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20 million Americans still don't have enough to eat. A grass-roots movement of free fridges aims to help

Heather Long

June 28, 2021 |

The Washington Post |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The pandemic economy has left more people without money for quality food, a need addressed in some communities by "freedges" – community-run refrigerators dispensing free food. The food gets donated by groceries, restaurants, and individuals. Volunteers maintain the fridges, which typically are placed outdoors on a sidewalk. This form of "mutual aid" has grown in popularity nationwide, despite food-safety concerns by city health officials.

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Philly Families Are Taking Charge of Their Own Food Security

Emily Nonko

June 15, 2021 |

Next City |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

In 2014, the community organization Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha piloted a community-based Food Buying Club in Philadelphia. This initiative allowed local residents to buy food in bulk at wholesale prices. The goal was to strengthen food security and combat the lack of affordable and nutritious food in their neighborhood. Despite distributing over 62,000 pounds of fresh produce, the program shut down due to financial reasons. Now, after forming an advisory council and working on their business strategy with others in the community, the club is reopening and is looking to expand across the city.

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Local Platforms for Online Food Delivery Are Eating the Big Guys' Lunch

Oscar Perry Abello

June 15, 2021 |

Next City |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Lexington, Kentucky

Locally owned restaurant delivery platforms charge lower commissions than national giants like GrubHub, allow customers to order food on smart-phone apps, and have found ways to be profitable while also keeping money in local economies. While platforms differ by locale, cooperative models are increasingly popular. For example, Delivery Co-op in Lexington, KY provides customers with unlimited deliveries for a monthly fee, charges participating restaurants a flat monthly fee, and pays drivers a base salary plus tips, with benefits kicking after three months of full-time work and profit-sharing after one year.

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Federal program that helps farmers during the pandemic is changing the local food landscape

Kate Bradshaw

June 13, 2021 |

The Almanac |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, California

The Farmers to Family program, an initiative from the U.S Department of Agriculture set aside $3 billion for its Farmers to Families Food Box program, part of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. The program awarded contracts farmers and distributors to provide food for families experiencing food insecurity. The article lays out some of the challenges with the program like issues with how the contracts were awarded, difficulty coordinating between distributors and farmers, stringent requirements, as well as the quick, creative solutions that were deployed to overcome them.

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Mobile food pantry helping Hoosiers in need

Megan Sanctorum

June 04, 2021 |

WRTV-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

Under 3 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Indianapolis, Indiana

A mobile food pantry is helping to increase food availability for those in the Indianapolis community. A 28-seat passenger bus was converted by Pro-Act Indy and turned into a food pantry, which takes the food to those who need it most, but who may not have the means to get to food banks.

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How this donation app helped get food directly to hungry people during the pandemic

Talib Visram

June 02, 2021 |

FastCompany |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

“DoorDash for the food insecure” is how the founder of Food Rescue Hero describes the service that is connecting surplus food supply to those who can put it to good use. The service takes on a growing crisis of food insecurity while also diverting food from landfills. The initial pilot was created in Pittsburgh, where a team of experts created an app to redirect surplus food from restaurants and events to nonprofits that can get the food where it is most needed. A network of volunteers is notified when deliveries in their area are ready for pickup without much inconvenience to their daily routines.

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Black Women Come Up Short On Funds And Food In COVID-19 Pandemic

Marissa Evans

June 01, 2021 |

Fierce for Black Women |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

Village Minds was started by Natia Simone as a Facebook page to connect people in need of food and assistance, due to COVID-19 and grocery store closures after the protests following the murder of George Floyd. However, a broader issue of food insecurity led her to expand into a formal organization that has made more than 3,650 grocery deliveries. A partnership with a local produce store helps fill bags with fresh food and a food pantry provides other staples. With the help of friends and family, Simone uses a rented U-Haul to deliver the groceries to seniors throughout Chicago.

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Laying out food pantries like grocery stores gives choice and can lead to healthy habits

Bekah McNeel

May 19, 2021 |

Dallas Free Press |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Dallas, Texas

At Aunt Bette's Community Pantry in Dallas, people receiving donated food are treated with dignity and given choices that can have both psychological and nutritional benefits. A client-choice food pantry mimics a grocery store, except at this one people shop by appointment to fill their free, biweekly allotment. Volunteers help shoppers with health advice and also track inventory, so that unpopular items get discontinued. When people aren't handed a box with a take-it-or-leave-it selection, they waste less food and end up opting for healthier choices (with some helpful but not overbearing nudges).

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To feed community members, Crossroads partners with churches, public housing facilities and neighborhood centers

Michelle Aslam

May 18, 2021 |

Dallas Free Press |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Dallas, Texas

Lack of transportation can make centralized food pantries inaccessible to those who need the help. So Crossroads Community Services in North Texas partners with more than 100 community groups, including churches, public housing developments, and community centers, to make monthly deliveries to local sites. Those local partners are trusted points of contact to enroll people in the program and get them their food packages. Though it's not as effective as access to quality, affordable grocery stores, this community distribution partner model has decreased food insecurity and improved health in the community.

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Crossroads Community Services partners with churches, public housing facilities and neighborhood centers to combat food insecurity

Michelle Aslam

May 18, 2021 |

Dallas Morning News |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Dallas, Texas

The Cities of Refuge church, in collaboration with other food banks like Crossroads Community Services, helps provide those in need with access to healthy food and groceries. The Crossroads’ community distribution partner model involves over 100 community partners that serve almost 32,000 people across Dallas and neighboring counties.

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