produce food and get food to people, the way people consume it and how we value it. The different ways intersect. It takes all of it. But there needs to be some calibration, hole-plugging and shifting. “We can get there, but it has to be done collaboratively so we’re not working in silos.” Nancy Williams speaking with food hub director Sarah Bleich
wage jobs where they can then choose their food.” Pots is based in North Omaha, she said, in recognition of its “rich cultural heritage of food and community” and concurrent “disparities in health, healthy food access, equity and economics.” “So, we wanted to make a difference there first, then catalyze a ripple effect in urban, suburban and rural spaces. We believe in the reciprocity of local food.” An effective food system involves a social contract of public-private players. In Omaha it includes United Way, Together, the Food Bank, Saving Grace Perishable Food Re s c u e , v e n dors, producers, schools, churches. “It’s not a simple thing to talk about food access and deser ts,” Williams said. “It’s a whole system of the way we
On the access-educationemployment side are community gardens and urban farms like those at City Sprouts, which also offers classes and internships. A farmers market is held there, too. Charles Drew Health Center and Florence Mill also host farmers markets. Minne Lusa House is a neighborhood engagement-sustainability activator.. Some churches, including Shepherd of the Hills and New Life Presbyterian, provide free monthly community meals. New Life also provides food to participants in its youth summer enrichment program. “There are food insecure kids that come,” pastor Dwight Williams said. “There is a lot more need than we are able to access.”
Eric Crawford,
Executive Director, Heart Ministry Center
Community organizations serving seniors, youth and the homeless have a free meals component to meet food insecurity needs.
The Omaha Public Schools provides free and reduced lunches to the majority of its students. Private institutions rely on donations to fill the gap. Local farmer Brian Vencil recently directed a $2,500 donation from the America’s Fa r m e r s G r o w Communities program to help feed kids at Holy Name School. Nanc y Williams said everything has its place. “C o m m u n i t y gardens make food accessib l e, he lp p e opl e b e come more self-sufficient and engage. It’s about community building. You can’t have fo o d wit hout community. At Terry Sanders, farmers markets At the entrance of the Fair Deal Grocery cust omers l e arn about where the on pace to give away more than 3 milfood comes from, talk to growers about lion pounds of food this year.” production practices and how to use Heart case management services products. It develops relationships. The more food customers get from farmers strive to get clients to self-sufficiency. markets the more likely they’ll continue Project Hope director Lori Lindberg shopping there and expand their pal- said its pantry serves mostly one-time, ette, which gives growers the opportuni- emergency needs recipients. ty to grow and sell more and put more Church of the Resurrection is trying money into the local economy.” a mobile food pantry starting July 15. Pantries play a role, too. Then there are the aquaponics sys“On average we have about 600 tems Greg Fripp and his Whispering clients come through our food pantry Roots team build, often with students in weekly,” Heart Ministry Center execu- schools, that grow vegetables and fish. tive director Eric Crawford said. “We’ve “Aquaponics has its place in that been seeing more clients come. We’re next level of production,” Williams said. continued on page 14 y
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JULY 2017
| THE READER |
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