Fall 2005

Target:Hunger takes off in Springfield!

When you hear about The Food Bank these days, you might be hearing a lot about Target:Hunger. A community organizing project led by The Food Bank, Target:Hunger aims to measurably reduce the number of people experiencing hunger by 10% in two communities over four years. The results, we hope, will provide us with a replicable model that we can use to reduce hunger and increase food security in our area – and share it with others so they may do the same around the country!

A community plan is drafted
The Food Bank has already mobilized forces in the McKnight, Bay, Upper Hill, and Old Hill sections of Springfield. More than two dozen organizations have come together to create a community plan. Some of their many ideas include:

• A map or directory of emergency food and other services to be distributed to everyone receiving services in the area.

• A centralized referral center for emergency food.

• Incentives to move people from emergency food (pantries, soup kitchens) to nutritional supports such as Food Stamps and school lunch.

• Budgeting classes for low-income families.

• Intergenerational skill-sharing classes in growing, cooking, and preserving food.

• Enabling emergency food providers to enroll clients in other programs they are eligible for on the spot.

• Creating greater availability of produce and culturally appropriate foods at local markets.

• Promoting farmers’ markets and outlets for local produce.

• Educating businesses, social service providers, students, educators, and policy-makers about the connections between hunger and issues like poor academic performance, lead poisoning, and diabetes.

Next steps
Our current Target:Hunger partners will meet in subgroups to work on implementing different aspects of the plan and invite other partners to the table. In the meantime, The Food Bank is taking steps to launch Target:Hunger in a rural western Massachusetts community. Stay tuned!

How will we know if we’re successful?
The Food Bank will conduct a study to measure the prevalence of hunger at the beginning, middle, and end of the project. At the end of four years, we expect to see a 10% reduction in the number of people experiencing hunger in the “target” communities. In the process, our aim is to increase food security for all their residents through changes initiated by the community, for the community. When we’re done, we’ll document how we did it and put it in a booklet that others can use to make positive change in their own communities.

Springfield Target:Hunger committed partners:

• Gandara Mental Health Center

• Greater Springfield Senior Services

• King Street Family Life Center

• Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center

• Mason Square Senior Center

• Massachusetts Career Development Institute
  Mount Zion Baptist Church

• City of Springfield Office of the Mayor

• Open Pantry Community Services

• Open Pantry Loaves and Fishes Kitchen

• Partners for a Healthier Community

• Pioneer Valley Planning Commission

• Project Bread

• Save Our Kids

• Springfield Partners for Community Action

• St. John’s Congregational Church

• Tapestry Health (Voz and HIV/AIDS)

• United Way of Pioneer Valley

• Urban League of Springfield

Many other organizations also have taken part in crafting the plan. We appreciate their contributions and look forward to our continued collaboration.