| 2014 Q2 | story by DAISY WAKEFIELD | photos by STEVEN HERTZOG |
The first and last time, Lawrence Business Magazine talked with Jeremy Farmer, Executive Director of Just Food, the fledgling director had been on the job for four months. His staff consisted of himself and a handful of volunteers. The yearly budget was a Spartan $139,000, and Just Food had just been pulled back from the brink of closure the previous year. At that time, the measurement of success revolved around numbers like tons of foods dispersed and number of people served.
A lot has changed in the last two and a half years. The nonprofit food bank now has three full-time staff, a small army of volunteers, and a $1.8 million annual budget (including in-kind services and goods). It has joined forces with the other major food banks in the area to reduce duplication of efforts. In 2012, it moved into a bigger building and received several large pieces of equipment that significantly aid in logistics. And, it has distributed more food each succeeding year, from 200,000 pounds of food in 2011 to 2 million pounds of food expected this year.
But Farmer says those things, while well and good, are no longer how he measures the success of the organization.
“In the summer of 2012, we underwent a survey and an evaluation of the organization. And we discovered that we were doing good work, but not really helping people. We were just a band-aid. We needed innovative initiatives to impact peoples’ lives. So we started changing everything.”
They started with the kinds of food they were providing. While the pantry did stock some meats and fresh produce, most of the supplies were in high carbohydrate, high sugar foods that contributed to clients’ health issues like obesity and diabetes.
They revamped their shelves and concentrated on adding low- sodium, low sugar, high nutrient items. They started asking for specific food donations, like peanut butter or vegetables. And they adopted a choice-based system called “Choose My Plate,” which allows clients to choose a certain number of grains, vegetables, and other goods based on their family size.
“We are caring a lot more about health,” says Farmer. “That’s something that our clients needed us to care about. Our clients were both malnourished and obese. We were solving people’s hunger issues, but not addressing the need for nutrient dense foods, foods that kids especially need to grow and develop.”
To that end, Just Food has built a sizeable garden at their site. With donated supplies and seeds from Earl May Nursery, the garden produced 2 tons of food last year. The garden is another tool for empowerment and education, as clients learn how to produce their own nutritious food. With the produce from their garden, as well as donations from local farmers and people with backyard abundance, Just Food distributed 20 tons of fresh produce last year and is expecting to do twice that this year. Another major part of Just Food’s mission to empower clients is the Just Cook Adult Cooking classes. In 2012, they partnered with Ricky Martin, former executive chef of Free State Brewery, to develop a curriculum and teach their first cooking class. The feedback was very enthusiastic, and in January 2014, they started regular weekly class sessions.
Each Tuesday and Thursday, between fifteen and twenty people gather and make a recipe together under the guidance of a volunteer chef, whom Martin trains. The volunteers are local chefs or veteran cooks. The students, who range in age from elementary age kids to mature adults, learn basic cooking skills over five weeks’ time. They learn that cooking is an attainable skill, and that making healthy, nourishing recipes can be done for under $2 a serving.
Leah Charles, AmeriCorps volunteer at Just Food, says, “Learning a few skills translates into so many different recipes. The class gives people the confidence that they can create meals at home and shows them that cooking can be fun. It’s a joy that is accessible to them regardless of their situation.”
Even more compelling is the fact that out of the 150 graduates of the cooking class, 93% have indicated that taking the class has made them more self-sufficient. Also, 28% of the classes have said that they are relying on Just Food and other food pantries less.
And that is how Farmer would like to measure success: by measuring how many people they can help to achieve self- sufficiency.
“That’s a game changer. If we can save 20% of a person’s income by teaching them how to cook at home and how to grow their own food, then we’re not just putting a band-aid on their problems or throwing food at them. We’re getting to the point where we measure success by how many people don’t need us anymore. We want to extend a ladder to help people get out of poverty, rather than just being a safety net to fall into.
