CitySquare’s Post

The Greater Chicago Food Depository completed a $43M expansion of its commercial kitchen on the Southwest side of Chicago. 🏗️ The 38,000-square-foot expansion will enable to the facility to produce up to 10,000 meals a day with 15 new workers to help curb the demand. #BeinIllinois https://bit.ly/3ZMrC0H

For this one, I'm going to be asking for your help: As I travel through my city, just living my life, I often see posters on community bulletin boards that list the nearby food pantries for anyone in need, which is awesome! However, since I work at Lemontree, I can compare it with the reports we get every day from people accessing food, and I know the information is unfortunately woefully out of date. Whoever made the flyer might not have the time to update it, or the data they are working from also hasn't been updated in years. So to solve that, Chinazo and I just built a new page (foodhelpline.org/share) on Lemontree that lets anyone plug in their address, and get an up-to-the-minute accurate flyer from Lemontree's neighbor and pantry sourced data for that location. Just in case, we also show a QR code which people can scan from their phones to sign up for their own live, specialist curated dashboard, and text message updates when anything changes. What we need from you: do you mind printing out a flyer or two for the community spaces around you (libraries/coffee shops/pizza places/churches/whatever else) and asking them if they can help their neighbors by hanging a flyer? https://lnkd.in/ejqURQVq

Yesterday, the NJEDA Food Security Team hosted a grantee convening to kick off the Atlantic City Food Security Grants Pilot Program. This program has awarded grants of up to $500,000 to support initiatives that strengthen food access in New Jersey's second most acute Food Desert Community. To date, NJEDA has invested over $6 million towards strengthening food security in Atlantic City. Over the next two years, 11 grantee organizations will be implementing projects including establishing new permanent and mobile food pantries, constructing a co-op market, expanding free meal delivery for seniors, creating a Community Supported Agriculture program with online ordering, and much more. City of Atlantic City Government New Jersey Office of the Food Security Advocate

Meet Claire Bleiler, Chief of Staff at Lemontree, the tech nonprofit tackling food insecurity head-on. In her interview with the Hunter College New York City Food Policy Center , Claire shares how Lemontree is connecting cutting-edge tech with equitable food access: "You can call an Uber from your phone. I can order Instacart from my computer. But that technology hadn’t extended to food insecurity. Where Lemontree fills that gap is making sure that the information out there on food pantry soup kitchens is accurate, and also providing that information in a way that prioritizes hospitality and really fights the stigma of food insecurity.” She offers practical strategies for nonprofits to scale compassion through technology while staying deeply rooted in community needs. Consider this a must-read: https://lnkd.in/gdkxncqx

It's not every day that you get interviewed in your office! This past Monday, I had the opportunity to discuss the important work of Sustainable Campus and the Food Recovery Network. We are so grateful for our campus partners that allow us to work together and create a meaningful impact on campus for students. Please enjoy the full article below and let me know your thoughts!

This morning our volunteers were greeted on the first shift of the new year with a dozen bags that were left outside of our door while we were closed for the holiday. They were soaking wet from the rain and filled with opened, half-empty, expired and/or rotting food items. We truly believe in the good intentions of our community members but this just felt inconsiderate and discouraging for a couple of reasons. 1. Our volunteers are giving their heart, energy, effort and time for free because they care about the well-being of others. It should never be their job to dispose of wet, rotting food. 2. There are a lot of people in need of food items and a lot of ways to get food to those who need it. We are always more than happy to help find the best home for items we don't take. But we don't get the opportunity to do that when things are haphazardly left at our door when we're closed. 3. There are a lot of organizations that work REALLY hard to make good, healthy, fresh food accessible to all. Seeing all of these items so carelessly put to waste is tough. So in response to this less-than-happy to start to our new year, we'd love for you to follow and support the organizations that are striving to make sure everyone in Maine is fed. @preblestreet @lockerproject @fullplatesfullpotential @waysidefoodprograms @presentemaine @waldocountybounty Tag more in the comments. Provide support in the ways they ask for. Here's to 2025!

A brilliant report from Nourish Scotland on why public diners are a 'classic public health intervention'. So much to unpick in this report with great examples of models that have worked in the UK (British Restaurants) as well as Hawker Centres in Singapore and Milk Kitchens in Poland. There are plenty more examples, some are state supported and others that are private but there is so much evidence out there that social eating, at scale, can have a positive impact on our physical and emotional health. 🥗 Popular Restaurants in Brazil - seeks to de-stigmatise food poverty with a pub like atmosphere - https://lnkd.in/edyjpbB4 🥗 Absalon in Copenhagen focuses on social cohesion - https://lnkd.in/ecj7373J 🥗 The Long Table in Stroud - https://lnkd.in/epPbdj6A Thanks Nourish Scotland for getting this vital conversation started. https://lnkd.in/emgcvGw9

Ivy Lawrence-Walls and Jeremy Peaches, two farmers from Houston, have turned their passion for community and fresh produce into Fresh House Grocery, a Black-owned store in Sunnyside. Their mission is to combat food insecurity in this USDA-designated food desert by offering locally sourced products and everyday essentials. With support from their Black Farmer's Box initiative and grants, they’re bringing fresh, healthy options back to the neighborhood they grew up in.

Tackling food insecurity requires a multi pronged approach. So great to see CFBNJ’s forward thinking in action with a focus on health and nutrition, innovative food distribution and wrap around services!

🌟 DICP Food Pantry: A Year of Impact in 2024! This year, the DICP Food Pantry continued to provide vital support to Denver’s communities, addressing food insecurity and helping families thrive. Through over 200 pantry days, we distributed an incredible 207,062 pounds of food, serving 15,290+ individuals across the city. Operating with a client-choice model, we prioritize fresh, nutritious options like fruits and vegetables to empower families to make choices that fit their needs. Thanks to partnerships with organizations like Food Bank of the Rockies and Parker Task Force, we’ve ensured that healthy food is accessible to those who need it most. 🎥 Watch the full impact in our Annual Report video: https://buff.ly/3zBBEHC 💛 Together, we’ve made a difference—one meal, one family, one community at a time. Here’s to continuing this critical work in 2025! #DICP #FoodPantryImpact #CommunitySupport #FightingHunger #DenverStrong Add tags