Local Food For All Tackles Food Insecurity in Appalachian Ohio

For Immediate Release

The Plains, OH — Did you know that for just $13 you can provide a week’s worth of fresh, local produce to someone who might not have access to healthy food otherwise? Rural Action and Community Food Initiatives have partnered again this year on Local Food For All, an initiative designed to counter food insecurity in Appalachian Ohio.

The initiative, fueled by donations from local residents, businesses, and members of the Chesterhill Produce Auction Buying Club, ensures that fresh, local produce is delivered directly and at no cost to people who need it.

“Local Food For All provides multiple benefits,” says Tom Redfern, Rural Action’s Director of Sustainable Agriculture. “We’re delivering healthy food for people who might not be able to find or afford it otherwise, and the donations from the campaign are spent with local farmers, which boosts the farming economy.”

Rural Action and Community Food Initiatives use donations from Local Food For All to purchase produce directly from farmers at Chesterhill Produce Auction, a social enterprise of Rural Action. The food is then taken to people in Glouster and Coolville via CFI’s Veggie Van.

“It was wonderful last year to see the Veggie Van delivering food that was purchased through Local Food For All donations,” says Susie Huser, CFI’s Director of Outreach. “It’s always inspiring to see the generosity of our friends and neighbors, and we’re looking forward to meeting our goal again this year. The Veggie Van is ready to get to work.”

Local Food for All is striving to raise $5,000, which will purchase more than 350 half-pecks of fresh local produce. For a donation of $52, Local Food For All can feed someone for a month while $234 will provide produce for the entire season. No amount is too small since every dollar donated translates into about a pound of produce.

Thanks to Modern Woodmen of America, that goal will be easier to hit.

“Modern Woodmen has offered to match every dollar donated up to $2,500 total,” says Molly Sowash, Rural Action’s Sustainable Agriculture Manager. “That means every dollar donated is effectively two dollars. It’s a win for everyone: our farmers, people experiencing food insecurity, and the community at large as our local food system grows more robust and vibrant.”

If you’d like to contribute to the Local Food for All partnership, please visit ruralaction.org/localfoodforall/ to make your donations.

Rural Action is a regional community development organization with a 32-county footprint working with members and community leaders on a range of quality of life, environmental, and economic projects across rural Appalachian Ohio. Its mission is to build a more just economy by developing the region’s assets in environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable ways. Learn more about Rural Action at www.ruralaction.org

Community Food Initiatives (CFI) has been growing and sharing the harvest since 1992. CFI fosters communities where everyone has access to healthy, local food. The organization seeks to improve access to an equitable, inclusive, and thriving local food system in Appalachian Ohio. Learn more at www.communityfoodinitiatives.org/

Modern Woodmen of America is the nation’s third-largest fraternal benefit society in terms of assets. Fraternalism is a unique combination of business and giving back to those who are served – a continuous cycle of positive impact. Learn more at www.modernwoodmen.org.

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CONTACT

Tom Redfern
Rural Action Sustainable Agriculture Director
tomr@ruralaction.org
740.677.4047 ext. 600