Through this planning project, thimbleberry collaborative farm (TCF) will work with its partner organizations (wallace medical concern and milk crate kitchen) to improve access to fresh, locally grown…

Through this planning project, thimbleberry collaborative farm (TCF) will work with its partner organizations (wallace medical concern and milk crate kitchen) to improve access to fresh, locally grown produce and food education for community members who are experiencing food insecurity and chronic illness in east multnomah county, oregon.TCF, wallace, and milk crate kitchen (MCK) will test ways to expand their existing farm-to-clinic partnership, through which wallace patients experiencing food insecurity have access to 1) TCF's produce at a free farm stand once per week during the growing season, 2) nutrient-dense meals prepared by MCK and delivered to patients' homes once per week for 12 weeks, and 3) nutrient-dense meals prepared by MCK and stocked in a grab-n-go fridge onsite at wallace's clinic once per week for 12 weeks. In addition to expanding these efforts, TCF and its partners will provide CO-hosted workshops to wallace patients and other east multnomah county community members about growing and cooking with seasonal produce.east multnomah county has a high rate of food insecurity (~15%), which threatens the physical and mental well-being of many residents. The USDA defines food insecurity as a household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food. Individuals, families, and communities to whom this definition can be applied are this project's priority service population. The USDA's food access research atlas data shows food access in east multnomah county is much more limited than in areas to its west, where more affluent populations reside. Many families in these areas face higher barriers to securing affordable, healthy food on a consistent basis. This is particularly concerning for their children, whose brain development and capacity to learn and grow are hindered by hunger and malnutrition. Currently, 33 schools in TCF's service area (largely reynolds and gresham-barlow school districts) meet the community eligibility provision (CEP) for child nutrition programs.moreover, priority communities in rockwood, especially, have higher rates of chronic illness and disability, and a higher proportion of people without health insurance.TCF's partners at wallace (in rockwood) have relayed that food insecurity and insufficient access to fresh, healthier foods are high on the list when they talk with patients about their social determinants of health needs. Home-delivered meals, farm stands and grab n go prepared meals --all aspects of the existing farm-to-clinic collaboration between TCF, wallace, and MCK – offer a range of options for wallace patients, making IT easier for them to find support that works for their specific circumstances. The purpose of this planning project is to test ways to serve more community members through the farm-to-clinic partnership, and for more months of the year, in perpetuity. TCF and its partner organizations will track pounds of produce deliver, ED and meals served, as well as conduct surveys to evaluate the impact of the farm stand, meal delivery, grab-n-go fridge, and CO-hosted workshop initiatives. They will also hold meetings internally and with other community stakeholders to assess how to improve and expand the farm-to-clinic collaboration.as a result of this project, 200+ wallace patients will benefit from the full farm-to-clinicprogram for 24 weeks per year rather than the current 12 weeks per year, and they will be better equipped to directly improve their own health through diet after participating in workshops about growing and cooking with seasonal produce, nutrition, and/or food preservation. This projectwill also allow TCF/ wallace/ MCK to invite more food growers, food distributors, and community organizations to participate in their efforts to connect more east multnomah county community members to fresh, locally grown food and food education opportunities.