Rachels Table Of Western Massachusetts Inc

Purchase- rtwm sponsors several programs to cater even further to specific requests by partner agencies. Fresh fruit for children during the winter months, shelf-stable milk for families and children, and turkeys for thanksgiving are examples of how we support our community's needs desires. This year, our purchase program delivered 24,403 pounds of requested food to partner agencies. Our 2025 goal: continue to respond to cultural and desired needs of the clients our partner agencies serve.

Glean- gleaning is the practice of collecting grain or produce after harvest. 2024 saw an increase in our gleaning program- 57 gleans (up from 44 in 2023), 50,681 pounds gleaned and donated, and a total of 279 volunteers for the season- due to greater focus on open community gleans, new logistical solutions, and wider distribution networks. Approximately 23% of gleaners in 2024 reported that gleaning directly helped them to feed their households. Deepening relationships with farmers revealed opportunites for future collaboration. Our 2025 goal- sustain our gleaning operations, especially through loss of federal funding, support local farmers, and expand the recipient partners through greater distribution in further geographical areas.

Grow - rtwm in partnership with northeast organic farming association ma chapter, enhanced or initiated 11 gardens in which people most directly affected by food insecurity will have had an integral part in planning, planting, and harvesting. These gardens provide direct access to healthy food, including in food deserts where lack of accessible transportation makes going to grocery stores challenging. Community-led trainings, cookbooks designed by children (95+ children are a part of 7 of the 11 gardens), cook-offs for local communities, socialization and raised garden beds for seniors who use wheelchairs, part-time jobs for teenagers, and shared recipes that include tastes of home are just some of the outcomes of this program. Our 2025 goal: sustain current number of gardens and bring 25% of the gardens to self-sustainability in order to bring on more gardens in the future.

Teen board - our youth leadership program includes a board with officers and members who educate themselves and others about food insecurity, serve our local community in many projects such as packing weekend backpacks of food or cooking for families with children in critical care, and advocate for change by writing letters or learning about local legislation. Our 2025 goal: collaborate with other youth leaders and recruit more youth to not only the teen board, but to include the youth in all aspects of the work of rachel's table, including the four programs and advising the board on youth engagement.