42 Comments
I utilized soft washing on my outdoor patio http://knoxthespraymastermmqs643.yousher.com/soft-wash-roof-cleaning-the-gentle-approach-to-roofing-upkeep
Great job! Find more at mold testing
Thanks for laying off easy in this subject matter! Leveraging the vigour of local SEO has been a activity-changer for me, extraordinarily with insights from maps.google.com
Excellent post! Do follow backlinks are essential for any website looking to grow. I’ve had success with do follow backlinks ; their service has really boosted my site’s authority
Enjoying life requires being aware potential risks & preparing adequately which means knowing whom contact whenever disaster strikes—a solid choice would definitely include steamatiocofswhouston no doubt… water damage restoration
This was highly informative. Check out mobile tire change for more
This was very well put together. Discover more at georgedigital
Your insights into the have an impact on of weather on roofing offerings were really good! Different components require the several considerations—be told extra adapted counsel at roofing companies flint mi
Excited to explore the upcoming developments in Scottsdale’s real estate scene—it’s a great time to invest! Check back often at real estate agent for
Wonderful tips! Find more at pressure washing wesley chapel fl
Has any one used https://maps.app.goo.gl/6UmN5eB3Lp27CthMA for scrap motor vehicle removal in Barrie? I’ve heard tremendous things approximately their rapid service
This was a great article. Check out mobile tire shop for more
It’s always a hassle when your phone breaks, but finding a trustworthy repair shop makes all the difference. I recommend visiting iphone screen repair for some fantastic resources on phone repairs
Great overview of the benefits of long-tail keywords in SEO! I’ll start using them more often—find additional resources at affordable SEO services
If you might be on the lookout for a nontoxic location for cellphone restore near me, I these days had a large feel at a regional shop. They mounted my cracked monitor simply and at an affordable payment computer shop
This was beautifully organized. Discover more at George Digital
Can’t wait to see how effective my upcoming CoolSculpting session will be—hoping for fantastic results! coolsculpting
This was quite informative. For more, visit georgedigital
The practical skills learned in a first aid class can be used anywhere! Discover more at cpr course gold coast today
Great insights! Discover more at home cleaners near me
This was very enlightening. For more, visit Solar Panel Companies
Seriously considering starting a blog about all my experiments with Nang Cylinders – they’re that inspiring! Follow along at nangs delivery Melbourne
Thanks for emphasizing the importance of gutter cleaning—definitely check out Gutter Cleaning Service if you need
Has anyone done the hot air balloon ride over the desert with # # anyKeyWord# desert safari dubai
The food culture here is incredible; can’t wait for the culinary journey provided by # # any Keyword# desert safari dubai
What a fantastic way to experience the city! Thank you, hot air balloon dubai
Thanks for the thorough analysis. More info at tienda de colchones en Albacete
Can’t wait until next chance comes along—we’ll definitely return back here again soon enough!! Remember their name while planning ahead too!: hot air balloon dubai
Gutter deploy isn’t very a specific thing to be unnoticed, and your blog highlighted its value in maintaining a structurally sound residence Gutter installation Vernon Heimann Gutters
After reading your blog, I’ve come to know that gutter set up is not really nearly features but additionally about maximizing the overall look of a home. Thank you for highlighting the various style options offered in Gutter installation Vernon Heimann Gutters
I’ve always been fascinated by the luxury homes in Scottsdale—it’s like a dream come true! Explore the market at scottsdale realtor
Loved how you highlighted the significance of ALT text in image optimization; small but mighty in terms of impact—see other tips from me at SEO services for small business
Navigating the authorized aspects of operating a company in Dubai may be complicated, but commercial lawyer Dubai Thinc the in house company simplifies it in your case with their know-how in business legislation and polices
The eco-friendly element of soft cleaning is something every homeowner need to think about; thanks for highlighting it! Take a look at more at http://rafaelthespraymasterdwcf240.lowescouponn.com/patio-cleaning-hacks-diy-solutions-for-a-sparkling-surface
Great article! Massage medicine has numerous reward for each actual and intellectual neatly-being Erotic Massage
Never Allow your enterprise fade into obscurity on-line. Rely on SEO Kelowna to elevate your manufacturer’s visibility via successful Net advertising and marketing tactics in Kelowna
I enjoyed this article. Check out house cleaning service for more
I turned into skeptical approximately roof cleansing unless I saw the beforehand-and-after pics from Roof Cleaning Nanaimo Grime2Shine
I found this very interesting. Check out https://gamehitclub.dev/ for more
Appreciate the thorough insights. For more, visit slot pulsa gacor
I found this very interesting. For more, visit pressure washing wesley chapel fl
If you are in the hunt for secure delivery on marijuana seeds, you could without a doubt try out autoflowering samen outdoor