GSC Receives Grant Award from National Farm to School Network
We’re happy to share that we’ve received a $5,000 grant award from the National Farm to School Network to support our ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic. With this funding, we’ll be able to continue our efforts of supporting our local farmers and our local food system, while providing local produce to families in need. Read more about National Farm to School Network's Covid-19 Relief Fund here.
Through its “Supporting Farmers, Sustaining Families” initiative, Guåhan Sustainable Culture will utilize relief funds to support Guam’s farmers and provide local fresh produce to families and children in need. In this initiative, GSC purchases produce from Guam’s local farmers and then distribute the produce to individual families in fresh produce bags and to charitable organizations. With the notion of food security and food sovereignty in mind, we want to ensure a sustainable local demand for fresh produce so that farmers can feel assured that their produce will be purchased in times of crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, we want to provide culturally relevant fresh foods to families who are in need of food because of financial hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Families who receive our produce bags receive access to a variety of locally grown produce which they can incorporate into their family’s and children’s meals, thus, teaching children how to eat locally grown produce that they might not be familiar with. Although this initiative was launched during the pandemic, we plan to make this a permanent activity for our organization.
The infusion of relief funds contributes to the sustainability of the farm to school efforts in the long term by ensuring that Guam’s local farmers not only remain in business but continue to grow a local market outside of the tourism, hotel, and restaurant industry. In addition, Guåhan Sustainable Culture is growing a network of local farmers who can contribute to Guam Department of Education Farm-to-School program in the future. Furthermore, with our “Supporting Farmers, Sustaining Families” initiative, families who receive our produce bags are introduced to a variety of locally grown produce which they can incorporate into their family’s and children’s meals, thus, teaching children how to eat locally grown produce that they might not be familiar with. These families are also becoming more aware of our organization and our goals and objectives to teach farming and agriculture and to nourish island residents.
About National Farm to School Network
National Farm to School Network works to ensure equitable access to local food and nutrition education in order to improve children’s health, strengthen family farms and cultivate vibrant communities. They serve as a resource, advocacy and networking hub for communities across the country who bring local food, gardens, and food and nutrition education into schools and early care and education settings. Farm to school empowers children and their families to engage in their local food systems, while strengthening local economies and contributing to vibrant communities. Learn more at www.farmtoschool.org.