| View this email online if it doesn't display correctly |
|
|
|
|
| Happy Holidays! And Happy End of 2021!
Wow, what a year it's been! In 2021, we here at FRESH were able to continue our key initiatives of growing food with young people, connecting families, and fighting for social justice. Thank you to everyone that has helped us to do this work and begin so many new programs - organizational partners, volunteers, youth, and YOU!
Our fundraising drive is in full swing; please consider donating to our 144 envelopes challenge, or any other way you'd like. Read on to find out about all the great things we did this year, and click HERE to see what our youth had to say!
|
| | | One of the biggest new projects this year was the NLC Dream Market. In partnership with Cultured AF, we hosted a weekly art, music, and food street festival that uplifted our BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) community’s needs, joy, and creativity. The season started with a big party to celebrate Juneteenth, followed by many other special events like a youth arts day and Peru’s Independence Day. |
| | | Our work throughout the year focused on creating inclusive spaces for our Latinx friends and neighbors. Our range of culturally appropriate crops centered produce from the Caribbean, and bilingual meetings, materials, and recruitment led to greater participation in community gardening, our CSA, and our Food to the People pop-up pantry. At its peak, the pantry was feeding 1578 people a week! We were so lucky to welcome in Lizbeth Polo- Smith as a leader in our organization, and as the driving force behind many of these initiatives. Lizbeth was just honored as the “Latina of the Year” by the Hispanic Alliance of SECT’s La Latina Network. |
| | | Our community food distribution program included an expansion of the Cottage Street Urban Farm and our weekly CSA, with two-thirds of our produce boxes going to low-income New London families. Our youth crew (back in person this year!!) harvested and distributed food, engaging with members to answer questions and share recipes. They also helped run another new project: a “Pay-What-You-Can” table, where anyone could take from piles of produce and leave a donation if they wanted to and were able. It was EXTREMELY well-received by our community! After a busy summer, we launched into the Fall Youth Program, which took on a new and exciting direction: an intimate exploration of food and body sovereignty and building community through field trips and workshops. |
| | | To engage our members beyond food access, we launched our brand-new Community Knowledge Share, facilitated a youth centered community art initiative, and hosted a public health series that lifted the experiences of New London residents and called out the impacts of racism on our health. You can find an archive of all this great information as well as introductions to our newest staff members on our website. |
| | | Working together in our collective culture increases food access, community cohesion, self-esteem and green spaces across generations in New London. Your donations helped this happen and will continue to strengthen our impact in 2022 and beyond. Thank you for all your support, encouragement, hard work, and engagement. We truly couldn’t do this without all of you! We hope you have a safe, happy, and healthy holiday season! |
|
WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT
Interested in supporting FRESH with a tax-deductible donation?
Of course you are! Follow this link: |
| |
