1. Making the case to communities &
foundations
A Food Systems Approach to Hunger
Liz Sheehan Castro
Project Manager, Hunger-Free & Healthy
Worcester Food & Active Living Policy Council
Worcester, MA

2. Agenda
 Introduction
 The Concept – hunger & community food
security
 Hunger-Free & Healthy as a case study
 Working with foundations and funders
 Wrap-up & Questions

3. Policy
Council
Hunger-
Free &
Healthy
Staff
(me!)

4. Community Food Security (CFS)
 Community food security is a condition
in which all community residents
obtain a safe, culturally acceptable,
nutritionally adequate diet through a
sustainable food system that
maximizes community self-reliance and
social justice.
--Mike Hamm and Anne Bellows

5. Low Income Food Needs
Broad Goals
Community focus
Self-reliance/empowerment
Local agriculture
Systems-oriented
Six Principles of CFS

6. Hunger-Free & Healthy: A Case Study
 Origins: Summer Feeding Project Success
 Funder: Health Foundation of Central MA
 Timeline: 2007-2012
 Purpose: Hunger as a Public Health Issue

7. Dedicated funder
Strong, cooperative coalition of
organizations
Evaluation
Keys to Success

8. Project Components: Systems & Behavior
Collaboration
Communication
Sustainability
School Meals
SNAP
Cooking
Classes
Gardening
Farmers
Markets
Policy
Advocacy

9. School Meals
 Reach: 2/3 of meals eaten in schools
 Need: 70% free and reduced
 Success:
 16 schools have breakfast in the classroom
 Whole grain, fresh and local fruits & veggies
 Farm to School
 10 Get Fresh, Get Local programs
 No high fructose corn syrup in milk
 Wellness Policy
 School Nutrition legislation

10. SNAP
 Need: only 49% of eligible households participated in
2004
 Success (as of 2011)
 30 sites throughout city
 200 new Worcester families on SNAP
 Minimum of $253,000 in benefits secured
 80% of applicants would not have applied without
mobile advocacy and assistance
 In MA 77% eligible are participating
 Secured ongoing funding for outreach

13. Cooking Classes
 Share Our Strength Cooking Matters
 Need: Cultural of convenience = lack of cooking skills
 Success:
 115 adults and 15 youth graduated between 2008-
2011. Classes maintained a 73% graduation rate.
 73% are eating more vegetables
 62% are eating more fruits
 80% are eating more whole grains
 47% are eating more low-fat or fat-free dairy
 49% are eating more lean meats
 90% improved their cooking skills

15. Educational Gardens
 Need: Students have little connection to where their food
comes from
 Success:
 Since 2010, 20 new gardens established in elementary,
middle and high schools.
 Teachers and principals report high usage of garden.
 Has promoted cross-subject integration: health,
woodworking, math, writing, community service, life skills.
 Secured 3-years of Americorps VISTA support for dedicated
staff.
 Working on curriculum development.

17. Farmers’ Market
 Need: No markets in low-income
neighborhoods; none accepted SNAP, all
mid-day, midweek
 Success:
Main South Farmers Market has 300-500
weekly attendees
Continued growth of sales and attendees.
Over 40% sales to low-income (SNAP/WIC/SC)
Successful Mobile Market launched in 2012

18. $-
$2,000.00
$4,000.00
$6,000.00
$8,000.00
$10,000.00
$12,000.00
$14,000.00
Saletotal
Year
SNAP, WIC, Senior Coupon Sales
2009
2010
2011

20. Policy Advocacy
 Need: Sustainable Change
 Success:
School Nutrition Bill (MA)
MA Food Policy Council
SNAP Budget Increase (MA)
Wellness Policy (Worcester)
Relationships with local, state, fed.
officials

21. Sustainability
 Coalition and relationships
 Regional Environmental Council
Farmers’ Markets, Cooking Classes, School
Gardens
 Project Bread, WCFB, DTA & SNAP
 Diversified funding due to early successes
 Continued advocacy

22. Funding
 Keys to Success
Choose the right funders
Make the case with data
Build relationships
Good writing
Follow directions
Budget
Confidence

23. Get involved! Stay in touch!
Liz Sheehan Castro
hungerfree@worcesterfoodpolicy.org
508-723-4550
http://worcesterfoodandactiveliving.wordpress.com
Facebook
Twitter