By Guest Writer & Spring 2020 COVID-19 Food Access Coordinator Jack Pokorny
The Neighbor Loaves initiative is feeding around two hundred and fifty Chimacum families tasty bread baked at Pane D’Amore with whole wheat flour sourced from local farms. The loaves arrive with the school bus. Kids from elementary school to high school wait at their bus stop, wave to their driver who during normal times would whisk them off to school, and approaching the steps of the bus accept not only a brownbag lunch, but also a sliced loaf of wondrously soft bread. The crust is thin and brown and the smooth mellow texture leads adults to question the nutritious quality while leading kids to eat the whole loaf.
The program began with the belief that the food we grow here should be eaten and loved by all, not just those who can afford to. The COVID-19 pandemic nudged our community towards grasping the American agricultural system is one of great inequality, one that provides cheap unhealthy food to the poor while prioritizing healthy nutritious food for the wealthy, privileged few. It would be a mistake to not see how that paradigm has extended into our own community; despite the tremendous intimacy we share with our food growers, bakers, and chefs.
After receiving a $4,200 grant from the Jefferson Community Foundation, the Community Wellness project set out to begin the transformation of our local food systems, one loaf at a time. The Neighbor Loaves project works by giving community members an opportunity to purchase a loaf at Pane D’Amore, the cost of which covers an additional loaf to be donated to community food support programs. The fund is managed by the Community Wellness Project and is the beginning steps towards a radical re-envisioning of local food system resilience and accessibility.
It is our hope that in this time of crisis, we veer away from fearful individualism and towards greater love, appreciation, and commitment to neighbors. Neighbor Loaves is a commitment between people to share the best our community has on offer.
Delicious & Nuritious
Chimacum First Grader with a school bus delivered Neighbor Loaf