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Marion Polk Food Share’s mission is to bring people together to end hunger and its root causes. We distribute nutritious food for individuals and families to more than 70 local partners, including food pantries and meal sites, and deliver Meals on Wheels to homebound seniors and adults with disabilities. We operate an urban farm and support a network of community gardens that connect people and their food, and mobilize community members to address systemic issues that lead to hunger. Thousands of local volunteers, advocates, donors, and clients bring our mission to life every day.

Project Bread brings a fresh approach to ending hunger. These are our goals: to promote sustainable and reliable access to healthy food for all, to invest in the strength and resiliency of local communities, and to collaborate with others in building a robust regional food system. With the support of our partners, donors, corporate sponsors, individuals—and tens of thousands of Walkers—we work to break the cycle of hunger and poverty by devising, funding, advocating for, and facilitating solutions that change lives across the Commonwealth. As the only statewide anti-hunger organization, we listen and learn, identify needs and opportunities, and connect people, resources, and programs—in ways both tried and new.

Sterling Community Center is a multi-service organization focused on creating impactful and inclusive programs and services that engage and cultivate a thriving community. With over 90 years of history, we are guided by values of welcoming all, leading with compassion and dignity, and embracing the diversity of those we serve. Our constellation of programs include athletics, youth development, volunteer opportunities, and programs for all ages. Through the Resource Connection programs, we provide food assistance and support to neighbors facing times of need. We embrace the differences found in the vibrant neighborhoods of our region, where we strive to bring people together and nurture a community we can all be proud of.

The Golden Backpack Program (GBP) helps feed students in need by providing a sack full of enough food to feed a child for the entire weekend so that when they return to school each Monday, they arrive ready to learn because they had food over the weekend. Currently, the GBP provides assistance to about 150 students in nine local schools, including Mitchell Elementary, Shelton Elementary, Welchester Elementary, Kyffin Elementary, Free Horizon Montessori, Compass Montessori, Connections Learning Center, Bell Middle School and Golden High School. GBP also runs a Fresh Food Co-Op; providing rescue food from local grocery stores to families in need.

With the goal of helping under-served communities in India, Nepal, and Tibet receive the vital services they need, Karuna-Shechen was founded in 2000 by Matthieu Ricard (www.matthieuricard.org), renown TED speaker, author, and humanitarian. We strive to reduce inequalities and work toward a fairer and more compassionate world. We trust that communities can be lifted out of poverty, that change is possible, and that the well-being of every individual, regardless of race, gender, class, or caste, is essential. We believe that building on local strengths and knowledge is the most efficient way to respond to the specific needs and aspirations of our beneficiaries. Rooted in the ideal of "compassion in action", we serve others with joy and determination by cultivating altruism in our hearts and actions. We provide vulnerable and disadvantaged populations access to health care, education and vocational training, clean water, solar electricity, and other sustainable solutions that offer options to find a livelihood and a better life. We work with a grassroots network of local partners, and give special attention to the education and empowerment of girls and women. Karuna-Shechen's name expresses its mission while paying homage to its roots: Karuna means "compassion" in Sanskrit, and Shechen is the name of a major monastery in Tibet.

To establish model medical facilities in order to alleviate the sufferings of poor and resource less patients and provide them quality medical care. To help the humanity in distress at times of natural calamities like Earth Quakes, Accidents, IDPs crisis and so forth. To conduct training programmes for Community Health Workers in collaboration with other community based organizations and donor agencies. To create awareness among the general public for improvement of their health through health education. To help deserving and talented students and provide financial support to widows and poor families who cannot afford treatment on their own. To achieve simple treatment goals through cost effective local medicines including Herbs and Folk Home Remedies designed to cure as many patients as possible with few side effects. To provide best possible treatment to the poor and needy patients through qualified and specialist doctors. To develop a Health Education Programme designed to improve the quality of life through preventative measures. To conduct training programmes for Community Health Workers in collaboration with other community based organizations and donor agencies. To establish a Centre of Excellence for the treatment of Tuberculosis (in line with WHOs, DOT programme), Hepatitis-C and other Infectious Diseases. To provide immediate relief in case of natural disasters and calamities and also to take active part in rehabilitation of the affected population.

