Over the next few months we will be spotlighting on our blog some of the hardworking and dedicated agencies that we work with every day. With our upcoming Collective Impact Forum, Getting Started With Collective Impact, we thought it would be appropriate to begin to begin by recognizing the partners that make up Fresh Connect, one of our successful collaborations.
If you are unfamiliar, Fresh Connect is a free farmer’s market bringing fresh, healthy food to our hungry neighbors in Bucks County. It returns to the same location on the same day at the same time each week, providing reliable and needed food to the 57,000 Bucks County residents facing hunger, 32% of whom are children. Fresh Connect is a collaboration of Bucks County Opportunity Council, Philabundance, Rolling Harvest Food Rescue and St. Mary Medical Center, with funding provided by United Way of Bucks County.
The team at Philabundace helped to lay the foundation of what Fresh Connect has become. Philabundance provided the program model and technical assistance to help implement Fresh Connect. Philabundance also helps to provide a large amount of the produce that is distributed to families each week.
Philabundance’s mission is to drive hunger from our communities today and end hunger forever. The organization serves approximately 90,000 people per week, a third of whom are children and 15% of whom are seniors. In 2014, Philabundance distributed approximately 30 million pounds of food through its own neighborhood distribution programs and through a network of more than 400 member agencies in 9 counties in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. https://www.philabundance.org/
Sean Breslin Manager, Member Relations for Philabundance says “The Fresh Connect partnership has given Philabundance a simple, effective way to make sure families in Bucks County have fresh fruits and vegetables they need to thrive. Philabundance is proud to partner with local organizations that have a strong record of service in Bristol and Ottsville, because these groups expand our impact in the Delaware Valley. We see Fresh Connect as a perfect opportunity to strengthen communities and make us all a little healthier in the process.”