Partnering with Established Agencies Helps KPC Buddhist Relief Address Food Insecurity
Many of us are attuned to the needs of food insecurity in our area . We support food pantries and soup kitchens with donations of non-perishable food when we grocery shop , or through year-end financial donations . Items such as canned proteins , vegetables , grains and legumes provide basic nutrition . But how to ensure that the recipients receive the care behind the gesture , providing not just food but a meal ?
Organizations such as KPC Buddhist Relief have found a way to amplify their reach by responding to the needs of other non-profits . For Shepherd ’ s Table , it ’ s donations of nutrientdense grass-fed beef , plus weekly delivery of produce and staples that are used to cook 500 daily meals . For the Poolesville Little Free Pantry , it ’ s multiples of requested items , which may change on a weekly basis , and a refrigerator which allows the volunteers to keep the pantry stocked with fresh produce . For the Upcounty Hub , it ’ s providing foods that honor the families ’ culinary heritage , as well as child-friendly foods that often seem like an extravagance on a limited grocery budget .
A pilot program of emergency boxes filled with regular or vegan options , plus a list of resources for ongoing support , will soon launch . If you know of anyone who would benefit from an emergency food box , or would like to support the work of KPC Buddhist Relief , please visit www . tara . org / buddhist-relief . have taken initial steps to create incentives for school systems , prisons , hospitals and other institutions to buy locally . More can be done .
We need to establish farm incubator sites where new and entering farmers can get access to land and learn the business of farming . Producing table crops like fruits , vegetables and nuts requires more labor than commodity crops , so we need affordable housing for seasonal labor . Increasing the number of visas for seasonal labor would also help .
We need policy makers to create , prioritize , support , and implement specific plans to address the impacts of climate change including drought , floods , pests , temperature increases , through modified farming systems , diverse cropping systems , and investments in water and heat management .
And we need you to support and help make sure we have adequate , nutritious food , and more of it grown locally ! We can build a more sustainable and resilient food system and the Agricultural Reserve is a critical foundation for us to work with and protect ! By diversifying our local sources and relying less on imported food , we can enhance our security and resilience to potential supply chain disruptions . By buying locally you support local farmers and businesses , create jobs , and strengthen the local economy .
references
1 www . csis . org / analysis / high-prices-empty-shelves
2 today . umd . edu / study-finds-sea-level-rise-is-swallowing-farms-inmaryland-delaware-and-virginia
3 www . cnn . com / 2023 / 06 / 13 / business / grocery-prices-may / index . html
4 harvestsharemd . org / food-insecurity-in-montgomery-county
5 wtop . com / montgomery-county / 2022 / 07 / a-new-montgomeryco-office-to-tackle-childhood-food-insecurity
6 hunger-report . capitalareafoodbank . org / 2022-client-survey-data
7 www . mdhungersolutions . org / wp-content / uploads / 2020 / 10 / 16 . - Montgomery-County . pdf
8 www . worldbank . org / en / news / feature / 2022 / 10 / 17 / what-youneed-to-know-about-food-security-and-climate-change
9 blogs . worldbank . org / voices / business-case-nature
10 peerj . com / articles / 12848
Volunteers from KPC Buddhist Relief and staff from The Upcounty Hub work together to provide choices not often found in food distributions , such as fresh produce .
The authors of this article , Philip Bogdonoff , Katharine Coon , Susan Eisendrath , Jennifer Freeman , Ellen Gordon , and Ann Tutwiler , are involved in the Climate Coalition Montgomery County ’ s Food Resilience Working Group ( bit . ly / FRGW-Mission ). For more information on these topics and to get involved to help increase local food production , contact Philip Bogdonoff : pbogdonoff @ gmail . com
8 plenty I autumn Harvest 2023