Frederick Focus | Frederick Food Security Network Keeps on Growing

In 2017, the College’s Center for Coastal and Watershed Studies launched the Frederick Food Security Network (FFSN) to coordinate community gardens and combat food insecurity in Frederick County. Starting with its first growing season in 2018, the FFSN provides healthy produce to those who cannot afford it and who live in food deserts—areas where a high percentage of people fall below the federal poverty line and where there isn’t an easily accessible grocery store. In Frederick city alone, it is estimated that more than 500 families are affected by food deserts.

Six partner nonprofit organizations distribute food to the community: the Religious Coalition for Emergency Human Needs, the Frederick Community Action Agency, the Centennial Community of Hope, the Housing Authority of Frederick, the Hood Pantry and the Community Table Project. The Boys and Girls Club of Frederick and the Islamic Society of Frederick distribute produce internally.

“Our robust network of partners within the Frederick community are the keys to our success,” said Connie Ray, FFSN manager. “Many of them are garden partners, while others are distribution partners or partners who collaborate to offer nutrition educational services such as cooking classes.”

Last year, the FFSN won the Chesapeake Bay Trust’s Melanie Teems Award for Environmental Engagement, which recognizes a project or program that engages residents in efforts to improve the Chesapeake region’s natural resources, serves as a model for other organizations, and motivates and inspires others by promoting environmental engagement throughout the community.

Much of the FFSN’s success is made possible by generous grants.

• Chesapeake Bay Trust: $5,000 in 2017, garden bed construction

• Green Streets, Green Jobs, Green Towns “G3”: $65,136 in 2018, garden construction and provided green jobs to students

• Helen J. Serini Foundation: $10,000 in 2018, full-time FFSN manager

• HEAL Cities: $8,160 in 2019, expenses for greenhouses

• Ausherman Family Foundation: $10,000 in 2019, operating expenses and the full-time manager

• Rotary Club of Carroll Creek: $4,000 and $1,700 district matching grant in 2018, construction and tools; $1,000 in 2019, cold storage room

2018 STATS

• 5 community gardens: Islamic Society of Frederick, Hood-Frederick Memorial Hospital, Boys and Girls Club, Religious Coalition, Frederick News-Post

• 6 community distribution partners

• 200 community volunteers

• 1,500+ pounds of produce

• 400 families reached

2019 GOALS

• 2,500+ pounds of produce

• 500 families reached

• Partnership with Scott Key Center greenhouses to extend growing season

• Employ eight student workers to help maintain gardens

• Host community outreach events

• Offer a cooking skills class to produce recipients

• Start campus food pantry