Supporting our neighbors at AWARE Food Bank
In addition to providing nutritious food, your support makes it possible for our partner food pantries to connect clients with additional local resources, removing barriers for those with the greatest need. At AWARE Food Bank in Woodburn, a partnership with the OSU Extension’s Food Hero Program brings an educational aspect to AWARE’s food distribution.
Carly, OSU Extension Coordinator for Marion, Polk and Yamhill Counties, recently joined AWARE’s Thursday morning distribution to engage clients with educational materials and offer them a warm lentil soup that is quick and easy to prepare. It was a welcoming gift that was appreciated by food pantry clients and volunteers alike. Carly has been working with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Education program (SNAP-Ed) and their Food Hero program for over seven years. She is as passionate as ever about getting our neighbors the resources they need.
“It’s amazing to have a job where we get to connect with the community so much. We get to connect with these community partners who are putting their hearts into improving the lives of people around them. I think it’s really special,” shares Carly.
To further the impact of the Food Hero Program, Carly and her team are training volunteers to be food heroes themselves, enabling them to attend various food pantries in our area on a monthly basis. Once a quarter, the team gathers to plan the recipes for the next quarter’s priorities, highlighting food items that pantries commonly receive but may be underutilized. By providing innovative ways to use items like beans, lentils and soy curls that are specific to our region, they aim to reduce food waste and provide culturally relevant foods to as many of our neighbors as possible.
During AWARE’s food distribution, many clients stopped by the Food Hero booth, commenting on how flavorful the lentil soup was and how simple the ingredients were. Others came by just to try a bite before selecting their food pantry items.
For many of our clients the knowledge of how to cook is a smaller barrier than the time and space it takes to make a meal. That is why these recipes are quick to prepare and do not require extensive cooking equipment. Some of these recipes include Harissa Roasted Butternut Squash and Herbed Yogurt, Salsa Roja, and Smashed Garbanzo Bean Salad. Click on the links if you would like to try these recipes yourself!
Your support of the Food Share makes programs like this possible every day. From food assistance, to community gardens, to home-delivered senior meals, your generosity is supporting our neighbors when they need it most. Thank you for your generosity.
And thank you to the following partners who join you in supporting AWARE Food Bank and Marion Polk Food Share:
