Progress 07/01/23 to 06/30/24

Outputs
Target Audience:In the first year of our project, we focused on two primary target audiences to support our overarching goal of addressing food insecurity in Putnam County. Community Organizational Stakeholders: Our initial outreach efforts were directed toward the administrative side of local farms, emergency food providers (EFPs), and potential new/existing cold storage locations. While these individuals may not represent the final beneficiaries of our project, they are critical partners in helping us build the infrastructure needed to serve those facing food insecurity. These stakeholders--whether farmers, EFP administrators, or managers of cold storage sites--are on the frontlines of the food system. Establishing relationships with them allowed us to better understand their capacity, needs, and interests, enabling us to collaboratively meet the community's food security challenges. We concentrated on outreach to all emergency food providers within the county, making multiple in-person visits to ensure a thorough assessment of each organization and to build strong, ongoing partnerships. At the beginning of the year, we had established working relationships with only four EFPs; by year-end, we had expanded this network to include 13 service providers, all serving individuals and families facing food insecurity. Beyond EFPs, we expanded our outreach to libraries and mental health providers, leading to the creation of community freezers in collaboration with three of these organizations. These freezers are strategically located to support individuals who face both food insecurity and transportation challenges, one of the major infrastructure gaps identified in our original Community Food Projects (CFP) grant. Local Farms and Agricultural Partners: We also focused on building relationships with local farms to support the supply chain for our new mobile food pantry truck. This involved engaging with over 20 farms, both in Putnam County and neighboring counties, to secure produce, meat, eggs, and dairy. We directly connected with six farmers in Putnam County and worked with six additional farmers in Dutchess County and two in Westchester County to ensure a diverse and steady supply of fresh, local food. Through this process, we established logistical systems to manage transportation, delivery schedules, regular invoicing, and communications regarding client preferences. Our efforts also addressed language barriers and technological challenges faced by some farmers, which presented unforeseen complexities due to limited time and resources available to these small-scale producers. Despite these challenges, we successfully built a reliable network of farm partners who are essential to sustaining our mobile food pantry operations. In summary, our year one efforts concentrated on forming strong partnerships with organizational stakeholders and agricultural partners. By focusing on these foundational relationships, we are creating the systems necessary to expand access to fresh, local food for those in Putnam County experiencing food insecurity. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Not relevant to program activities. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Over the past reporting period, our project has focused on effectively disseminating results to key communities of interest, including local farms, emergency food providers (EFPs), community partners, and residents of Putnam County. We used a variety of methods to ensure that results reached these stakeholders and supported our overarching goal of addressing food insecurity. Putnam County Food Systems Coalition Meetings We held monthly meetings with the Putnam County Food Systems Coalition on the second Thursday of each month, which served as a consistent platform for sharing updates and discussing progress on new initiatives. During these meetings, we highlighted key results such as the establishment of new partnerships with local farms and EFPs, the implementation of cold storage units, and the ongoing efforts to expand food access programs. These meetings also provided a forum for coalition members to provide input, exchange ideas, and discuss potential areas for collaboration. We engaged local stakeholders from emergency food providers, farms, and community organizations, fostering a collaborative environment to address food security issues. Digital Food Access Map To increase food access and awareness, we developed and shared an updated digital food access map, which includes information on emergency food providers, Bountiful Meals freezers, local farms, CSA programs, soup kitchens, and grocery stores that accept EBT cards. For the first time, this map was made available in both English and Spanish to ensure broader access across language barriers. The map was shared with the Putnam County Food Systems Coalition, local government offices, and directly with community members through social media and partner networks. It has garnered close to 2,000 views, helping residents identify food access points in their area. Printed Brochure Distribution We produced a printed brochure, also available in English and Spanish, highlighting local farms, CSA programs, farmers markets, and businesses accepting SNAP/EBT benefits. This brochure replaced the outdated "Farm Pickins" brochure previously distributed by the local Soil and Water Conservation District and was made available in both digital and physical formats. Copies were distributed at farm stores, including at the Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming, local farmers markets, community events, and public libraries. This outreach has helped increase awareness of food access points and local agriculture programs. Volunteer Program and Outreach We successfully onboarded