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FOOD FOR TOMORROW: Gathering for Food Equity and Justice
Established in 2020, the Community Redistribution Fund (CRF) supports organizations’ efforts to address the disproportionate impact of food insecurity on communities of color, immigrant, and refugee communities in Maine by increasing access to culturally relevant foods. The program directs funding to organizations led by and working with people of color, who are often overlooked by funders. Last year, we increased our investment in this program by more than 20 percent and awarded $750,000 to partners to support increased access to culturally relevant foods.
To celebrate and uplift the accomplishments of recipients, staff and supporters from the Food Bank were joined at Pineland Farms in New Gloucester by over 20 CRF awardees for a food equity and justice summit. The event highlighted organizations led by and primarily working with communities of color, who are collectively breaking down barriers to culturally relevant foods and reinforcing the message that everyone is worthy and deserves to live in good health and have their culture and identity be seen and honored.
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Expanding Funding Options for Communities of Color
In addition to our direct fund programs, we also help organizations with securing additional funding through other avenues. As a member of the Feeding America network, Good Shepherd Food Bank helped two Community Redistribution Fund partners earn grants through Feeding America’s Food Security Equity Impact Fund, which supports communities of color and rural communities disproportionately impacted by food insecurity. Maine recipients were Ummah Farms, a cooperative halal meat processing facility, and Presente! Maine, an organization dedicated to preserving food and cultural traditions for Latinx, and other native and Indigenous communities.
During a celebration with the recipients of the Food Security Equity Impact Fund, staff from the Food Bank and Feeding America were able to share meals, hear stories, and present hopes and dreams, while coming together in community.