Farmer Foodshare’s mission is to reshape the disconnected food system by removing barriers to growing and accessing local food. Farmer Foodshare is unique in that we approach hunger from both sides of the problem - supporting North Carolina’s small farmers who are struggling to stay in business and disadvantaged populations who lack access to fresh and nutritious food. Since 2009, Farmer Foodshare has fostered cross-sector partnerships to support our efforts to build a local food system in which all members of our community can have access to healthy, nutritious food, and those who labor in agriculture can make a viable living. Farmer Foodshare began as a grassroots effort at the Carrboro Farmers Market to address inequitable access to fresh, healthy food for all members of the community. Farmers, market shoppers, and those experiencing food insecurity alike began a produce donation program to collect food from shoppers and farmers for communities in need. This “donation station” concept now operates at 26 markets statewide. Some are run by Farmer Foodshare, some by local volunteers, and a few are driven by community organizations, and in 2018, they contributed 51,445 pounds of fresh produce back into the community. Over the past 10 years, Farmer Foodshare has expanded its impact. We now operate a Wholesale Market that provides local institutions a means to efficiently source produce from NC farmers and generated $636,000 in revenue for these growers in 2018; a Food Ambassador program that provides nutrition and food system education to more than 8,000 high need students; and Community Foodshare, which supports community organizations in identifying and creating a variety of sustainable strategies for sourcing and learning about fresh, nutritious local food. All of these efforts work to build a more sustainable and equitable local food system.

Community Bridges envisions a thriving community where every person has the opportunity to unleash their full potential. Our family of ten programs delivers essential services, provides equitable access to resources, and advocates for health and dignity across every stage of life. Every year, we meet the needs of thousands of local children, families and seniors with broad support from individuals, businesses, foundations and government. We believe that when we work together, anything is possible. Our Child Development Division's experienced, bilingual teachers offer early education opportunities, developmental screenings, and family engagement at six centers throughout the county. Child & Adult Care Food Program is a nutrition assistance program that ensures low-income children and adults attending licensed facilities receive healthy meals and each every day. Elderday Adult Day Health Care is the only program of its kind in Santa Cruz County, serving approximately 70 elders and adults with physical, emotional, or cognitive impairments each day. It provides the services this vulnerable population needs to stay healthy and maintain the highest level of independence possible. Our Family Resource Collective works with individuals and families to build safe, healthy, and compassionate communities through education, resources, and advocacy. It includes La Manzana Community Resources, Live Oak Family Resource Center, Mountain Community Resources, and Nueva Vista. Lift Line provides accessible rides to low-income, disabled, elderly and frail individuals each year, ensuring that their medical, nutritional, and emotional needs are met. Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County serves more than 600 meals per day to low-income, frail, elderly, and disabled residents. With no required payment or waiting list, those in need can count on a warm meal at one of our five centers, or delivered straight to their doors. Women, Infants & Children (WIC) provides nutrition education, food stamps, and breastfeeding support to more than 9,000 low-income pregnant women, infants and children each month, helping families thrive.

