2022 Annual Report

Dear friend,

When you think of Local Matters, what comes to mind? It’s possible your entry point was concern for children or you’re familiar with the Veggie Van. Many people share they know who we are but they’re not quite sure what we do and how we are different from other food non-profits.

The simple answer to that is we provide the most comprehensive and far-reaching nutrition education for students in our community, operate the Veggie Van, the only mobile food market in low-food access neighborhoods, and we engage community advocates to address issues they understand best from their lived experience. However, we don’t do this alone. We work with over 80 schools, recreation centers, recovery and healthcare centers, and more.

We believe everyone has a right to food that meets their needs, and our long-term goal is a community free of diet-related disease and food insecurity. We exist to prevent these issues, to help people regain their health, and to create a supportive community driven by dignity, celebration, and equity.

As you explore the stats, stories, and strategies within this report, please consider how to elevate the message of our work in your daily life and in our community. Reach out if you’d like to volunteer!

Your commitment to Local Matters means the world to our team. With your support we will continue to create healthier communities through in-depth education, convenient food access, and advocacy in support of our goals.

Thank you for being part of this critical work across neighborhoods in central Ohio.

Sincerely,

Katie Burgess Board Chair

Michelle M. Brown Executive Director

Our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement underscores how and why we exist. Local Matters believes everyone has a right to food, and we understand that the outcomes of systemic racism prevent people from having equitable access to resources such as land, supermarkets, food business opportunities, healthcare, and education. As a result, people of color experience higher rates of poverty, food insecurity, and diet-related chronic disease.

We recognize the primacy of this issue and the additional effects of discrimination including that by gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, ability, and citizenship. We actively pursue diversity, equity, and inclusion across our organization, including in how we support communities with food education, access, and advocacy, as well as how we recruit and retain board, staff, donors, and volunteers. We commit to examining our biases and striving to counteract inequity.

Our mission is to create healthier communities through food education, access, and advocacy.

We believe in equitable access to a sustainable food system and a world free of food-related chronic disease.

Our 2022 Focus Areas:

Layering food access and education to strengthen our impact and partnerships

Making fresh and staple foods more accessible

Supporting food justice advocates through our Community Advocates Group

2022 Focus Area 1:

Layering food access and education to strengthen our impact and partnerships

In 2022, Local Matters brought our Food Matters programming to eight classrooms at Linden Early Childhood Education Center (Linden ECEC), the largest subset of preschool classrooms in Columbus. The curriculum encourages young students to taste and try new foods, build confidence, and we also provide take home recipes centered around nutritious meals.

In conjunction with our work in the classroom, Local Matters anchored a weekly Veggie Van market next door to Linden ECEC at the Linden Community Center, making it easier for students and their families to access the fresh, affordable, and high-quality foods they learn about in class each week.

Further, Local Matters team members attended Linden ECEC’s fall open house to talk about the Veggie Van and sign people up for TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), providing a crucial $240 food benefit for families in Central Ohio.

“We both were able to reinforce some important nutrition facts, learn proper knife and cutting skills. We will incorporate the recipes and techniques we learned into our family meal planning regularly! We are so grateful for the classes and really look forward to participating again in the future!”

Author SRD Harris, Hands-on Cooking Class Participant

“Local Matters programming is engaging, inclusive, and well-rounded. And it impacts more than just our students. The families at our school benefit from these learnings and the teachers love to be a part of these conversations with Local Matters.”

Principal Rhonda Childs Linden Early Childhood Education Center

“The Local Matter’s Community Advocates Group has been a highlight of my year. I joined to learn more about the food justice movement and advocacy, but did not expect to build community with the other members in the group. I have felt supported in my endeavors, and will continue to support the work that others pursue to help our communities achieve food equity.”

Tanya Vora, Spice Up

2022 Focus Area 2: Supporting food justice advocates through our Community Advocates Group

The Community Advocates Group was founded in January 2022. Since then, the group has made great strides in its efforts to advance community participation on topics related to food justice.

