Afrithrive Inc

AFRITHRIVE, INC; PROVIDES MOBILE FOOD PANTRY AND SKILLED TRAINING PROGRAMS. IT STRIVES TO BUILD VIBRANT AND THRIVING AFRICAN IMMIGRANT AND MINORITY FAMILIES THROUGH ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS, CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE FOOD, SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES.

THE HEALTHY FOOD INITIATIVE PROGRAM HELPS CONNECT LOW-INCOME BLACK IMMIGRANTS AND PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT TO HEALTHY, CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE FOODS. OUR FOOD IS SOURCED LOCALLY THROUGH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH COUNTY GOVERNMENTS, OTHER FOOD SERVING ORGANIZATIONS, LOCAL FARMERS, SUPPORTERS, AND BUSINESSES. AFRITHRIVE REACHES APPROXIMATELY 700 FAMILIES WEEKLY WITHIN THE GREATER BALTIMORE WASHINGTON DC REGION. EACH FAMILY RECEIVES A BOX WITH 5-DAY WORTH OF FOOD. SINCE ITS FOUNDING, AFRITHRIVE HAS DISTRIBUTED A TOTAL OF 703,767 POUNDS OF FOOD TO INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THE MOBILE FOOD PANTRY. THIS PROGRAM IS RUN IN TWO SITES, BALTIMORE AND MONTGOMERY COUNTIES.

CULTURAL FARM AND COMMUNITY GARDENING PROGRAM PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES TO INCREASE ACCESS TO INDIGENOUS AFRICAN VEGETABLES NOT EASILY FOUND IN THE STORES. WE FOCUS ON GROWING THE AFRICAN INDIGENOUS VEGETABLES INCLUDING SPIDER FLOWER (SAGA), AFRICAN NIGHT SHADES (MANAGU), PUMPKIN LEAVES, OKRA, AMARANTH, AND BEANS. HARVESTED VEGETABLES ARE DISTRIBUTED THROUGH THE MOBILE FOOD PANTRY TO BENEFIT LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY. THE COMMUNITY GARDENING PROGRAM SUPPORTS RESIDENTS TO GROW THEIR OWN VEGETABLES. AFRITHRIVE TRAINED 25 COMMUNITY GARDENERS WHILE GROWING CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM CATERS TO LOW-INCOME BLACK IMMIGRANT/REFUGEE YOUTHS WHO ARE VULNERABLE, AT-RISK, OR NEED ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. AFRITHRIVE WORKS WITH THE YOUTH TO INCREASE THEIR ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT THROUGH MENTORSHIP, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT LEAD TO COMPLETION OF HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO WORK. A TOTAL OF 95 YOUTHS PARTICIPATED IN OUR PROGRAM ACTIVITIES.

OTHER PROGRAMS: FOOD SOVEREIGNTY IS A CONVERSATION SERIES DESIGNED TO PROMOTE ECOLOGICALLY APPROPRIATE METHODS OF PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION AND CONSUMPTION, SOCIAL-ECONOMIC JUSTICE, CLIMATE JUSTICE AND LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS STRENGTHENING AS WAYS TO TACKLE HUNGER AND POVERTY AND GUARANTEE SUSTAINABLE FOOD SECURITY. THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND ARE GEARED TO EMPOWER PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO ARE MOST SEVERELY IMPACTED BY HUNGER, POOR FOOD ACCESS, DIET-RELATED ILLNESS, AND OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE FOOD SYSTEM.