Too often grocery stores and restaurants find themselves throwing out food, when there is great need in nearby communities. MEANS Database modernizes food recovery in 48 states and the District of Columbia by connecting excess food to organizations and individuals who need it. Hunger lingers in the lives of the people it affects. In infants and toddlers, food insecurity is associated with failure to thrive, a devastating condition with consequences into adulthood (1). In early childhood, hunger is associated with diminished academic progress, more behavioral problems and unhealthy weight (2). By high school, it's linked with dropping out, and by early adulthood, with having children who also face hunger, the cycle starts over again (3). Food insecurity exists in every American demographic and geography, affecting every population tracked by the US Census. However, as it seems for every other social ill, the most rural, the most urban, and minorities in any location bear a disproportionate burden of the weight of hunger. While 12.7% of American families are food insecure, the rate for Black and Latino families are each about 20% (4). Jefferson County, Mississippi, is a study in these disparities: it has the highest percentage of black residents of any American county, and also holds the dubious distinction of having the highest rate of food insecurity in the United States, with nearly 38% of residents facing hunger (5). Meanwhile, while more than 42 million Americans rely on food pantries, soup kitchens and other emergency food providers to feed their families, the United States grapples with an massive food waste problem. Forty percent of the American food supply ends up in landfills, with perfectly edible meals being thrown away at all stages of production (7). Food is the single largest contributor to landfill and incinerator mass in the United States, choking the nation's air while 1 in 8 Americans face food insecurity (8). Further complicating this feast and famine dynamic is the uncomfortable truth that even programs meant to address hunger frequently end up wasting food. The issue we are tackling with MEANS is huge: we're trying to prevent food waste and adequately address the problem of hunger. The USDA reports that 48.1 million Americans live in food-insecure households, while Feeding America says that 70 billion pounds of food are wasted in the US each year (8). This task may seem daunting, but we know that through the use of innovative technology like ours, we can help to change the future of food recovery. MEANS (Matching Excess And Need for Stability) is an online communications platform for emergency food providers and their donors. On a desktop, laptop, tablet or smartphone, agencies create an account with MEANS, registering their contact information, location, the kind(s) of foods they are searching for, and the distance they are willing or able to travel to pick up those goods. Donors post their excess goods on MEANS, and the system emails and/or texts organizations nearby that need those goods. Our tool substantially reduces the communications gap between emergency food providers and their donors, preventing "donation dumping" on both sides. MEANS was designed to handle both traditional food donations, from grocery stores or caterers, and donations between emergency food providers. There is no charge for any of our organization's services, for nonprofit agencies or retailers. Citations: 1) Kersten, Hans B. and Bennett, David (2012) "A Multidisciplinary Team Experience with Food Insecurity & Failure to Thrive," Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk: Vol. 3: Iss. 1, Article 6. 2) Jyoti, Diana F.; Frongillo, Edward A.; and Jones, Sonya J. (2005) "Food Insecurity Affects School Children's Academic Performance, Weight Gain, and Social Skills" The Journal of Nutrition vol. 135 no. 12 2831-2839. 3)"Changing the Picture of Education in America: Communities in Schools Spring 2014 Impact Report" (2014) 4) USDA (2015). "Food Security Status of U.S. Households in 2015" 5) Feeding America (2016). "Map the Meal Gap 2016" 7) Gunders, Dana (2012). "Wasted: How America Is Losing Up to 40 Percent of Its Food from Farm to Fork to Landfill" 8) Feeding America (ND), "Food Waste In America"

COMMUNITY HEALTH, HOUSING AND SOCIAL EDUCATION (CHHASE), TAMIL NADU Background Community health, housing and social education (CHHASE) NGO is involved in social work for Scheduled castes, Scheduled tribes, other backwards classes and under privileged. Team of youth, who have passion in social service and compassion towards the sufferings of the disadvantaged sections of the society, came together and formed CHHASE. Our team have clear insight in the socio-economic, education, health and environment issues faced by the downtrodden, under privileged and marginalized segments of the communities. CHHASE NGO India is a non-governmental, non-profit, social service voluntary organization working for an integrated development of women and children of downtrodden segment of the society. CHHASE NGO believes that all human beings are equal and has the right to have good health, shelter, food and minimum standard of living. CHHASE NGO has touched new heights by Regular Activities to fulfil the mission of organization. Our executive committee oversees all the organization's efforts. The committee meets regularly to ensure that all of our teams perform efficiently and to facilitate cross-functional connections. CHHASE NGO have excellent staff, volunteers & members, who are dedicated, are available for any social cause (s) always. They are our real strength to carry the noble cause of uplifting the downtrodden. CHHASE NGO was registered in the year 2001 under TN Societies Registration Act, 25 of 1976. It is also registered under the FCRA, 12A & 80G of Income Tax Exemption Act, 1961. CHHASE NGO is completed due diligence norms and listed with CREDIBILITY ALLIANCE, & GUIDE STAR INDIA. CHHASE NGO has been collaborating with foreign donor agencies, corporate, national donor agencies both governmental and non-governmental towards making meaningful interventions for the cause of poor and needy sections of the society.

