Thank you San Diego Foundation for the "Community Food Grant" Opportunity!!

Thank you, San Diego Foundation and San Diego County Health & Human Services Agency for selecting our organization to be one of 43 Community Food Grant Program recipients! 🍎  The $5.5 million in grants will help ensure our local communities have access to nutritious food, services and education needed to improve #FoodSecurity and provide #FoodSovereignty solutions throughout our region.
Learn more and view all the Community Food Grant Program grantees here: http://bit.ly/3NXi3pL

COMMUNITY FOOD GRANT PROGRAM PRESS RELEASE

​ODP (Operation Dynamic Pantry)

            Equitable Solutions that Improve Food Sovereignty and Security in the Rural Fallbrook Region
 
FFP believes that listening to the voices of our community and being attentive to their evolving needs is key to the long-term success of our clients and programs. The project we received funds for, Operation Dynamic Pantry, is a prime example of incorporating community-led initiatives and voice. Operation Dynamic Pantry (ODP) began as a request from our clients and has blossomed into a holistic initiative we have not seen done by other Food Pantries or Banks. The inspiration came when our English Second Language (ESL) instructor, and our pantry clients/students wanted to start a community garden to grow food to give back to FFP, which had supported them for many years. They also felt it would provide real-world opportunities to practice English. Many instructors, along with ESL and diabetes education students, are the primary facilitators of ODP. Pantry staff provides logistical support and oversight, but the goal is for our clients/students to take on leadership roles as they gain practical skills on their road to self-sufficiency.  The Fallbrook Food Pantry, coupled with our desire to spearhead this program, has quickly become the bridge that connects our distribution and education programs while simultaneously empowering clients and their children to give back to their community.
 
FFP also integrates community voice by soliciting frequent feedback from our clients and monitoring key outcomes.  All clients receive a card to access services. This monitors the food and services they receive and helps us understand their unique situation and needs. We track income and demographics. By listening to our clients and evaluating their needs, we can offer culturally relevant and language-appropriate programs. A one-size-fits-all approach does not work for reducing food insecurity. Solutions come in many different forms, and we will not be successful if we don’t offer solutions that reach everyone, regardless of background.
 
The Pantry has made significant headway in putting healthy food on families' tables since 1991. But, by evaluating service trends and listening to client feedback, the need became clear to create a more holistic model to affect deeper systemic changes. For example, Fallbrook has limited transportation options, and a number of FFP clients reside in the outskirts of our rural region. Due to the scarcity of transportation and high poverty levels, four families often share a single car, which restricts their availability to make the long commute down winding mountain roads to collect their Pantry food allotment. To address this issue, Operation Dynamic Pantry provides clients with the knowledge to establish home gardens and prepare healthy meals using the food they grow. Ultimately, this reduces their dependency on FFP. 
 
Our diverse Board and staff are reflective of the community we serve. Indicative of our client demographic, 65% of the Board and staff are women and 40% are BIPOC. A large majority of Pantry clients speak Spanish as their first language. Therefore, we always have multiple Spanish-speaking staff and volunteers on-site to create an inclusive environment.
 
In early 2023, we launched Operation Dynamic Pantry (ODP) to improve food sovereignty and food security by building sustainable solutions that increase self-sufficiency and improve health outcomes. FFP nutrition and occupational courses integrate hands-on, practical learning by working in local community gardens to cultivate, produce, and process food. 

ODP Presents: Nutrition to Grow On

8-week program, 1-day/week -- is a garden club offered only during the summer to youth, grades 2 - 6, as a summer day camp program. Children will learn about the science of planting, growing, harvesting, and preparing  fresh produce they choose to grow during these 8-weeks. They will monitor and log their plants’ growth--identify the bugs/insects around their gardens, and ultimately harvest and then eat what they have grown. They will discuss the smell, taste, texture, and color of their harvest and learn about our ecosystem and how this plays a role in our growth and survival, as humans.  This program is our Youth Flagship Program provided through our Operation Dynamic Pantry (ODP) initiative and is sponsored by San Diego Foundation and County of San Diego.

               Community Garden Location:  Fallbrook Regional Health Districts' Wellness Center @ 1636 E. Mission Road

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