Feed Families in Appalachian Ohio

Summer is almost here, and that means the Donation Station at CFI has gotten a lot busier since we last checked in with them. So far this year, we have distributed 15,000 pounds of local produce and food products to pantries and social service agencies throughout Southeast Ohio! At this time last year, we had only distributed 11,370 pounds, so we are well on our way to increasing our reach, in large part thanks to donors like you.

Locally, you can find our Donation Station at the Athens Farmers Market every Wednesday and Friday and at the Chesterhill Produce Auction every Monday and Thursday where you are almost certain to find a few of our volunteers and Donation Station Manger, Caitlin Garrity. Caitlin is from Columbus, Ohio, and has been managing CFI’s Donation Station for about a year: “I have always been interested in working with communities and understanding the how the history of a region can impact it,” said Caitlin. She chose to work at CFI because parts of her family are from Appalachia and, as many of us in the region can attest to, she has always felt a connection to the rolling hills of Appalachia. Caitlin was struck by the “positive, progressive and innovative community development work happing here in Athens County,” and chose to bring her talents to CFI has become an integral part of that network.

Both the rates of poverty and of food insecurity throughout Appalachian Ohio are higher than the national and state averages, and many in our community are negatively impacted by the lack of access to healthy foods. For Caitlin, “food insecurity is the root of negative health outcomes for lots of folks in the region-- leading to bad economic conditions for their families. I think it's at the base of what keep people in poverty.” Our Donation Station directly addresses individuals’ most basic food security needs and directly fights hunger, while also helping to reduce poverty by supporting local farmers and food vendors.

While we receive much of our support and donations from local farmers, as Caitlin sees it, there is room for everyone in our community and beyond to get involved: “I think we provide a space for everyone to participate in giving back to someone who has less. Every week at the farmers market I see the same people put one dollar in our fishbowl- money that we later use to purchase food at the market. Hundreds of people every week add one dollar to our jar. That [adds up to] a large contribution.”

While one dollar or one apple donated to fight hunger in our community might not seem significant, donating through the Donation Station assures that any donation, no matter how small, is a part of a larger system that assures healthy, local food ends up in our food banks and food pantries. From there this food ultimately finds its way to the tables of individuals and families in our region who need it the most.

Links:

• Keep up with CFI on Facebook!
• Follow us on Twitter @AthensOhioCFI