Oregon Food Bank: Fighting the Root Causes of Hunger

Fighting the Root Causes of Hunger:

Urban and Small Farms ConferenceNovember 8, 2014

Community Food Systemsat Oregon Food Bank

Emily Becker, Community Food Systems National Outreach Coordinator, Oregon Food Bank

What is Oregon Food Bank?• Since 1982, leads fight against hunger • Throughout Oregon and Clark County • Collecting and distributing food

What is Oregon Food Bank?• Leads statewide efforts to eliminate

the root causes of hunger through- Advocacy- Nutrition Education- Garden Education- Community Food Systems

What is a Community Food System?

http://fysophunger.wordpress.com/vision-food-systems/

VISION: We envision communities across Oregon and SW Washington where citizens are empowered and actively engaged across sectors to attain personal and community food security.

Three approaches:• Community FEAST• RARE Community Food Assessment

Partnership • Food Systems Networking

Oregon Food Bank Community

Food Systems

Why does the Food Bank do this work?• Helps to accomplish our mission: To end hunger and its

root causes, because no one should be hungry• Opportunity to engage community in a new and

different way• Finished assessment provides community a road map for

action• Make sure voices of food insecure people are heard in

the community food systems movement• Upstream/long-term solutions are needed to end

hunger!

What happens at a ?

• Stories are shared from the local food system.

• Themes and solutions from other communities are shared.

• Local themes and solutions are identified and priorities are set.

• Work groups are established and Organizing Plans created.

Community driven FEAST outcomes have included:• New farmers’ markets • Increased SNAP & WIC acceptance• New/Expanded community gardens • New donors for food banks• Additional Nutrition/Gardening Education events

• FEAST was developed as a response to the need to help communities move to action around community food systems work.

• These events are organized by a local leadership team and feature local organizations

• A FEAST convenes a conversation that leads to a self-determined organizing plan for food systems work in the community

• Currently, OFB staff serve as facilitators, provide suggestions, feedback and support, but do not direct the outcomes.

About the FEAST model

IMPACT • 70 events to date engaging over 2000 people

• Replicable model- being implemented in 7 states beyond Oregon

• Shown to increase community connections among participants

• 30+% of participants are food producers

• Program nationally recognized by Feeding America’s 2013 Innovation AwardsFEAST engages a broad spectrum of the community to

create self-determined organizing plans.

COMMUNITY FOOD ASSESSMENTS

WHY DO WE DO COMMUNITY FOOD

ASSESSMENT?Our qualitative approach:

• Builds community in the process

• Reflects local food system realities through the lens of the local community

• Informs grassroots actions in communities, acting as a guide for local organizations

CFAs have identified: • Improvements to local food systems

that can be made by current community groups, with existing resources

• Ways to strengthen emergency food services in Oregon’s rural communities

• Policy solutions and other actions that can improve local food systems and reduce food insecurity

Complete • In-Progress • Planned 14-15

• Increase Healthy Food Access• Promote small &

medium size growers• Build Food Literacy• Community Food

Organizing

CFA RECOMMENDATIONS COMMON ACROSS REGIONS:

• Supporting CFS Organizations• Convening Partners & Players• Playing a leading role in local, regional & national

food movements• FEAST Leadership Network, Quarterly webinars• Advising funders & policymakers

Networking & Leading the Movement

Closing the Hunger Gap Network & Conference

Closing the Hunger Gap is a network of food banks, anti-hunger advocates, and food justice activists from across North America working to strengthen community food systems .

National Conference• Food banks, farms, and

organizations focused on health, education, and food justice

• Sept 13 – 16 in Portland, Oregon• http://thehungergap.org

Emily BeckerCommunity Food System National

Outreach Coordinator503-575-2104

ebecker@oregonfoodbank.org

http://thehungergap