The keynote presentation at the 2016 Hunger Impact Summit by the Food Bank for Westchester.

1. GETTING TO “HUNGER-
FREE & HEALTHY”
Liz Sheehan Castro
Worcester County Food Bank, MA
September 29, 2016

2. Population: 809,000
Food Insecurity rate: 10-15%

5. Jean McMurray
Executive Director
Joined the
Worcester County
Food Bank in 1995.

6. CHANGE OF MISSION
Old Mission Statement
 Feed the hungry by
soliciting and judiciously
distributing donated food
and grocery products
through partnerships with
donors and other charitable
organizations.
New Mission Statement
 Educate, engage and lead
Worcester County in
creating a hunger-free
community.

9. Hunger
Federal Ag
Policy/
Corporate
Control of
Food
Economic
Inequality
& Injustice
Structural
Racism and
Classism
Obesity

10. Agency Advisory
Committee
Hunger-Free
Network
Meetings
Annual Agency
Conference

11. Our ED
Our
Congressman
Local Hospital
Mayor
Coming
Together

12. +
= Hunger-Free & Healthy Project

13. PROJECT PARTNERS
Steering Committee
 Congressman McGovern’s Office
 The Health Foundation of Central
MA
 Project Bread
 Regional Environmental Council
 Saint Vincent Hospital
 UMass Medical School
 UMass Memorial Healthcare
 United Way of Central MA
 Worcester County Food Bank
 Worcester Dept. of Transitional
Assistance
 Worcester Public Schools
Advisory Committee
• Pleasant Street Neighborhood Network Center
• Worcester Community Action Council
• Worcester Department of Public Health
• Worcester Housing Authority
• Worcester School Committee members
• Worcester State University
• YMCA of Central MA
• YWCA of Central MA
 Catholic Charities
 Cooking Matters/Share Our Strength
 Centro Las Americas
 Edward M. Kennedy Health Center
 Family Health Center of Worcester
 Jeremiah’s Inn
 Mass in Motion
 Mass. Public Health Association
 Pioneering Healthier Communities

14. Worcester
County Food
Bank
Worcester
Food Policy
Council
Hunger-Free
& Healthy
Project
Staff
(me!)
Partners
Partners
Partners
Partners
Partners
Partners

15. Collaboration
Communication
Sustainability
School
Meals
SNAP
Cooking
Classes
Gardening
Farmers
Markets
Policy
Advocacy
2007-2012

18. $-
$2,000.00
$4,000.00
$6,000.00
$8,000.00
$10,000.00
$12,000.00
$14,000.00
Saletotal
Year
SNAP, WIC, Senior Coupon Sales
2009
2010
2011

22. HFHCHIP
Summer
Meals
Trucks
Wellness
Policy
SNAP
Coalition
Research
USDA
grants
Awards
OUTCOMES: FUNDING,
COLLABORATIONS, PROJECTS

23. OUR ADVOCACY PROGRAM NOW
1. Raise Wages
2. Healthy Food System
3. Federal & State
Nutrition Programs

24. LESSONS LEARNED
 Collaborate, collaborate, collaborate
 Have the end in mind, always
 People’s needs and dignity are the focus, always
 Relationships come first, ego comes last
 Transparency and communication
 Sustainability
 Root cause perspective

25. CONTACT
Worcester County Food Bank
Liz Sheehan Castro
lsheehancastro@feedingamerica.org
508-842-3663