We seek to improve the accessibility, justice, and sustainability of our local food system.
This summer, the DOH Farmers Market will return to the Department of Health in East Gainesville. The new operating hours are 3 pm—6 pm on Wednesdays, between April 20th and October 26th, 2022. Customers who participate in the WIC or Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Programs can use their vouchers at this market.
MEANS Database is a national nonprofit organization that connects food-generating entities to local organizations that use the excess food to feed the hungry in their communities. MEANS has partnerships with large entities like UF/IFAS and the UF Family Nutrition Program. And now MEANS Database is joining our efforts here in Gainesville to help improve our food waste recovery.
Grace Grows and a host of community partners are building toward food sovereignty through a food planning project in Southeast Gainesville. Food sovereignty is about generating power in the impacted community, where impacted community members are the ones who determine solutions for themselves.
At the end of summer 2021, the Delta variant of COVID-19 surged in Florida. Consequently, the need for face masks soared with it. When Growth Management Senior Planner Kathleen Pagan received a request from the Farmworker Association of Florida, she connected them with Days for Girls to fill the need.
The Gainesville Giving Garden has developed a small urban farm near downtown Gainesville. Its mission is to grow food for underserved families in our community. As a new nonprofit, the organization is currently looking to grow its Leadership Team. Check out this post for more information about this opportunity!
One way we can improve food access in our community is to make sure food does not go to waste. By working together, businesses and food recovery organizations can work to get donations for extra food to community members who are hungry. Check out this post to learn about a survey created to help this process.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Feeding Florida has made more funds available to Fresh Access Bucks participants. Fresh Access Bucks (FAB) is a statewide program that allows SNAP recipients to double their SNAP dollars for fresh fruits and vegetables at participating retailers. The typical $40 cap has been suspended until the end of 2021.
ACPS Food and Nutrition Services signed on to the Good Food Purchasing Program in April 2020. The Center for Good Food Purchasing works with participating organizations to set and meet goals to direct more food dollars toward local economies, health, valued workforce, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability.
This SNAP Recipient Survey by Florida Impact to End Hunger is open to Florida residents who currently receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Participating in this survey may help to improve the SNAP program in the future.
The Catholic Charities Food Pantry, located at 1701 NE 9 Street, Gainesville, FL, provides food packages that are nutritionally balanced to meet the needs of each family or individual.