Progress 11/01/23 to 10/31/24
Outputs
Target Audience:Low-income, food insecure residents in Cambria County through various food distribution projects Cambria County Backpack Program-low income participants and community partners Food insecure students at St Francis, Mount Aloysius, Penn Highlands and Pitt Johnstown to curb student hunger Johnstown Housing Authority, subsidized housing residents Cambria County Library Women's Help Center- Domestic Violence Shelter SNAP outreach with Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank-community outreach at health fairs, schools, pantries, senior centers and veterans United Neighborhoods- 16 low income neighborhoods and residents in the City of Johnstown Blacklick Valley Community Gardens- Residents and students in the Blacklick Valley School District Greater Johnstown School District- Communities In Schools students participants Morrell School Pre-K Counts program students and families- Greater Johnstown School District Flood City Youth Fitness Academy after school program- Greater Johnstown School District Sandyvale Memorial Gardens Food Distribution Program Changes/Problems:There have been no material changes to the scope of the project. However, the Project Director changed because of staffing turnover. The new PD has a background in public health and nutrition, and oversees the local SNAP at the Market Program connecting area SNAP users to fresh, locally grown food at the Johnstown Farmer's Market. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The Local Food Coordinator provided training to several community groups to prepare meals with pantry staples and garden produce. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The HealthyFood Project has been highlighted in several articles in the local paper, hightlighting the work of the Local Food Coordinator, as well as the SNAP at the Market Program. Social media is widely used to highlight outcomes and share opportunities. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?In project year 2025, the Healthy Food Project will be working with organizations to rehab several community gardens. We will be developing an engagement strategy to help area residents, especially those who are lower-income, have a voice in the direction of food programs. Moreover, work will continue on the development of a food co-op, and we are working to learn more about food rescue, connecting the with Pittsburgh-based 412 Food Rescue.Additional fruit trees will be planted across the city, and those already planted at Sandyvale Memorial Gardens should produce fruit by year 4. Sandyvale will be offering garden plots to members of the community in addition to providing weekly vegetable deliveries to area nonprofits as well as classes in food perservation.We will continue to increase number of HFP-JC partners distributing healthy foods to residents who are lower-income and grow cross-sector projects to connect local agriculuture to existing pantries, meal programs, and markets.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Goal 1: Increase access to local, healthy foods that promote improved health outcomes and expand food distribution points for low-income residents. Two child-serving organizations received funding for additional refrigeration to support program expansion - the Cambria County Backpack Project (CCBP) and Flood City Youth Fitness Academy (FCYFA). CCBP expanded into a new school system and FCYFA has grown to serve 200 children daily. The children served by both organizations are low-income with FCYFA serving primarily children of color in the City of Johnstown. More than 1,100 children have benefitted in this project cycle. Three additional community gardens were added and one was expanded at Morrell Neighborhood Preschool. The new community gardens serve families that are housing insecure. United Way of the Southern Alleghenies (UWSA) worked with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank to become a rapid SNAP referral partner, screening individual for food insecurity, and providing an instant referral for enrollment. More than 75 individuals were reached. UWSA continued to staff SNAP at the Market at the Johnstown Farmer's Market serving an average of 30 families a week. More than $5,000 of SNAP benefits were redeemed. UWSA matches card swipes up to $20 per week in "Fresh Bucks," which resulted in an additional $5,000 in sales for area farmers. Working with the GPCFB and the Local Food Coordinator (LFC), the United Way Early Childhood Coordinator worked on pop-up food distributions at child-serving locations. Four family distributions were held at FCYFA, with more than 100 people being served. In addition, 8 families attended Penn State Nutrition Links programming to learn how to prepare healthy, affordable meals. One local food bank began carrying locally raised eggs, and another started carrying milk from Valewood Farms -- a local dairy and member of the Local Foods, Local Places coalition. All 18 food in Cambria County pantries partnered with the Hunters Share the Harvest Program. Eleven thousandpoundsof ground venison was distributed. A new community food guide was developed highlighting pantry programs, meal programs, produce boxes and community gardens as well as providing food tips. Goal 2: Expand the capacity of the Local Foods, Local Places coalition to advance local food system initiatives. A Local Food Coordinator was hired to advace the collaboration amoung the Local