Who is behind food security in Jefferson County? There isn’t a city or county department which oversees our local food safety net; yet miraculously things come together and a sector of our young families were recently helped. Let’s dig into this project and find out where funding compassion met needs and implementation. The Food Access Group, which addressed the food security gap between December of 2020 and spring break 2021, have delivered 1590 bags of nourishing, local food to an average of 150 families a week.
About the Food Access Group
It’s an ad hoc collection of individuals, WSU Extension, four non-profits, and nine businesses who found a way feed kids when the school breakfast/lunch program closed down. The “Christmas Box” was so successful that the program continued weekly under the “Spread the Love” moniker. The Spread the Love’s funding stopped short of spring break, but thanks to more funding by Jefferson Community Foundation, the spring break holiday gap will also be covered.
With the cash in hand, The Food Access Group stepped up the mission to not only feed families, but also keep local businesses thriving, through providing high quality food with an artisan PB&J sandwich. Luckily Finnriver Grainery/Pane d’Amore had already field tested their Approachable Loaf to make sure kids would love its squishy texture and not care that they were eating a whole wheat product. SpringRain Farm and Orchard and We be Jammin’ added jams, and CB's Nuts provided their signature peanut butter. Red Dog Farm and Solstice Farms contributed veggies to the Christmas Box. The Food Banks and OlyCAP added veggies and canned goods as well, but a sack wasn’t complete until a frozen, made-from-scratch meal by Grace Love, the owner of Nadine’s Kitchen, was tucked into place.
Who’s Who At-a-Glance
Funding: An anonymous donor to The Community Wellness Project (CWP) (JCCWP.org) and later the Jefferson Community Foundation made it possible to continue the program over school spring break.
Staffing provided by CWP: Kathryn (Kat) Hoerauf coordinated the vendors providing the weekly food as well as bag packing.
Staffing provided by Jefferson County YMCA: Genevieve Barlow, Rowan Matkins with a shout out to volunteers Terri, Susan, Sophie, Karolina, Roseanna, Saasdi, and Emily. The seven volunteers boxed up goods and delivered across six delivery routes covering the four school districts of Port Townsend, Chimacum, Quilcene, and Brinnon.
Food Suppliers: Finnriver Grainery & Pane d’Amore (bread); CB’s Nuts (peanut butter); SpringRain Farm and Orchard and We Be Jammin’ (jam); Nadine’s Kitchen (frozen meal); Red Dog Farm, Solstice Farm (fresh veggies); Food Banks, and OlyCAP (fresh veggies, pasta, staples and canned goods).
Distribution vans: Jefferson Healthcare vans, YMCA buses.
Pick up points: East Jefferson County School Districts and individual homes.
More Details:
This was a huge undertaking which needed fast deployment to fill the holiday gap. With such a short timeline, Kat Hoerauf was hired to organize and insure all the big picture moving parts kept moving. She is also the SNAP coordinator housed at WSU Extension and already knew how to find out which families needed the most help.
Boxes, Bags, and Vans
The YMCA provided major coordination via Genevieve Barlow who curated the lists of families, developed delivery routes, and coordinated packing days with Kat and Emily Henry (CWP Board member). Rowan Matkins focused on the logistics for deliveries, i.e., buses, gas, etc. The schools had some money for extra food purchases. OlyCAP provided pallets of emergency food boxes with some staples already in them. Everything else was a donation.
Spring Break Funding
With initial funding running out, Wendy Bart, CEO of YMCA, Genevieve, and Kathryn put together a proposal and were awarded a grant from the Jefferson Community Foundation to bridge the gap between CWP money the cost of the program over spring break. The YMCA is also taking more donations for this and the Summer Meals program which is starting soon.
Our thanks to all who participated and Spread the Love with your money, efforts, and leadership. Our community is stronger with your timely help.