Local Matters

Columbus food rescue: columbus food rescue is a program of local matters that fights food waste and food inequity by rescuing excess foods and directly re-distributing it to shelters, agencies, and other community groups serving people facing food insecurity. Nearly one million pounds of food ends up in franklin county's landfill every single day. At the same time, over 11% of franklin county residents more than 147,000 people are food insecure, and 49% of those people make too much money to qualify for federal food assistance. By keeping good, fresh food out of the landfill and ensuring it goes to those in need, cfr volunteers and partners work every day toward a more sustainable and accessible food system.

Food access: veggie van is a food access program that provides opportunities for those living in under-resourced areas to more easily feed their families with fresh and healthy whole foods at low prices. This program is specifically designed to assist customers in stretching their food dollar by accepting snap and providing a $1 for $1 match on snap purchases - doubling the amount of money customers have to spend on healthy foods. Local matters partners with community organizations in the linden, hilltop, and near east side neighborhoods to create a diverse range of consistent food access points in low-income communities. In 2024, veggie van served almost 2,000 shoppers, distributing and food boxes and delivering groceries to participants and partners.

Advocacy: local matters recognizes that our work is most impactful when we layer food education with access services. This multi-pronged approach ensures that participants understand what healthful food is and how to prepare it, as well as have access to convenient and affordable fresh food. Our advocacy work centers around a long-term vision of equitable access to a sustainable food system and a community free of food-related chronic disease. In 2024, the community advocates group gathered monthly around the ongoing priority of local food system challenges and issues of direct importance to the specific communities of cag members.