Dr. Mrs Oluwakemi Olukayode’s Post

Food is a universal need that transcends age, background, address, race, gender, and societal status. We all need to eat. Yet, more than 83,700 people in Wyoming—over 14% of the population—are facing food insecurity. We've had the honor of connecting with neighbors across the state and learning firsthand about the challenges of food insecurity. Learn more in our blog linked below.

I was just emailing with Cara Taback, my former colleague and supervisor from City Harvest, a food rescue organization in New York City. We were talking about resonance and differentiation in messaging, and it made me think of an important lesson I once learned from a stranger who had tagged us in a Twitter post. As a part of the External Relations team, we would regularly share statistics about hunger and food insecurity in New York City, along with statistics about the scale of our food rescue efforts. One day, someone posted a picture to Twitter and tagged City Harvest. It was a picture of a few bags of bagels that a store had thrown out at the end of the day. The person was outraged that the store owner hadn't called City Harvest to rescue that food. A social media firestorm ensued against that company. The replies and retweets came flooding in from the public, sharing the same basic sentiment -- "how could you throw this food in the garbage when so many people are going hungry in this city?" People were OUTRAGED...not by the statistics explaining how many New Yorkers live in poverty, or how tens of thousands of New Yorkers turn to soup kitchens every single day. They were outraged by the visual of perfectly good food sitting in a garbage can. Good marketing isn't just what you say. It's HOW you say it, and how you show it. It's about resonating with your target audience, aligning with their values, and inviting them to join the cause, so to speak. At the end of the day, it's about figuring out what kind of messaging will move your customer (or donor) to take action.

Investing locally

One of the most common areas that we get asked about is what is the best food to serve at a Children's Party. In the latest Memorable Parties blog we give some great tips on what to consider.

👣🫀Beyond the pursuit of profits, It’s imperative to recognize the responsibility we bear in fostering positive change. We are actively engaging in supporting initiatives such as Cleaning Coasts from Plastic, Books for Education, Feeding Homeless Animals, Serving Those in Need, and Planting Trees for a Greener Tomorrow.🪴🌊🌾 We welcome you to delve deeper into our dedication to these initiatives in our latest blog post! 🌱🌎 https://lnkd.in/dk695_6n #SocialImpact #CorporateSocialResponsibility

Partnerships have always been my go-to track to achieve anything.

As we celebrate the #NationalDayOfReason today, a reminder that Secular Week of Action ends tomorrow! If you’re still looking for ideas to participate this year, or you'd like to share pictures from your activities, check out some of our tips on www.weekofaction.org #SecularValues #SecularAction #WeekOfAction

We have a story in the latest issue of Neighbourhood Media detailing all the work we do via Addison Road Food Pantry Camperdown, our low-cost grocery store which makes use of rescued, donated and purchased food to support the local community and its needs. The story (link below) shows how we help feed people from Mission Australia's Common Ground housing project and the nearby Johanna O’Dea Court, a multi-storey NSW Family and Community Services apartment block. It also explains how we serve people living on a tight budget in Camperdown and Glebe, as well as people who come to the pantry from right across the City of Sydney LGA. Most of all, the story is a celebration of our monthly Addi Road 'Let's Get Cooking' sessions (AKA "the Cook-Up"), which offers 260 free hot meals for Mission Australia and Joanna O'Dea residents, as well as those shopping at our Addi Road Food Pantry Camperdown. These sessions involve a monthly cooking demo inside the Common Ground building. Food literacy is the ultimate goal behind Addi Road's Let's Get Cooking program. As well as simply providing a free hot meal (and dessert) each month, we look at helping people to shop AND cook with often very limited funds. Each month there are easy recipes on offer (and ready to be tasted) along extra tips for stocking people's kitchen cupboards; a list of essentials to facilitate simple, inexpensive and nutritious recipes that will match whatever Addi Road Food Pantry might have in stock. It's about building an integrated food ecology for people battling. With a few extra special ingredients over a shared meal as the community comes together: camaraderie and connection. + #Addiroad #cityofsydney #foodrelief #foodjustice #housing #inequality #Camperdown #Glebe #MissionAustralia #homeless #battling #costofliving #poverty #resilience #mentalhealth #wellbeing #nutrition #diet #charity #community #freemeals #cookingworkshop #volunteers #caring #education #connection #letsgetcooking #neighbourhoodmedia https://lnkd.in/gs7vVEvM

In Michigan, nearly 12% of people face food insecurity, and many of our community members face barriers to accessing nutritious food. Food insecurity has soared over the past few years, making it more important than ever to create a future where our food system is equitable, sustainable, and equipped to meet southeast Michigan’s needs. At our foundation, we support a number of nonprofit organizations, including Fair Food Network, Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan, Forgotten Harvest, Capuchin Soup Kitchen, and Make Food Not Waste, who are working to increase food access, destigmatized food insecurity, and provide education and resources so that people throughout our region can thrive. Read about our community collaboration to strengthen regional food security: https://lnkd.in/gZ-xUHUM

Yesterday, Wheeler Wolfenden and Dwares, CPAs participated in the ABCares Delaware annual hygiene drive, helping to deliver 4 carloads of donated supplies to Pleasantville Elementary School. Every child deserves to feel clean and confident, regardless of their financial situation. Many families struggle to afford basic necessities like soap, shampoo, and deodorant. As a result, many children go to school without the supplies they need to stay clean and healthy. This can lead to a number of problems, including: 🤢 Increased risk of illness: Children who don't have access to basic hygiene supplies are more likely to get sick from germs and bacteria. 😥 Decreased self-esteem: Children who feel dirty and unkempt may be less likely to participate in class and social activities. ❌Bullying: Children who don't have access to personal hygiene supplies may be bullied by their peers. ABCares Delaware provides opportunities for ABC Members to make a difference in their community by giving of their time and effort, to have a positive impact on the quality of life in the First State. Come out and join us! https://lnkd.in/dWrmWfzc