Thank you to our partners and supporters for their contributions to our work. Read on for more information about our achievements in November 2020!
Community Engagement and Network Building:
During the month of November, the Food Council hosted 14 meetings attended by more than 300 community members, including three working group meetings, two biweekly COVID-19 Community Calls, our last Virtual Food Security training, a SNAP Virtual Training in partnership with MD Hunger Solutions, advocacy discussions with local elected officials, and several meetings for the County’s Food Security Task Force. The Food Council guest presented at the Lab School of Washington, the Hunger Free Communities Conference, a Food for Montgomery special event with the Jewish congregations community, and facilitated two breakout discussions on statewide food security policy at the Maryland Hunger Solutions Legislative Brainstorm. In total, the Food Council participated in over 45 community engagements this November, connecting with over 600 local residents, businesses, nonprofits, and government leaders.
Our communications team shared over 80 social media posts (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) about food assistance resources and distribution events. The Food Council also shared a Thanksgiving Food Distribution Update on our website, with information on food distributions taking place during the week of 11/23-11/29, that received over 550 visits. We created and shared a tutorial for our Food Assistance Resource Map in English, Spanish, and Amharic to increase engagement in diverse communities. In an effort to continue building the capacity of local food system partners, we shared information about various grant opportunities for food assistance providers, businesses and farms, as well as job openings that are available at several of our partner organizations. We also released a COVID-19 Response Report, detailing our accomplishments as a food assistance community over the past six months.
Food Security Highlights:
- The Food Council hosted the final two virtual sessions in our Fall training series for Hubs and Food Assistance Providers.
- The Nutrition Standards for the Food Assistance Providers and Food Education Resources session featured guest presenterAnnmarie Hart-Bookbinderfrom University of Maryland Extension SNAP-Ed Program and was attended by 18 community members.
- The Culturally Competent Community Engagement and Outreach Training was hosted by Kaori Hirakwa of Office of Community Partnerships for over 40 participants.
- In partnership with Maryland Hunger Solutions, we hosted the first session of a two-part training series on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. These trainings were created to connect local Food Assistance Providers with up-to-date information about this federal program.
- Part two of the training will be held on December 9th from 1:30-3:00PM via Zoom. Register in advance for this free training here.
- The Food Council has participated in ongoing discussions with Manna Food Center, the Office of Agriculture, Crossroads Community Food Network, and partners in the agricultural community related to funding and infrastructure that will support farm to food bank purchases in 2021.
Working Group and Committee Meeting Highlights:
Over 250 community partners joined us for our working group meetings this month.
- The Environmental Impact Working Group meeting on 11/12 was attended by 36 community stakeholders, and featured presentations from Councilmember Evan Glass, regarding his ideas to expand composting opportunities in the county through ZTA 20-04, and experts who are leading on-farm composting initiatives at Compost Crew and One Acre Farm.
- Those interested in joining the next Environmental Impact Working Group meeting on Tuesday, 1/5 can sign up to receive information here.
- The Food Economy Working Group meeting on 11/16 focused on best practices for connecting with buyers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kim Bryden, CEO of Cureate, and Bart Yablonsky, Owner of Dawson’s Market, shared insights with MoCo Made businesses regarding exposure opportunities and relationship building in a virtual setting.
- Those interested in joining the next Food Economy Working Group meeting on 12/16 can sign up to receive information here.
- The Food Education Working Group meeting on 11/24 was attended by 20 community stakeholders, and featured a presentation from Tessa Mork, Director of Food and Nutrition Programs at the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington, on food education and nutrition programs that DC residents have had access to during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Those interested in joining future Food Education Working Group meetings can sign up for updates on this working group, here.
- The Food Recovery and Access Working Group continues to meet on a bi-weekly basis, during our COVID-19 community calls. Our early November call featured updates from the MCPS Linkages to Learning program, and a special presentation from Maryland Hunger Solutions, on their new Hunger Profiles report. In late November, our call focused on updates from our county partners including the Holiday Giving Program, and a celebration of appreciation and gratitude.
- The bi-weekly virtual meetings are open to the public. Please register in advance here.
- The Food Council’s Racial Equity Committee met on 11/6 in a continued effort to identify immediate actions and long term goals that the Food Council can pursue to achieve more equitable organizational approaches and a more inclusive, diverse, and equitable local food system. More updates on this effort coming soon.
Policy and Advocacy Highlights:
- The Food Council presented testimony during the public hearing for the Thrive 2050 Master Plan on November 19th, encouraging the Planning Board to strengthen recommendations related to food security and resiliency, transportation barriers that limit food access, food waste composting infrastructure, localized food production facilities, and protecting and increasing access to farmland.
- The Food Council submitted a letter of support for ZTA 20-04, which seeks to expand on-farm composting in Montgomery County by increasing the amount of offsite material that farms can accept from 20% to 50%. This ZTA will promote sustainability within our local food system, and effectively advance the recommendations of the Strategic Plan to Advance Composting and Compost Use.
Grant Process Leadership:
- The Resident and Community Food Production Gardening Grant Program awarded $201,810 to 12 local non-profit organizations to fund projects that support new or renewed community gardening and backyard/patio food production projects. Projects funded through the grant program include the distribution of garden learning kits for residents to start and grow their own culturally appropriate vegetable and herb gardens, expanding gardening capacity and educational opportunities related to sound gardening principles and land stewardship, and furthering engagement with traditionally underserved communities in the County to provide long-term food security through gardening education and resources. The gardening projects that have been funded through this grant opportunity are projected to support over 5,000 residents engaged in gardening programs, and provide food to at least 12,500 people in Montgomery County.
Regional and National Leadership:
- Convened food councils, in partnership with elected state leaders, from across the state of Maryland to identify strategies for collaboration and coordination; Executive Director, Heather Bruskin attended the first meeting of MWCOG’s FARM Committee which worked to identify several short and long term solutions for food insecurity. Executive Director also highlighted Montgomery County’s COVID-19 food security response alongside other organizations across the US in a plenary session at national Alliance to End Hunger conference; as well as, discussed strategies for engaging community voice in food security initiatives with food councils nationwide with JHCLF.
Thanks to all of our partners for continuing to support our efforts! Check back next month for another update. Please contact [email protected] with any questions.