nine Food Systems Volunteers during the reporting period, who contributed to our efforts by delivering produce, assisting with Bountiful Meals meal deliveries, and tabling at community events. These volunteers helped disseminate program information to over 20,000 individuals across the county at various events. Their involvement has been critical in reaching diverse communities, ensuring that program results and available services were communicated effectively. The volunteers also assisted in delivering more than 10,000 meals to seniors and individuals in need, amplifying the project's reach and direct impact on food-insecure populations. Through these dissemination efforts, we ensured that the results of our project were shared with the communities most impacted by food insecurity, as well as with key stakeholders responsible for food distribution and resource management. By leveraging a mix of in-person meetings, digital tools, print materials, and social media outreach, we were able to effectively communicate our progress and engage the community in our mission to improve food security in Putnam County. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Secure partnerships with 2 EFPs - To meet Goal 1 July-September To further our goal of securing partnerships with Emergency Food Providers (EFPs), we plan to onboard two new EFP partners during the upcoming reporting period. This will involve ongoing outreach efforts, relationship-building through in-person meetings, and finalizing formal agreements. These partnerships will be critical in extending our food distribution network to underserved areas and expanding food access across the county. Secure 2 new farm agreements - To meetGoal 2, 3 July-September We will focus on securing agreements with two new farms annually, particularly those with the capacity to expand and grow year-round to meet food distribution needs. These agreements will include terms for supplying fresh produce, meat, eggs, and other essentials for our food programs. We will strengthen existing relationships and leverage our outreach efforts to bring new farms into our network, while supporting farmer capacity-building and addressing logistical challenges like invoicing and delivery. Lease (or renew lease) for vehicle with cargo capacity - To meetGoal 4 July-September To enhance our food distribution capabilities, we plan to either lease or renew a lease for a vehicle with suitable cargo capacity. Our preference is to obtain an electric vehicle (EV) or hybrid model to align with our sustainability goals. This will involve researching vehicle options, coordinating funding, and finalizing a lease agreement. The vehicle will play a key role in efficiently delivering food from farms to EFPs and other community partners. Secure 15 food system volunteers - To meetGoal 4 July-June In the next reporting period, we plan to recruit and train 5 new volunteers who will be instrumental in supporting our food systems efforts. These volunteers will assist with food deliveries, help manage the cold storage sites, and provide additional logistical support. As we recruit these individuals, we will focus on community outreach and provide comprehensive training to prepare them for their roles. Publish and update Food Access Educational Resources - To meetGoal 1 August-Nov Our team will update the Food Access Story Map to reflect new resources, partners, and locations. The updated map will include information on emergency food providers, food delivery schedules, and cold storage sites. We will distribute the Story Map widely to partner organizations and make it available on public platforms, ensuring that community members and service providers can access up-to-date food access information. Currently we have updated the Google Map and Local Food Guide Brochure. Educate 200 people to use food access resource assets - To meetGoal 1 August-June This outreach effort will include distributing informational materials at emergency food providers, SNAP/WIC offices, and local government agencies. Our goal is to ensure that community members are aware of the food access services available to them and know how to navigate these resources. Our map has already reach close to 2,000 individuals, and we aim to reach another 2,000 to reach our knowledge outcome of 10,000 community members increasing awareness of food access resources. Secure partnerships between food delivery services and EFPs - To meetGoal 1 August-October During this reporting period, we will solidify partnership agreements between food delivery services and our new EFP partners. These partnerships will streamline the delivery of fresh food to food-insecure individuals and families. The agreements will include detailed logistics for pickup and drop-off locations, delivery schedules, and any additional support needed to overcome transportation challenges. Establish and utilize 2 new cold storage units and 2 underutilized cold storage sites - To meetGoal 1 September-November We plan to purchase materials for two new cold storage units and ensure they are fully operational to meet the needs of our food distribution network. Additionally, we will work to bring two underutilized cold storage sites into active use, expanding our capacity to store perishable items and distribute them to emergency food providers. This will involve site assessments, material procurement, and ongoing coordination with our partners. Offer 100 trips/year to fill transportation gaps -To meetGoal 1 July-June Our team will coordinate 100 transportation trips per year to ensure that food is delivered from farms to EFPs, addressing transportation gaps that limit food access in underserved areas. This will involve working closely with farms and emergency food providers to schedule deliveries, optimize routes, and monitor transportation needs. These efforts will help reduce missed deliveries and ensure that food reaches those in need on time. Collect and review data to refine collection process - To meetGoal 1, 2, 3 July-June Throughout the year, we will revisit the survey to make it feasible for pantry providers to fill out. We will meet with them individually, with the survey in front of us, to estimate data if we cannot pull the exact information. If this attempt at securing baseline data does not result in reliable data, we will have to revisit this way of evaluating our overall measurements.