Group members provided crucial feedback on Local Matters’ programming, the Veggie Van, and external presentations from team members on topics like food security, food justice, and food sovereignty. They met with elected officials and organizations like AEP Ohio to discuss opportunities surrounding emergency preparedness, providing solutions to support all neighborhoods and community members in Columbus.

Members also met with elected officials at the Ohio Statehouse and visited the Highland Youth Garden to learn more about community growing.

“This experience broadened my understanding of challenges faced by the communities which are marginalized. It also helped close gaps in my understanding of the injustices faced in the black community overtime. It really puts the work of community connectors into perspective. And each job matters, from those in community gardens, helping people obtain SNAP benefits, to the ones who open the doors to government buildings.”

Nande Gilbert, Highland Youth Garden

2022 Focus Area 3: Making fresh and staple foods more accessible

Expanding the distribution of fresh, affordable fruits and vegetables is of utmost importance to Local Matters. In 2022, Local Matters launched its Veggie Van delivery services, allowing customers to have their groceries brought to their doorstep. We expanded our meal kit distribution efforts, creating opportunities for people to cook with ease and confidence. And we partnered with groups like Nationwide Children’s Hospital to provide fresh produce boxes to families in our community who need it most.

Beyond food access and the full return of classes in schools, we revived our in-person hands-on cooking classes, welcoming people to our new Education Center for in-depth and inclusive programming. Participants were able to cook new foods with confidence and learn important skills and techniques to better prepare meals for themselves and their families.

“This class was so much fun… The Local Matters team brings so much joy, excitement, pleasure, and happiness to our community through these amazing events that they share with us.”

Gloria McKinney Hands-on Cooking Class Participant & Veggie Van customer

Released our most impactful Voters

Guide to date

Here’s a few of our accomplishments:

Hosted multiple sold-out, in-person community cooking classes

Facilitated 27 volunteer events, including garden builds and maintenance Received recognition and support from The Columbus Foundation to help build the capacity of adjacent food nonprofits

Launched the Veggie Van mobile app and started delivery service

“The best part of the delivery service is being able to reach participants where they are. The ability to provide fresh produce to participants without them having to leave their home and the smile on some of their faces as we hand them their box is definitely comforting.”

Jermaine Mitchell Local Matters’ Food Access Coordinator

Co-published a Cooking Matters Study with The Ohio State University

Secured a Veggie Van feature in The Columbus Dispatch

Grew our programming and garden coordination at 10 Columbus Recreation & Parks Department sites:

“Our partnership with Local Matters is critical to supporting youth across Columbus because it connects them to growing food and preparing it in their neighborhood. Having grown up with a strong connection to gardens and good food, nothing makes me happier than seeing kids with their hands in the soil and enjoying their harvest.”

Director Bernita Reese Columbus Recreation and Parks Department

2022 was a fruitful year for Local Matters.

87

Joined forces with community partners in Produce Perks, a $1-for-$1 match on purchases

Serviced over shoppers at the Veggie Van

Provided over classes to the community

Supported residents with our services in 2022 volunteers totaling hours of service

1,900 670 Distributed

10,528 16 $84,558 211 514 571

2022 impact by the numbers

total number of donors (individual and corporate) gardens installed and maintained to make fresh food available to neighbors

Individual Donors - $250 and over in descending order of gift size:Kimberly and Mark Allison

Corporate & Foundations - $250 and over:

2023 Board of Directors:

Kimberly and Mark Allison

Karen and Michael Jones Fund of the Lurie Family Fund at The Columbus Foundation

Nancy J. Kingsley

Katie and Eamon Burgess

Betsy and Bryan Ross

Lisa G. Han and John Kirsner

Sara Kate and Ted Hill

Dr. Mary Ann and Mike Abrams

Alan and Bobbie Weiler

Jeff and Gaby May

Amy and Jeremy Baskes

Beth Crane and Richard McKee

Kathy and Bernie Ostrowski

Jaclyn and Colin Bennett

Lori and Don Overmyer

Nick Bechtel

Elizabeth and Stephen Nogan

Josh and Lisa Northeimer

Scot and Lisa Lindsey

Matt and Parker Milcetich

Aaron and Rebekah Monroe

Shannon Snead

Mark Schriml

Mary-Lynn and Derek Niland

Katie Grayem

Brandy and Joshua Hill

Tony and Cara Callander

Tom and Mindy Westfall

Kathy Flynn

David and Leigh Kopans

BJ and Nicci Hicks

Susan Hutchins

Ben and Stacie Stormer

Sabrina and Ken Gilbert

Tim Riker

Angela Cook and Ryan Arbogast

JoAnn and John Rohyans

David and Catherine Schilling

James Popp

Kelsey Scianamblo

Ryan Miller

Kara Young Ponder

Emily Rose Hipp

Alexis Mersel

Deborah Raita

Matt and Lina Eichmann

Dr. William and Carla Hicks

Autumn and Blaize O’Brien

Lee Shackelford

Lisa Feck and Chris Hammel

Jacqueline and Brent Lampert

Cindy Mills

Mary Lou and Tom Shaw

Kerry Shaw and Brent Brown

David and Susi Bezaire

Marcia Miller

Michelle M. and Aaron Brown

Marlee and Richard Snowdon

Dimiter and Shiloh Todorov

Ron and Lisa Wilson

Wayne Martin

Jessica L Hicks

Thomas Robinson

Eric Harter

Adam Fazio and Karl Whittington

Richard and Shawna Moraille

William Humphries

Sonya and David Thesing

Patrick Schmitz

Trevor Brown

Sherry Harvan

Lisa Adams

Nicky and Nate Hall

Sara and Joe Patchen

Heidi Fischer

Deb A. McWilliam

Phil Meyer

Tom Smith

Ashley Bodine

Stephen Kostelnik

Robert Livingston

Diana Webster

American Electric Power Foundation

City of Columbus

Columbia Gas of Ohio (NiSource Foundation)

CoverMyMeds

The Harry C. Moores Foundation

The Kroger Co.

Macy’s

Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Big Lots

Central Ohio Primary Care Physicians Foundation

Greif

Siemer Family Foundation

Verizon Foundation

Belford Family Charitable Fund

CareSource

Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation

Tom Meyer Memorial Fund

Kemba

Walter and Marian English Foundation Fund

Community Shares of Mid Ohio

L Brands Foundation

M/I Homes Foundation

OhioHealth

White Castle System

The Little Garden Club

Trinity Health

Aldi

Carlile Patchen and Murphy

Columbus Jewish Foundation

Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority

Fahlgren Mortine

Moo Moo Express

The Columbus Foundation

Clark Schaefer Hackett

Columbus School for Girls Parents’ Association

JRH Capital LLC

Scott W. Schiff & Associates, CO, LPA

Huntington

GoYoga

Katie Burgess, Burgess Senior Living Management -

Board Chair

Matt Milcetich, Huntington - Vice Chair

Kathy Ostrowski, Fairwhay Management - Treasurer

Cindy Mills, Cardinal Health - Secretary

Dr. Mary Ann Abrams, Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Jaclyn Bennett, JPMorgan Chase

David Kopans, DLA Piper

Katie Grayem, AEP Ohio

Sabrina Gilbert, OhioHealth

Ben Stormer, SonarID

Netta Whitman, Homeport

Luka Papalko, Columbia Gas of Ohio

Dr. Kareem Usher, The Ohio State University

Michelle Ludwin, CoverMyMeds

Tanya Vora, Arcana

Drew Jack, Jones Day

Jodi Spencer, Copper Black Farms

Follow Along

Scan here to visit Local Matters’ website where you can access volunteer opportunities, order from the Veggie Van, sign up for community cooking classes, make a donation, and so much more.