2019 Grant Recipient: MEND
MEND: Hunger Relief Network
The Organization:
MEND is a hunger relief organization that supports a growing network of 20 food pantries located throughout Essex County (Newark, East Orange, Bloomfield, Irvington, Maplewood, Montclair, Orange, South Orange, and West Orange.) MEND pantries fed 134,000 people in 2018. Roughly 38% of those fed are children, and 10% are seniors. MEND provides infrastructure and financial support, along with supplemental food sourcing and distribution, so its pantries can focus on serving their patrons. Based on pantry feedback, MEND converted and operates a school bus-turned-mobile-pantry (“The Green Bean”) to increase access to fresh food in underserved communities. MEND collaborates to build awareness of hunger and advocate for change in ways that would not be possible for pantries to accomplish independently. MEND also provides a monthly forum where pantry managers share information, resources and support.
The Challenge:
Essex County has the highest rate of food insecurity in New Jersey (of 21 counties), and no centralized facility to support its hunger relief community. Apart from The Green Bean, MEND operates remotely. Member pantries lack sufficient space, refrigeration, and transportation resources, which limits most distributions to shelf-stable, non-perishable items. These foods are often high in sugar, sodium, and saturated fats. Diet-related illnesses are highest among low-income people (and food pantry users, in particular), who have been shown to have an insufficient intake of fresh foods.
The Project: The Fresh Food Hub
MEND's Fresh Food Hub would create a centrally located cold storage facility that would enable each member pantry to provide a meaningful quantity of fresh food to its patrons. Ample and secure storage space, refrigeration, and reliable transportation would allow MEND to collaborate more fully with existing and new partners, and to increase access to fresh food and nutrition resources for those in need. The project optimizes MEND’s strong relationships with commercial food sources, CSAs/farms, nutrition and health professionals, and an existing and engaged volunteer base.
The Grant:
Funds would be used to support a portion of the costs for:
renting a small facility with refrigeration equipment, office and volunteer space;
purchasing a van (“The Sweet Pea”); and
staffing.
MEND would:
design fresh food plans for each pantry, based on input;
lease space and purchase equipment; and
leverage and build relationships to source and distribute more fresh food.
MEND will hire programming staff, and recruit and train volunteers, thereby doubling the number of monthly volunteer opportunities.
The Impact:
Families in need would regularly receive more fresh produce and a healthier balance of perishable and non-perishable foods from MEND member pantries. MEND would expand relationships with healthy food sources and allocate more fresh food efficiently across its network, both within the pantries and beyond. Those served by MEND would have greater access to better nutrition and health, moving towards food justice for all.