Local Matters

LOCAL MATTERS SUPPORTS HEALTHY COMMUNITIES THROUGH FOOD EDUCATION, ACCESS AND ADVOCACY

FOOD ACCESS: VEGGIE VAN IS A FOOD ACCESS PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE LIVING IN UNDER-RESOURCED AREAS TO MORE EASILY FEED THEIR FAMILIES WITH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, HEALTHY PANTRY STAPLE ITEMS, AND MEAL KITS AT LOW PRICES. THIS PROGRAM IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO ASSIST CUSTOMERS IN STRETCHING THEIR FOOD DOLLAR BY ACCEPTING SNAP AND PROVIDING A $1 FOR $1 MATCH ON SNAP PURCHASES - DOUBLING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY CUSTOMERS HAVE TO SPEND ON HEALTHY FOODS. LOCAL MATTERS PARTNERS WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS IN THE LINDEN, HILLTOP, AND NEAR EAST SIDE NEIGHBORHOODS TO CREATE A DIVERSE RANGE OF CONSISTENT FOOD ACCESS POINTS IN LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES. IN 2021, VEGGIE VAN DISTRIBUTED 10,000 GROCERY BOXES AND MEAL KITS IN THE COMMUNITY AND LEVERAGED $110,000 IN SNAP PURCHASES AND FOOD INCENTIVES.

FOOD EDUCATION: LOCAL MATTERS' FOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE THE CORNERSTONE OF THE ORGANIZATION, SERVING CHILDREN IN PRESCHOOL TO ADULTS WITH DIET RELATED DISEASES AND EVERYONE IN BETWEEN. OUR FOOD MATTERS PROGRAMMING SERVES YOUTH POPULATIONS AND FOCUSES ON DEVELOPING POSITIVE ATTITUDES AND CONFIDENCE AROUND NEW FOODS. OUR ADULT- AND FAMILY-ORIENTED PROGRAMS GIVE PARTICIPANTS THE KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, AND SKILLS TO SHOP FOR AND PREPARE HEALTHY MEALS ON A BUDGET. ADDITIONALLY, LOCAL MATTERS WORKS IN A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY GARDENS THROUGH GARDEN EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COLUMBUS RECREATION AND PARKS DEPARTMENT. IN 2021, LOCAL MATTERS PROVIDED FOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMMING AT MORE THAN 400 CLASSES AND EVENTS WITH THOUSANDS OF PARTICIPANTS, AND AT MORE THAN 10 LEARNING GARDENS.

ADVOCACY: LOCAL MATTERS RECOGNIZES THAT OUR WORK IS MOST IMPACTFUL WHEN WE LAYER FOOD EDUCATION WITH ACCESS SERVICES. THIS MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH ENSURES THAT PARTICIPANTS UNDERSTAND WHAT HEALTHFUL FOOD IS AND HOW TO PREPARE IT, AS WELL AS HAVE ACCESS TO CONVENIENT AND AFFORDABLE FRESH FOOD. OUR ADVOCACY WORK CENTERS AROUND A LONG-TERM VISION OF EQUITABLE ACCESS TO A SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEM AND A COMMUNITY FREE OF FOOD-RELATED CHRONIC DISEASE. IN 2021, PLANNING BEGAN FOR A COMMUNITY ADVOCATES GROUP THAT WOULD BE COMPRISED OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS INTERESTED IN ADVANCING CONVERSATIONS AROUND FOOD ACCESS AND EQUITY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, HOW COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IMPACTS BOTH. THE COMMUNITY ADVOCATES ALSO PROVIDE CRITICAL FEEDBACK ON OUR PROGRAMS WHILE ADVOCATING FOR CRITICAL NEEDS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.