Caja Solidaria

WE ENVISION A FUTURE WHERE HEALTHY, LOCAL FOODS BRING US TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY OF CARE. OUR MISSION IS TO ENSURE EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO THE ABUNDANCE THAT THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS OFFER.

CAJA SOLIDARIA'S LARGEST INITIATIVE THIS YEAR HAS BEEN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SUPER FOOD BOX PROGRAM. WE WORKED AS PART OF A COLLABORATIVE TEAM WITH MANY ORGANIZATIONS TO ENVISION A HEALTHY FOOD BOX AND WE USED EVIDENCE-BASED NUTRITION PRINCIPLES TO DESIGN OUR PROGRAM. WE FOCUS ALL OUR BOXES ON FRESH PRODUCE, MEATS, AND GRAINS, SELECTING ITEMS THAT ARE CULTURALLY RELEVANT TO OUR PARTICIPANTS. WE DELIVERED ABOUT 900 SUPER FOOD BOXES TO PARTICIPANTS. WE ALSO INVESTED ALMOST $90K IN LOCAL FARMS AND LOCAL FOOD BUSINESSES. WE ARE COMMITTED TO DIGNITY AFFIRMING CARE.

CAJA SOLIDARIA ALSO PROVIDES AFFORDABLE PRODUCE SHARES TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS, INCREASING ACCESS TO LOCALLY GROWN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES THROUGH CO-OPERATIVE PURCHASING. OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, WE DELIVERED 801 AFFORDABLE PRODUCE SHARES TO 122 HOUSEHOLDS. CO-OPERATIVE FOOD PURCHASING IS AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO INCREASING ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOODS BECAUSE PARTICIPATING IS AFFORDABLE AND BUILDS COMMUNITY SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE FOOD SUPPLY.

CAJA SOLIDARIA'S 3RD LARGEST PROGRAM IN 2022 WAS THE HEALTHY HARVEST PROGRAM. IN APRIL OF 2022, CAJA WAS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN TRACTOR FOOD AND FARMS HEALTHY HARVEST PROGRAM. HEALTHY HARVEST DISTRIBUTES FOOD FROM LOCAL FARMS TO FOOD PANTRIES. WE USED THESE FOODS TO PARTNER WITH LOCAL HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AND LAUNCHED THE FIRST PRODUCE PRESCRIPTION PROGRAM IN HENDERSON COUNTY. BETWEEN MID-APRIL TO MID- SEPTEMBER CAJA DISTRIBUTED ABOUT 1000 HEALTHY HARVEST PRODUCE SHARES TO PARTICIPANTS RECEIVING REFERRALS FROM HENDERSON COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH'S OB/GYN CLINIC, PARDEE ONCOLOGY AND DIETETICS, BLUE RIDGE HEALTH, AND THROUGH SELF-REFERRAL.