Food and Hunger Alliance

Our purpose is to collaboratively eradicate food insecurity by advocating for equitable access to nutritious food, fostering sustainable solutions, empowering individuals and communities to achieve food sovereignty, raising awareness, implementing innovative strategies, and creating a resilient and inclusive food system that promotes dignity, nourishment, and well-being for all, envisioning a future where food insecurity is eliminated and everyone has an abundance of healthy, culturally appropriate food.

In 2023, the Food and Hunger Alliance has:

1

Established a strong alliance with 77 members and held 9 data-driven and action-oriented meetings with 7 sub- meetings to work on specific issues

2

Held a Strategic Action plan meeting with 34 partners setting measurable data indicators and 5 shared strategies to combat food insecurity in our community

3

Formed a Food Insecurity Survey that received 380 responses

4

Executed four successful community listening sessions focused on our target location- Census Tract 970500

5

Began a comprehensive data report detailing the needs and potential solutions of community members to inform the alliance and local organizations on how to effectively impact change in our community

6

Secured a $25,000 Coalition Development Grant from SCORH

7

Funded growing guides for a community Seed Library Launch at Greenwood Library and promoted and supported the launch

8

Provided training in listening session facilitation for 12 GC3 Members in partnership with USC Center for Applied Research and Evaluation (Partners Trained- Clemson Ext., Food Bank, SCORH, DHEC, Self-Regional Hospital, Community, and more)

9

Initiated a certified healthy menu project

10

Distributed over 1,000 educational materials to community members and partners to increase awareness of food resources and education

11

Assisted in cleaning and clearing the Heritage Trail to improve access to local food outlets

12

Created a Community Food Resource Map and partnered with DHEC to create a printable Food Resource Guide that has been utilized by 246 community members

13

Began development of an improved transportation route for food access through MAT Transit

14

Advocated for a centralized referral platform called Unite Us to improve community collaboration for food access with a goal of getting 35 organizations registered

15

Connected local organizations to grants and food distribution opportunities that have brought thousands of dollars and produce into our community

16

Supported 7 community gardens with volunteers to help maintain gardens in low-income areas and food desserts

17

Secured leadership positions for the alliance

18

Formed partnerships with SC Legal Appleseed and the national Drug Policy Alliance to gain support and advocacy training for policy change specific to the SNAP Ban on Drug Felons

19

Launched a Food For Thought: Unveiling the Food Landscape of Greenwood event providing information for community and organizations to improve programs and connect with resources

What the data say: