Food Subcommittee
| Food Security Network Coordinator Employment Information |
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Purpose
To ensure that all people of Kent County have access to safe, affordable and nutritious food.
Facts
- Department of Human Services Food Stamp cases were at historically high levels with 31,292 cases ending 2007 compared to only 11,442 cases in 2000.
- West Michigan Second Harvest Gleaners provided more then 7,200,000 pounds of food in Kent County in 2007.
- ACCESS reported Kent County’s Food Pantry Network provided 77,619 food services to 17,616 households.
2007-2008 Accomplishments
- Established federally funded Food Subcommittee staffing support at Kent County MSU Extension with matching support from participating Food Subcommittee agencies.
- Food pantries extended later hours to help those who are working.
- More Community gardens were developed supporting food pantries serving chronically ill clients.
- Accomplished work agenda objectives with new member organizations taking active roles responding to food security issues.
- Streamlined five strategic plan critical issue areas to three focusing on food transportation; long term food security emphasizing health/nutrition and developing sufficient resources for meeting record cost increases and demand for food.
2008-2009 Agenda
- Continue implementing the Food Subcommittee’s Strategic Plan to eliminate food insecurity and set new five year goals.
- Build on last year’s accomplishments with special emphasis in areas of health/nutrition, maximizing/ developing hunger reduction resources and transportation.
- Increase education and advocacy building community awareness and involvement that responds to the growing tidal wave of truly food insecure Kent County residents.