Bududa Learning Center is an umbrella organization that includes a vocational high school, an orphans program for children, and a microfinance program for women. It is located in the isolated mountain district of eastern Uganda. It was founded by Canadian-born Barbara Wybar, who has been living on site a portion of each year for the past 14 years. This isolated region, one of the poorest in Uganda, is over-populated with most families having an average of 8 children. They live by growing their own food. Most of the region has no running water or electricity. Both the education and health care system are severely under-funded and inadequate. Jobs are scarce. Most people are hungry most of the time. How & Who We Help. We work to address the problems in three ways: 1. Training young people in basic trades: carpentry; brick-laying; dress-making and tailoring; nursery teacher training; computer skills training; and hairdressing training. 2. Providing broad support to 170 children and young people, many of them orphans from AIDS, by providing education enrichment, food, and health care. 3. Training and providing micro finance loans to single mothers and grandmothers in the region who are bringing up children on their own and have no means of support, so they can start small businesses. How It Is Run The Center is staffed by Ugandans working in a professional capacity. Barbara Wybar acts as Executive Director and works in a volunteer capacity. There is a growing volunteer contingent of people from the west who visit and do volunteer work there and others who take on management and administrative work in Canada and the US in a volunteer capacity. A guest house and annex provide housing for up to 12 visiting volunteers at a time. Local Oversight A local Advisory Board of the Center, led by Father Paul Buyela, provides oversight to the headmaster of the school and the directors of the two other programs. It is made up of representatives of the teachers, the parents, the regional education board, and the community as well as the executive director. The chairman is a highly respected educator as well as clerical leader in the region at large. Governance and Financial Support Bududa Canada Foundation provides governance to the Center and raises funds from individuals, foundations, and organizations to support the Center. It is incorporated in Canada holds charitable status from the Canadian Revenue Authority (#82535 8286 RR0001). There is a board directors of five people, three of whom are Canadian and two American. Financial support comes from Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Officers & Board of Directors Sally Bongard (Toronto), Chairman and Secretary Scott Douglas (Connecticut) Cecily Lawson (Montreal) Lizette Gilday (Montreal), President Barbara Wybar (Philadelphia, Quebec, and Uganda), Treasurer

The Portland Food Project was started in 2012 by Richard Nudelman, a Southeast Portland resident, who was concerned about hunger in the Portland area. He realized that many of his neighbors wanted to help fight hunger in their community, but for one reason or another, never get around to it. So to make it easy, he adopted a simple, door-to-door food collection system to enable people to pitch in. The new organization had three goals: To provide a regular supply of food to hungry neighbors To create new neighborhood connections and strengthen the community To serve as a model for other communities Richard started by inviting neighbors and friends to participate. Whenever someone said “Yes,” he suggested that they buy just one extra nonperishable food item each week, and store it at home. He promised to stop by the donors’ homes every two months, pick the food up, and take it directly to PFP’s food pantry partners. Portland Food Project started with 14 initial donors. In 2012, they contributed 237 lbs. of food to two Southeast Portland food pantries: The Kelly School SUN Pantry and SE Community Food Pantry. Today, there are over 100 Neighborhood Coordinators picking up food from about 1,500 households. Every other month, we collect about 18,000 lbs of food. By the summer of 2024, PFP had collected more than 1.2 million lbs.—the equivalent of more than 1 million meals—one bag at a time! It’s an amazing success story…but there’s still plenty of need in our area, and plenty of room for the PFP to grow. So join us! Don’t wait for a neighbor to knock on your door. Get in touch and let us know you want to share food. We’ll bring you a green bag, and get you started right away! It’s an amazing success story…but there’s still plenty of need in our area, and plenty of room for the PFP to grow. So join us! Don’t wait for a neighbor to knock on your door. Get in touch and let us know you want to share food. We’ll bring you a green bag, and get you started right away!