to give, please share this with your networks and let us know if you are working on similar efforts - we’re eager to learn from you! https://lnkd.in/e4AbyiVF

2023 has been a tough year for many, especially the increasing number of those suffering from food insecurity. That's why this holiday season, Edlong CEO & Owner, Laurette Rondenet is shining a light on companies and organizations making a difference in their communities. Read more to find out how these Food Heroes and our industry, as a whole, can work to make hunger a thing of the past. https://bit.ly/4ah6frv #Edlong #EdlongFlavors #Article #BlogPost #FoodDevelopment #FoodInnovation #FoodInsecurity #FoodHeroes

Our Food Security Coalition is dedicated to making sure that every household in Missouri has access to healthy meals. In honor of Hunger Action Month, we’re dedicating this $5 Friday to our FSC - make a gift at https://lnkd.in/g4s78wYB to support their work! We know that the systemic problems that cause hunger need POLICY solutions. Empower’s approach is to address the root causes of hunger through long-term policy solutions like living wages, ameliorating food deserts, and protecting social safety net programs such as SNAP, which helps over 41 million people nationwide purchase food every month. Today, as we near the end of Hunger Action Month, can you chip in $5 to support our coalition’s work to: -End or decrease state and local sales tax on food. -Decrease food deserts in our state through tax credits to open grocery stores and support urban farms. -Defend against bills that increase barriers to or decrease the support given through Missouri’s safety net programs like SNAP and TANF. -Help Missouri apply for & implement the Elderly Simplified Application Project for SNAP. -Increase WIC participation across the state. We can’t do this alone. We need your support to help fund our training programs, send advocates to the capitol, and convene our coalitions. So, if you believe in our mission, skip your coffee, dig out your spare change, or chip in whatever you are able to help fund our anti-poverty advocacy work in Missouri: https://lnkd.in/g4s78wYB

Officials said the increase means that high-capacity food pantries are helping more families now than during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, federally-funded programs helped to combat food insecurity but as funding has decreased, and living costs have increased, more and more Washtenaw County residents are seeking help. “The important difference is that federal food resources to food banks have declined since the height of the pandemic, so we are now purchasing much more food to meet the need,” said Food Gatherers president and CEO Eileen Spring in a release. “It’s a necessary emergency response but it is not sustainable. We need policy and philanthropy to align to meet this crisis.” The decrease in extra SNAP benefits in March 2023 added fuel to the fire and continued to cause the number of households going to food banks to rise. Food Gatherers said a 20% decrease in federal resources in 2023 led to 500,000 fewer pounds of food being distributed into the community. The nonprofit also saw a 40% increase in the amount of food it needed to purchase in 2023 compared to 2022, and a 65% in spending on food due to inflation. #foodbanks #foodinsecurity #tefap #fooddonations

Sustainable food security solutions are what is needed to address the global challenges of food and nutrition security.

Nourishing Communities: Stories of Hope in the Fight Against Hunger In the battle against food insecurity, meet two local heroes making a difference: FeedMe Bellarine and Surf Coast ('FeedMe') and The Outpost. These initiatives tackle hunger with heart and innovation, responding to rising demand highlighted by the Food For Thought Research. FeedMe Bellarine and Surf Coast: Where Kindness Takes the Lead Since 2019, FeedMe has been a lifeline for 2,000 families weekly. What sets them apart? A 'no questions asked' policy and a focus on volunteer wellbeing. Despite challenges, FeedMe leads with empathy, kindness, and sustainable practices. Collaborations with fine dining establishments showcase their commitment to promoting food sustainability and security. Addressing availability, stability, and utilisation in food security, FeedMe emerges as a true community leader. The Outpost: A Rock of Consistency For 33 years, The Outpost has been a central community hub, serving 1,200 people monthly with cooked meals and unwavering consistency. Challenges abound, yet The Outpost remains committed to its 'no questions asked' approach. With a 50% surge in service usage and growing complexity of needs, The Outpost's journey is marked by resilience. Space constraints limit their potential, but their generosity and the community's volunteer spirit remain strong enablers. Future Directions and Collaborative Opportunities FeedMe and The Outpost face challenges, but their commitment to fostering community, trust, and accessibility is unwavering. The future holds promise, with opportunities for nutritional content packaging, outreach services, and collaborative efforts to address gaps in food security. As these organisations continue to be pillars of support, they remind us that the fight against food insecurity is not just about providing meals but also about fostering a sense of belonging, understanding, and care. In a world that sometimes feels divided, FeedMe and The Outpost stand as beacons of hope, proving that kindness and generosity can truly nourish a community. #CommunityHeroes #FoodSecurity #KindnessInAction

“The state is leaving nearly $3.5 billion in unused federal food benefits on the table because 30% of eligible residents aren’t signed up to receive them, one of the worst rates in the country,” reports Joe Garofoli with the San Francisco Chronicle. CalFresh is one of the most effective tools to address food insecurity. That’s why the San Francisco Marin Food Bank co-sponsored AB1967, a bill to create a cabinet-level food insecurity officer to reduce the bureaucracy that prevents families from getting benefits they’re eligible for and money needed to buy their children healthy food. We’re helping to lead the way, advocating for CalFresh reform, so that our state can unlock $3.5B in federal dollars for 2.7 million low-income individuals. Ending hunger requires taking action to make it a reality, and your support of the Food bank is vital. Read the full article: https://loom.ly/kEaaMFg

58-year-old Edwin has been waiting for a heart transplant for three years. He's hoping to get a donor match soon, but in the meantime, Edwin is supposed to eat healthy as possible. Not only is fresh produce hard to access in his community, but Edwin also finds it difficult to afford the food he needs.  With the help of his local food pantry, Edwin doesn't have to worry about healthy food being out of his budget. Instead, he can focus on getting better.   “I know that I will be okay. We’re staying as positive as we can, and this food is doing the job."  Are you in need of FREE food assistance? #LCFB is here to help: 🍎Food pantries near you: http://ow.ly/yOMc50Hy83E 🍎Upcoming food distributions: http://ow.ly/LkRs50Hy83F