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Accomplishments Under Our Goals: Outreach to 12 Emergency Food Providers (EFPs) in Putnam County (To meet Goal1): We engaged in both in-person meetings and phone calls to establish personal connections with emergency food providers across the county. Some of these providers were already familiar with our coalition, while others were new and in the early stages of connecting with available resources. By building these relationships, we successfully partnered with local EFPs, strengthening their involvement in our new mobile food pantry truck program. Establish Outreach and Partnerships with Food Delivery Service:(To meetGoal1): In 2023, we secured a grant from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets through the "New York Food for New York Families" initiative. This enabled us to partner with Meals on Main Street, resulting in the delivery of $1.3 million worth of produce, meat, eggs, and dairy through August 2025. Since launching in May, the program operates four days per week with three stops within the county, ensuring consistent food distribution. Update of the Food Access Map (To meetGoal1): As outlined in the "Outputs" section, we completed outreach efforts to update the Food Access Map. This information is now available both digitally and in a brochure format, making it accessible to all residents. The map and brochure have been translated into English and Spanish to broaden accessibility. Development of a Baseline Survey (To meetGoal1,2,3): A baseline survey was created, as further explained in the "Outputs" section. However, many pantries faced challenges completing the survey due to staffing shortages and insufficient documentation. Input from the Putnam County Food Systems Coalition and participating pantries was gathered during the creation process, but the issue remains unresolved. Identify 10 Potential Cold Storage Sites (To meetGoal1):We collaborated with input from the Food Systems Coaltion to identify and outreach to potential cold storage site locations. Identify 10 Underutilized Cold Storage Sites (To meetGoal1):Ongoing collaboration with the Putnam County Department of Health (DOH) and the Environmental Health Director led to the identification of potential cold storage sites. These were classified into four categories: religious organizations, summer camps, community centers, and retail/wholesale distribution sites. We then mapped these sites using Google Maps to visualize their proximity to major highways and emergency food providers:https://www.google.com/maps/@41.4298464,-73.9056535,11z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!6m1!1s1dubw7fpywVmuzosLjFaUE9MkNz9Gkeg?authuser=2&entry=ttu Outreach to Six Potential Farm Partners (To meetGoal1): We exceeded our goal by engaging with more than six potential farm partners. Outreach efforts included leveraging the Putnam County Farmers E-list, the Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board, and the Dutchess-Putnam-Westchester Farm Bureau. Dissemination of the Baseline Survey (To meetGoal1,2,3): The survey was distributed to all emergency food providers to collect data on produce availability, culturally relevant offerings, and expenditure on wholesale and retail produce. However, most agencies were unable to provide the requested information due to internal limitations. Consultation with Glynwood (To meetGoal 2): We maintainbi-weekly meetings with Glynwood, collaborating on their Food Sovereignty Fund initiative to support local food systems. Outreach to Underutilized Cold Storage Locations (To meetGoal1): We conducted thorough outreach to all sites identified during our collaboration with the DOH, including site visits and email communication. Unfortunately, many of the sites were either closed or at capacity. Procurement of Materials for First Cold Storage Unit (To meetGoal1): We faced challenges identifying suitable locations with access to electricity for farmers. Many properties, such as those managed by Dutchess County Community College and Nuvance Health, were either rented or lacked the infrastructure for cold storage units. After extensive efforts, we partnered with the County Department of Public Works to install electricity at our office, a strategic location near I-84, addressing major transportation barriers. We will purchase the unit in year two. Participation in Legislative and Community Meetings (To meetGoal1,2,3): I have presented on multiple occasions before the Kent Town Council and Philipstown Town Council and convened the Philipstown Community Coalition. Additionally, I participated in various community meetings, including the Live Healthy Putnam Coalition, to address local food insecurity challenges and highlight our collective efforts to overcome these barriers, and presented for the Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board to educate community members and farmers about addressing food insecurity. Collation of Baseline Survey Data (To meetGoal1,2,3): We are still refining a survey format that pantries can feasibly complete. As a result, data collation has been slow to collect from pantry providers, but we have found success in collecting data from clients.

Publications