Phoenix Didn't Just Feed the Hungry. It Saved Farms and Restaurants.

The Bridges program helped alleviate food insecurity in Hawaii by connecting local food producers with food banks. As a result, struggling farmers, who saw a sharp decline in sales after the pandemic, were also able to stay afloat while keeping much-needed food banks stocked.

Catch Together is supporting both fishermen and food banks by buying catch that would typically be sold to the restaurant industry. Fisheries were hit hard when the pandemic resulted in an economic slowdown and food banks had an increasing need for resources. Innovative programs have been launched in Mississippi and Alaska where local, fresh fish has been served to demographics that typically don’t have the access to it.

The Ajo Center for Sustainable Agriculture has helped the town of Ajo in Arizona distribute affordable and nutrient-dense food to the community after the coronavirus pandemic created a significant financial strain on many families. Additional support has come from the town's participation in the Environmental Protection Agency's program Local Food, Local Places which "provides technical support and expertise to help towns leverage food systems to boost economic development."

After Boston Public Schools closed in March because of the COVID-19 pandemic, about 70 volunteers tended schoolyard gardens at 14 schools to grow food for local families experiencing economic hardship. While students were not able to participate because of COVID restrictions, residents during the summer months cleaned garden beds and planted vegetables like eggplants, cucumbers, and peppers. Organizers expect to harvest about 300 pounds of vegetables by the end of September.

The Latino Task Force emerged in response to Covid-19 and has effectively provided services to the Mission District’s Latinx community. Formed by longtime grassroots activists turned influential community leaders, the Task Force and its volunteers provide Spanish-language information, food aid, and funds for out of work or sick residents. They also run the Hub, a physical location where, among other services, residents can get help applying for assistance. While information quickly becomes out of date and individuals' needs change, the Task Force has successfully listened to and responded to community needs.

Community Services Unlimited (CSU) is a local organization in Southern California that is helping to increase access to healthy foods for families all year round, but especially now during the Covid-19 pandemic. Unlike many food aid programs, the goal of CSU is not just to provide food, but to "create more empowered food communities" by teaching the local community valuable and usable skills around food production and distribution.

The Chinatown Community Development Center (CCDC), a San Francisco nonprofit, is helping those living in single-room occupancy (SRO) or public housing access food safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. The CCDC has partnered with Self-Help for the Elderly and local restaurants to help deliver cooked meals and create pick-up stations for residents. So far, they’re helping deliver over 2,000 meals each day.

In Rhode Island, a collaborative, farmer-run food delivery service has come together as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As farmers around the state saw massive declines in orders, they came together to create an online ordering service and deliver their food, things like produce, coffee, flowers, and eggs, themselves. Since inception, they saw immediate success and have been working to figure out how to scale and serve more people.

Many supermarkets spend most days overcrowded and rapidly out of stock due to the coronavirus crisis, so the major grocery retailer in Australia designated the first hour of business to serving seniors and the disabled. Although there's no guarantee that all items will have been restocked, the dedicated time allows this at-risk population to have a better chance at obtaining the necessities.

Sam Schimmel, a college student and member of the Siberian Yupik and Kenaitze tribes, helped organize a food drive on St. Lawrence Island in Alaska. The initiative, known as Operation Fish Drop — delivered more than 12,000 pounds of salmon to 400 families. It Brought together tribal councils, local fisheries, and volunteers to help address food security in Alaska Native communities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.