Shelves in a food pantry at the Keystone Opportunity Center in Souderton. (Media News Group file)
NORRISTOWN – Officials have moved one step closer to combating food insecurity in Montgomery County by appointing key members to the Food Policy Council.
Montgomery County commissioners approved a seven-member leadership team at last week’s board meeting, made up of educators, nonprofit directors, business owners and other stakeholders in the food pantry space, along with county officials from various departments, including Commerce, Planning Commission, Public Health and Senior Services.
“Our new Food Policy Council leadership team brings together diverse skills, experiences and backgrounds to lead the actions and policy recommendations to reduce hunger and food insecurity in Montgomery County,” Montgomery County Commission Chair Jamila Winder said in a statement. “Food insecurity is not an individual issue, it is a systemic and systematic problem that must be solved to ensure everyone in our community has access to enough food and quality nutrition.”
According to Feeding America, more than 1.2 million people in Pennsylvania experience hunger. About 7% of Montgomery County residents are estimated to be food insecure as of March 2023. Food insecurity has risen in the state’s third-most populous county, and the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of resources like food pantries.
The Food Policy Council was formed in March, and the newly created organization aims to consolidate the efforts of various agencies in the region. Food Policy Coordinator Sam Applefield emphasized the importance of taking a multi-pronged approach that focuses on equity, sustainability, access and outreach.
The leadership team will be tasked with providing “strategic guidance and direction” to the council, according to a Montgomery County spokesperson.
“The Food Policy Council leadership team will work closely with county departments to gain a broad understanding of Montgomery County’s food distribution network, including our local agriculture industry,” Montgomery County Commissioner Tom DiBello said in a statement. “A key part of increasing the county’s food distribution capacity is revitalizing local farms and local businesses. We look forward to valuable recommendations that will continue to promote our local food economy as part of the solution.”
In 2022, 155,799 home visits and 64,967 individual visits to Monco Hunger Action Network partner agencies were recorded, according to statistics from the Lansdale-based organization.
Late spring and summer 2023 data showed 10,183 households and 30,565 visits were reported in May. There was a slight decrease in June with 9,443 households and 26,314 individuals visiting food pantries, but July and August saw increases with 9,202 households, 27,031 individuals, 9,784 households and 29,603 individuals, respectively.
Additionally, 22,859 meals were served through meal service providers in May 2023. In June, July and August, each of the summer months saw more than 12,000 meal service participants.
Appointed to the council’s leadership team are Juliana Barcellos, program manager for The Food Trust, Brieanne Berry, assistant professor of environmental studies at Ursinus College, Carla Clanagan, Montgomery County program director for the Share Food program, Shannon Isaacs, executive director of MontCo Anti-Hunger, Sheila Rhodes, founder and owner of Small Batch Kitchen, Brandon Ritter, executive director of Farmer Jawn and Friends Foundation, and Rachel Wilson, agriculture director at Tomorrow’s Homestead.
The county delegation also included: Jennifer Butler, Deputy Director of Workforce Development for the Montgomery County Department of Commerce, Shanita Fields, Community Health Educator and Master Gardener for the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Public Health, Ann Leavitt Gruberger, County Planning Manager for the Montgomery County Planning Commission, John Lesher, Assistant Manager for Environmental Planning for the Montgomery County Planning Commission, and Christina Scott, Caseworker Supervisor for the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Senior Services.
“After launching the working group, our next step will be to analyze our current food distribution system and anti-hunger efforts within Montgomery County,” Montgomery County Commission Vice Chairman Neil Makhija said in a statement. “We know we have the resources, but we need to move toward a coordinated food system that better serves our residents. Thanks to this leadership team, I am confident we can make progress toward that goal.”
A county spokesperson said public membership meetings are expected to begin later this year. County residents can join the working group or become a public member. For more information about the Food Policy Council, visit montgomerycountypa.gov/FoodPolicyCouncil.
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