Although we always do our best to make people feel comfortable about accessing our food, we realize we can do more.
It was fall when we greeted Al, an older gentleman, who was visiting our Food Shelf. Not recognizing him, like we do many of our guests, we asked if he’d ever been to our program before. He responded, “I never thought I’d have to come here.” He explained that his son, daughter-in-law and four children had just moved in with him which is why he was making his first visit to our program.
Although we always do our best to make people feel comfortable about accessing our food, we realize we can do more. We recently wrapped up a 5-month, externally focused, Strategic Planning process. Our plan further shifts our thinking from “what we think is best” to really listening and learning from our neighbors experiencing food insecurity.
Over the next year, we plan to use the generous support that you provide to invest in opportunities that strengthen our local food system; create an inclusive, dignified, and collaborative approach to food security; and center the voice of our neighbors in our actions and decisions. We thank you for providing the resources to think bigger and do better for our neighbors like Al.