The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Food bank hosts farmer’s market
Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio partnered with United Way and Lorain County Health and Dentistry in hosting the first of four farmer’s markets on July 29.
The event took place in the parking lot of Lorain County Health and Dentistry, 1205 Broadway Ave. The food insecurity rate is 30.4 percent in the area, affecting nearly 4,000 people in the immediate, according a release from the organization.
Second Harvest is hoping to take advantage of the growing season and will host one farmer’s market each month as part of a pilot project in conjunction with their new strategic emphasis on addressing food insecurity among Lorain County households.
“We estimate that as the farmer’s market season progresses, we could serve up to 400 families each time,” said External Affairs Director Susan Bartosch.
The farmer’s market produce distribution program was established with funding from the City of Lorain Community Block Grant program in addition to addition Lorain County Health and Dentistry in providing their location.
The next three farmer’s markets will offer and will perform health screenings as well as having a dietician on site in an effort to integrate healthy eating into the program.
Volunteers from United of Greater Lorain County have also partnered in the project in providing volunteers with their new 642 Broadway Ave. location.
Second Harvest’s program is unique in bringing produce directly to people in need, benefiting those who do not live near a traditional food pantry in addition to providing
fresh produce along with bringing their services directly to the public.
With some of their partner charities in the Lorain community reducing their food programs due to dwindling membership, Second Harvest is using this opportunity to evolve organizationally in the way in they reach people.
Following the completion of their Baumhart Road headquarters, their most recent strategic plan entitled “Growing Hope” is about targeting food insecurity in Lorain County and looking at new ways they can accomplish these goals.
“If we literally partner up with other community members to look at things more holistically and using the resources that we have, we can end hunger.
We can do it,” Bartosch said.
With billions of pounds of food waste each year according to research by Feeding America, Second Harvest’s partnerships with area farmers along with assistance from the Ohio Agricultural Clearance Program are enabling to address hunger while increasing the utilization of Ohio’s rich agricultural resources.
Second Harvest is also working planning to partner with El Centro at 2800 Pearl Ave. in Lorain to offer farmer’s markets in addition to exploring other area locations.
The next Second Harvest Farmer’s Markets take place on select Saturdays from 9 a.m.-11 a.m. with confirmed dates on August 19, September 30 and October 21.