Mcdowell Lfac

MCDOWELL LFAC IS A 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION WITH A MISSION TO CONNECT, COORDINATE, AND STRENGTHEN THE LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM IN MCDOWELL COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA. THE ORGANIZATION'S GOAL IS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH, INCOME AND LIVELIHOODS OF ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH BUILDING A COMPLETE FOOD NETWORK OF PRODUCERS, BUSINESSES, AGENCIES AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. LFAC DOES THIS THROUGH DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING PROGRAMS, SPECIAL PROJECTS AND SUPPORTIVE FOOD SYSTEM INFRASTRUCTURE IN MCDOWELL.

COVID-19 EMERGENCY FOOD RELIEF: OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR, THE FOOTHILLS FOOD HUB CONTINUED TO SERVE FOOD INSECURE HOUSEHOLDS THROUGH DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD BOXES. THESE BOXES OF FOOD WERE DISTRIBUTED AT COMMUNITY FOOD DISTRIBUTION EVENTS OR DELIVERED TO HOMEBOUND INDIVIDUALS. WE CONTINUED TO SERVE INDIVIDUALS WHOSE LIVES, LIVELIHOODS, AND ABILITIES WERE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED BY THE COVID-19 CRISIS AND OTHER SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LACK OF EMPLOYMENT, UNDEREMPLOYMENT, LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ETC. INDIVIDUALS SERVED INCLUDED UNEMPLOYED/ UNDEREMPLOYED INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, THE LATINX COMMUNITY, SENIOR ADULTS, INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, CONGREGATE LIVING FACILITIES, AND BLACK, BROWN, AND LOW-INCOME WHITE COMMUNITIES. WE CLOSELY ALIGNED WITH THE INITIATIVES AND NEEDS OF COMMUNITIES THROUGH OUR INVOLVEMENT WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROJECT, COMMUNITY FORUMS (WEST MARION, MARION EAST, AND OLD FORT), AND CENTRO UNIDO LATINO AMERICANO. OUR NETWORK OF COMMUNITY LEADERS PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO ADDRESS EMERGING NEEDS, PURCHASE FOOD FROM A LOCAL LATINX GARDENER, AND SERVE OVER 50 FAMILIES WITH TWO NO-COST-TO-THEM 6-WEEK CSA PROGRAM. LFAC AND THE FOOTHILLS FOOD HUB WERE ABLE TO SECURE GRANT FUNDS TO PURCHASE LOCALLY GROWN PRODUCE, PROTEINS, HONEY, ETC FOR THE CSA.

FOOTHILLS FOOD HUB: THE FOOTHILLS FOOD HUB (FFH) IS THE LARGEST PROGRAM OF THE MCDOWELL LFAC. THIS WILL BE LOCATED AT 263 BARNES RD IN MARION AND WILL CONSIST OF THREE COMPONENTS: A TEACHING KITCHEN THAT WILL EVENTUALLY HOST CULINARY CLASSES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND HEALTHY EATING CLASSES AND FOOD PRESERVATION INSTRUCTION. A PANTRY COMPONENT COMPLETE WITH A LARGE FREEZER AND COOLER STORAGE FOR DONATED AND PURCHASED FOOD FOR ONGOING FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS. A FARMER SUPPORT AREA IS IN PROGRESS AND CONTAINS STORAGE FOR FARMER FOOD. UPON COMPLETION, THERE WILL ALSO BE A WASH LINE FOR FARMERS' USE. DURING THE YEAR WE CONTINUED FUNDRAISING AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE FFH, LEVERAGING OVER $670,000 TO SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS FROM PUBLIC/PRIVATE FUNDERS. CONSTRUCTION BEGAN IN 2020.

LFAC COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: THE LFAC IS A 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION WITH A MISSION TO STRENGTHEN THE LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM IN MCDOWELL COUNTY. ITS GOAL IS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND LIVELIHOODS OF ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH BUILDING A FOOD NETWORK OF PRODUCERS, BUSINESSES, AGENCIES, AND NOT-FOR -PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. LFAC FOCUSES ON DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING PROGRAMS, PROJECTS AND FOOD SYSTEM INFRASTRUCTURE IN MCDOWELL COUNTY. SEVERAL OF THESE PROJECTS IN 2020-2021 INCLUDED A "LEARNING GARDEN" TO SUPPORT A PRODUCE FOR PEDS INITIATIVE LEAD BY THE WEST MARION COMMUNITY FORUM, INC. LFAC STAFF PROVIDED SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS OF THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROJECT AND ITS MULTIPLE COMMUNITY FORUMS. LFAC STAFF ALSO SUPPORTED THE FOOTHILLS FOOD HUB STAFF IN RAISING FUNDS FOR PROJECTS, PROGRAMS, AND CONSTRUCTION, COORDINATING AND MANAGING FOOD HUB VOLUNTEERS, AND ENGAGING IN REGIONAL AND STATEWIDE RESOURCE SHARING AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES.