Greetings Local Food Lovers!
With under two weeks to go until #GivingTuesday, we are gearing up for an inspired season of giving in pursuit of a healthy local food community! This year, we're upping the ante on what we can achieve together, thanks to a generous $20,000 anonymous match challenge!
With your help, we can meet and exceed this goal! Every dollar helps us put the finishing touches on our community food center, that is already helping grow local businesses, and providing the infrastructure to help make fresh, local food accessible and affordable for everyone! Your gift helps us continue this important work.
The giving season starts on Tuesday, November 27th, when you can double your commitment, with a gift this holiday season that impacts our local food economy from seed to plate.
With gratitude,
The Working Food Crew
Working Food by the Numbers in 2018- Hand-packed over 10,000 seed packets with the help of volunteers and adults of different abilities.
- Housed over 300 varieties of crops in our seed bank.
- Fielded 61 inquiries for kitchen incubation and rentals.
- Provided space for over 50 workshops, classes, meetings and other community events in our Forage Event Hall and courtyard.
- Partnered with over 30 organizations to help with this good work.
- Advocated for local food systems at more than 25 city, county, and community meetings.
- Supported 14 food entrepreneurs in our kitchen space and business incubation services.
- Continued 3rd year of youth garden programming at 2 community center gardens.
- Provided employment for 2 adults of different abilities.
- Established roots at 1 amazing community food center, bringing all our programs under one roof, in the heart of Gainesville.
Meet Some of the Working Food Community!
Now in its third year of growth, our after school youth garden program is flourishing. In partnership with the Cultural Arts Coalition, we bring hands-on science education through gardening to over 24 elementary-aged children at two community centers.
Weekly programing throughout the school year brings exciting seasonal opportunities to explore soil, earthworms, plant biology, photosynthesis, art, healthy eating, cooking and much more. We also host a monthly garden exploration at Grow Hub for the Kids Count in Alachua program.
One of 14 entrepreneurs using our kitchen, the ladies of Eim Thai are friends that pooled seed money to buy their first food truck. Their commissary agreement with Working Food allows for ware washing, potable water, wastewater and waste disposal, parking, and plugging in their truck onsite.
They vend 5 days a week at corporate parks, breweries, and special events in the area, averaging 250 meals a week. We are so proud of their hard work, and delicious food!
 Our work to preserve and share regionally adapted seeds is woven into the fabric of our community, in a truly meaningful way. Adults of all ages and abilities work with us every week in our seed production and trial gardens, helping harvest, thresh and package seeds. Over 10,000 packets of seeds are prepared each year and shared with local youth, community, and back yard gardens.
This holiday season, we have two days for getting deals – Black Friday and Cyber Monday. On #GivingTuesday, we have a day for giving back. Together, people are creating a new ritual. #GivingTuesday is the opening day of the giving season.
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