Foods, Local Places coalition. The following activities occurred in the project period. Hunters Share the Harvest - A national program where hunters donate deer to approved butcher/processors. Venison is packaged and distributed to food pantries for further distribution. The Local Food Coordinator (LFC) is working with butchers in Westmoreland, Indiana, and Cambria counties. More than 11,000 lbs of venison was distributed throughout the county through food pantries, the Women's Help Center and other charitable organizations. Campus Collaboration - Worked with all four post-secondary schools in Cambria County: St. Francis University, Mount Aloysius University, Penn Highlands Community College, and University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown to curb student hunger. All of the schools have student pantries with the exception of St. Francis. Penn Highlands was able to upgrade their snack stations to a full food share room where students can anonymously obtain food they can prepare at home for themselves and their families. Mount Aloysius was able to upgrade their pantry with new furniture and a refrigerator. This has made their pantry more inviting. Both schools are entering relationships with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank (GPCFB) so they can procure pantry foods at more affordable prices. SNAP enrollment was also conducted at Penn Highlands for non-traditional students. Johnstown Housing Authority Food Share - Worked with Johnstown Housing Authority to create designated areas where residents can share pantry foods that they don't want or use. In addition, sharing boxes with donated items are available to residents. Adventurous Eaters - In cooperation with the Cambria County Library Johnstown, this program features foods children and teens may not otherwise have the opportunity to taste. We talk about where the items come from or how it is grown and the history of the food items. The LFC gives parents recipes and tips on how to prepare these new foods at home. This program has evolved into an all ages program where patrons can not only try but learn how to prepare nutritious foods. This program was replicated at the Morrellville preschool with the "Growing Vegetable Soup" book with Early Childhood Systems Coordinator at United Way. Children were given samples of fresh vegetable soup as they listened to the story. The Children were also able to tour a community garden and sample fresh herbs. United Way of the Southern Alleghenies assists the children with their preschool garden. Women's Help Center - Working with the Women's Help Center to revitalize their gardens and create a new garden at the family housing unit. The garden at Napoleon Street was weeded and replanted with donated vegetable seedlings. A new garden was created at their McMillen Street location with raised beds. The Help Center installed a fence and a gazebo. Again, seedlings were donated and the residents worked to plant, water, and ultimately harvest the vegetables. Residents reported an improved mental health as a result of working in the garden and enjoying the harvest. The LFC also taught residents how to prepare meals from pantry staples and items from their garden. Pantry Surveys - Thanks to a grant from the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank (GPCFB), a survey of pantry visitors was conducted countywide. Four hundred and eight (408) families were surveyed about transportation, family makeup and ways to improve the pantry experience. This will be used by the GPCFB to work with Food for Families to improve the pantry experience. Cambria County Backpack Project: Enrolled Conemaugh Valley School District into their program. Currently, low-income students all receive free breakfast and lunch. The existing program wasn't able to service the middle and high school students. The Backpack Project began serving those students in the fall of 2024. In addition, the Cambria County Christian School has expressed an interest in enrolling in the program. United Neighborhoods - The LFC serves on the Trees Subcommittee, working with Vision 2025 and the Pennsylvania Conservancy, to plant shade and fruit trees in the City of Johnstown. Locations for fruit trees in community gardens are also being discovered. Beginnings Garden in Dale Borough - Working with the "Parents as Teachers" group, the LFC has identified a plot of land that can be used as a learning garden. They will break ground in the Spring of 2025. The Local Food, Local Places Coalition has grown to 20 partners. A new community food guide was developed highl Goal 3: Empower low-income residents through hands-on education and participation in key decision-making. A survey of pantry visitors was conducted countywide. Four hundred and eight (408) families were surveyed about transportation, family makeup and ways to improve the pantry experience. This will be used by the GPCFB to work with Food for Families to improve the pantry experience. Cooking classes were provided at The Women's Help Center and the Cambria County Library. The Women's Help Center also refurbished a community garden and built a new garden as well. Many food demos occurred across the community to help people learn uses for a variety of vegetables. A group of individuals are attending a co-hort program to learn how to develop a co-op market in the downtown. The ten month program will provide them with the tools they need to plan and create a hub for local food.
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Progress 11/01/22 to 10/31/23
Outputs
Target Audience:Low-income, food-insecure residents in Cambria County through various food distribution projects Cambria County Back Pack low-income participants and community partners Food insecure students at St Francis, Mount Aloysius, Penn Highlands, and Pitt Johnstown to curb student hunger Johnstown Housing Authority, subsidized housing residents Cambria County Library Women's Help Center- Domestic Violence Shelter SNAP outreach with GPCFB - community outreach at health fairs, schools, pantries, senior centers, and veteran's United Neighborhoods- 16 low-income neighborhoods and residents Blacklick Valley Community Gardens- Residents and students in the Blacklick Valley School District Greater Johnstown School District-Communities In Schools students participants Morrell School Pre-K Counts program students and families- Greater Johnstown School District Flood City Youth Fitness Academy after-school program- Greater Johnstown School District Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The preliminary data and activity reports have been distributedthrough Newsletters and report-out sessions at local meetings and events. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will continue coordinating with our community partners to advance the goals and objectives of the HFP-JC. We hope to expand access points for fresh local produce, dairy, and meats. Expansion of community garden programs and nutrition education programs. Apply for a GusNIP Produce Prescription Program Grant.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Goal 1: Increase access to local, healthy foods that promote improved health outcomes and expand food distribution points for low-income residents 2023 Community Partners The number of collaborations developed through coordination efforts: • Cambria County Center for Aging • PA Dept of Agriculture • PA Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) • USDA • HungerFree PA • Penn State Healthy Bodies • Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank • Cambria County Library Johnstown • Backpack Project • Chop Chop Magazine • Sandyvale Gardens • Moxham Neighborhood (Grove Ave UMC and Moxham Renaissance) • Penn State Master Gardeners • Cambria Co Farm Bureau • Mount Aloysius • Penn Highlands Community College • PA Hunger Action Coalition (PHAC) • St Francis U • Pitt Johnstown • Chatham U CRAFT • Indiana Co Conservation District • City of Johnstown • Franklin St UMC Bridges to Success • St Vincent de Paul /Food for Families • YMCA Johnstown • Vale Wood Farms • United Neighborhoods • Veterans Leadership Program • Veterans Administration • All Cambria Co SVDP Pantries • Adagio Health • Johnstown Housing Authority • Johnstown Redevelopment Authority • Hunters Share the Harvest Sandyvale fruit trees Year 1 Expansion of the Sandyvale Memorial Gardens orchard. • Nineteen pear, apple, and peach trees were planted to supply fresh fruit in the coming years at no cost to programs serving under-resourced members of the community. • The trees are expected to bear fruit by year 3 of the grant. Goal 2: Expand the capacity of the Local Foods, Local Places coalition to advance local food system initiatives. Cambria County Back Pack Project Hired a Food Coordinator Purchased a new large refrigerator unit tostore fresh produce. The biggest impact the USDA Community Foods Program Subaward has had on the CCBP's work is expanding our capacity to distribute fresh produce. The CCBP can now purchase fresh produce, in bulk, quantity, at a lower price, from the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. As a result of this funding, the CCBP will be able to able to provide more fresh produce to children at our Youth Cafes hosted at Flood City Youth Fitness Academy. These Youth Cafes will now be held monthly, since fresh produce can be purchased and stored in bulk in our new, larger refrigerator. SNAP at the Market- Located at the Downtown Johnstown Farmers Market. Provides participants up to $20 in supplemental funds matched through the "Fresh Bucks" Program, expanding their buying power at the market. Average of 30 families/week in 2022. $9,700 in new revenue for farmer's last summer. Number of participant vendors- (6) Provide recipes, enroll people in SNAP, and connect them to community resources. SNAP outreach with Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank - community outreach at health fairs, schools, pantries, senior centers and veteran's events to increase SNAP enrollment. 120 referrals to date. Received 2024 grant to increase enrollment with post-secondary students. Morrell Neighborhood School- Community Garden Greater Johnstown School District, Communities In Schools program, and Cambria County Child Development Corporation Pre-K Counts program served as a new community garden program site for 2023. Goal 3: Empower low-income residents through hands-on education and participation in key decision-making. Early Childhood Nutrition Initiative • Engage local Headstart and PA Pre-K Counts providers to engage families and children in our USDA Community Food Program. • Engage Pre-K students in Community Gardening • Incorporate community gardening in classroom instruction and nutrition education • Engage families in nutrition education surveys and nutrition program planning • Increase parental engagement in gardening activities • Increase fresh produce distribution to families Morrell Neighborhood School- Community Garden Greater Johnstown School District, Communities In Schools program, and Cambria County Child Development Corporation Pre-K Counts program. Community Garden Results 20.75 gallon bags of spinach 29.5 pint strawberries 10 pint blueberries 13.5 qt parsley 9 qt basil 47.5 pint cherry tomatoes 1.5 pint radishes 74 cucumbers 23.5 gallon romaine lettuce 13 zucchini 18 corn Family encounters: 45
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