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For quite a long time - like more than forty years - the Franklin Food Bank has run one primary official program addressing food insecurity in the community. It's definitely more straightforward to operate this way and, to be fair, we still run one primary program. However, when a person is facing a food crisis, that's likely not the only crisis they are facing. So, if the Franklin Food Bank continues to simply address this one thing, sure we'll be helping a whole lot! But we're not really meeting the hunger crisis where it is in America. Unless we do more.
We're doing more!
Back in June, we signaled to you all that we were planning a partnership with SNAP-Ed and other organizations to offer wraparound services at the food bank. In September, we made good on that promise. Presenting the ZuFall Health/SNAP-Ed & Franklin Food Bank FREE Nutrition Class!
Before I get ahead of myself, let's recap wraparound services first.
In a nonprofit setting, where we interface directly with people, a wraparound service is something that addresses the same core issue from a different perspective or angle. This approach is for the purpose of helping to solve underlying or subsequent issues while still directly offering a main and direct remedy: providing food for people who need it. There are many wraparound services that could be offered surrounding the issue of a food crisis because a food crisis is a financial crisis, often with geographic implications, often with social implications, and all TOO often, with health implications. For us, the decision was way too easy - free nutrition class with a cooking demo!
Now I don't know about you but I've actually been around dozens and dozens of cooking demos in my time and there is one thing that ties them all together - people love to talk about food. EVERYBODY knows SOMEthing about cooking. Some people know a lot (cough me cough) and some people are just learning but no matter what, food is the one thing that connects us all. Across culture, across any known barriers, and all ages - everybody eats food. Guys, these nutrition classes - you should have seen it. They were joyful. They were informative. People walked away inspired by the tips, with a bag of produce, and a happy tummy. So far we have run two classes and for both of them, there was not one empty seat.
One more likely side effect of a wraparound service is something a little less measurable but arguable the most important - camaraderie. These classes are a way for the food bank to spend quality time with the folks we serve. The students in these classes are not just our clients, they are our neighbors, they are people. Getting on the level with the people who are served by one's nonprofit work is pretty key in solving a real crisis. That kind of cultivation and trust building only results from putting in the time and from actually caring. Actually being there. We are so grateful to ZuFall and SNAP-Ed for this opportunity to deepen our relationships with the folks who come to the food bank. And for the deliciousness too.
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