Welcome to Fairness Cafe - Who is at the table?
Fairness Cafe is my new blog dedicated to sharing what it is going on with foodies and food security in Dane County and Wisconsin. I will bring you information about how local residents in Dane County are coming up with creative ways to get fresh food to lower income families. Also, there are so many efforts in this community on behalf of social service agencies and non-profits to get fresh healthy foods into food pantries throughout Dane County. My first story is about how the faith community is working with non-profits in order to get fresh food to those who need it most.
Chronic illness is a public health crisis in Dane County and around the country and the populations that are most vulnerable are children, pregnant women, seniors and those who already are suffering from some chronic illness that affects their immune system. Having access to healthy foods is a not a luxury, it is necessary for a full and healthy life. And, I believe that eating healthy is not for the privileged few, but a right for all.
Wisconsin is rich with fresh and healthy foods and there are generous and caring people throughout Dane County who are finding ways to make sure this rich harvest is shared with their neighbors, friends and community. We all sit at the table of humanity together.
Chronic illness is a public health crisis in Dane County and around the country and the populations that are most vulnerable are children, pregnant women, seniors and those who already are suffering from some chronic illness that affects their immune system. Having access to healthy foods is a not a luxury, it is necessary for a full and healthy life. And, I believe that eating healthy is not for the privileged few, but a right for all.
Wisconsin is rich with fresh and healthy foods and there are generous and caring people throughout Dane County who are finding ways to make sure this rich harvest is shared with their neighbors, friends and community. We all sit at the table of humanity together.
Community Action Coalition and Communities of Faith
It was a beautiful day with some beautiful people at the United Methodist Church in Stoughton, Wisconsin. Pictured from left to right, Bishop Hee-soo Jung, Wisconsin Conference of United Methodist Churches, myself and Chris Brockel, Food and Gardens Manager for the Community Action Coalition of South Central Wisconsin. Not pictured, is our camera man, Garrett Peterson, Food Security Operations Specialist. We were treated to a tour of the food pantry garden created by church members.
Every other month, the Dane County Food Pantry Network meets to talk about ways to better serve the needs of the community in regards to access to healthy foods. This month, August 7th, 2013, the good folks at the food pantry at the United Methodist Church in Stoughton hosted the meeting. Bishop Jung was the main speaker and spoke to the group of food pantry volunteers, coordinators and advocates about the importance of faith communities finding ways to serve the needs of families and children regarding food security. "The history of this church is based on a history of a ministry of justice and mercy." Said, Bishop Jung and continued, " The Methodist church is about peace making and bridge building between the relationship of the church and other programs that are trying to help society, like the Community Action Coalition."
Bishop Jung told an inspirational story about a small Methodist church in Walworth County, Wisconsin. Bishop Jung recently met with the members of the church, many who were in their mid or late 70's. The members told him that they realized that the community was in need of food, and the church wanted to help, but had no space for a food pantry. But, that did not stop them. The members directed the Bishop to the church sanctuary and was amazed. The members had moved the church pulpit into the middle of the space where the congregation sat, and made the area of the former pulpit into a beautiful food pantry. The front of the church was walled off and had a separate entrance to distribute food. The members of the church actually gave up worship space to meet the food security needs of their community. Additionally, the church members offered their green space for food pantry gardens as well as partnering with local farmers to provide fresh produce to the families in their communities. He was proud to announce that 80 families are now growing their own food through community farming. The church became a meaningful and practical asset to the community and by the compassion and generosity of the church members, a problem was solved.
This meeting was hosted by the Dane County Food Pantry Network and facilitated by Chris Brockel, Food and Garden Manager of the Community Action Coalition. The CAC is the leader in Dane County in the fight for food security and has become the pioneer community organization to find creative ways to bring fresher, locally sourced foods to low income families in Dane County. Chris reported to the members of the network that there was a 9 percent decrease in the amount of families needing food assistance since 2012. And, he reported that the CAC distributed more than 2 million pounds of food last year to food pantries throughout Dane County. The CAC is currently working on improving ways to distribute fresher and more locally sourced foods to the people who need it most.
The United Methodist Church gave us a tour of their community garden. The members of the church were proud to show off some lush green edible landscape that was once a nicely manicured lawn. Attitudes are changing about food justice and food security in Dane County and the Community Action Coalition can take a lot of credit for this positive change.
Every other month, the Dane County Food Pantry Network meets to talk about ways to better serve the needs of the community in regards to access to healthy foods. This month, August 7th, 2013, the good folks at the food pantry at the United Methodist Church in Stoughton hosted the meeting. Bishop Jung was the main speaker and spoke to the group of food pantry volunteers, coordinators and advocates about the importance of faith communities finding ways to serve the needs of families and children regarding food security. "The history of this church is based on a history of a ministry of justice and mercy." Said, Bishop Jung and continued, " The Methodist church is about peace making and bridge building between the relationship of the church and other programs that are trying to help society, like the Community Action Coalition."
Bishop Jung told an inspirational story about a small Methodist church in Walworth County, Wisconsin. Bishop Jung recently met with the members of the church, many who were in their mid or late 70's. The members told him that they realized that the community was in need of food, and the church wanted to help, but had no space for a food pantry. But, that did not stop them. The members directed the Bishop to the church sanctuary and was amazed. The members had moved the church pulpit into the middle of the space where the congregation sat, and made the area of the former pulpit into a beautiful food pantry. The front of the church was walled off and had a separate entrance to distribute food. The members of the church actually gave up worship space to meet the food security needs of their community. Additionally, the church members offered their green space for food pantry gardens as well as partnering with local farmers to provide fresh produce to the families in their communities. He was proud to announce that 80 families are now growing their own food through community farming. The church became a meaningful and practical asset to the community and by the compassion and generosity of the church members, a problem was solved.
This meeting was hosted by the Dane County Food Pantry Network and facilitated by Chris Brockel, Food and Garden Manager of the Community Action Coalition. The CAC is the leader in Dane County in the fight for food security and has become the pioneer community organization to find creative ways to bring fresher, locally sourced foods to low income families in Dane County. Chris reported to the members of the network that there was a 9 percent decrease in the amount of families needing food assistance since 2012. And, he reported that the CAC distributed more than 2 million pounds of food last year to food pantries throughout Dane County. The CAC is currently working on improving ways to distribute fresher and more locally sourced foods to the people who need it most.
The United Methodist Church gave us a tour of their community garden. The members of the church were proud to show off some lush green edible landscape that was once a nicely manicured lawn. Attitudes are changing about food justice and food security in Dane County and the Community Action Coalition can take a lot of credit for this positive change.