Project Grant 20253380045190

FISH, THE ONLY FOOD BANK IN KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON, WILL BUILD FOOD RESCUE CAPACITY IN CENTRAL WASHINGTON. COMPARED TO THE UNITED STATES, A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF SURPLUS FOOD IN WASHINGTON IS NOT HARVESTED (51.5% COMPARED TO 15.7%), IS PRODUCE (69.3% COMPARED TO 34.1%), AND IS FROM PRODUCE FARMS (58.8% COMPARED 16.7%). IN 2022, PRODUCE FARMS IN WASHINGTON WASTED 1.71 TONS OF FOOD. REGIONAL- AND COUNTY-LEVEL DATA ARE NOT AVAILABLE. (REFED, 2024)FISH WILL USE THE FOLLOWING METHODS TO CONDUCT THE PROJECT:FACILITATE CENTRAL WASHINGTON FOOD IS MEDICINE NETWORK (NETWORK) MEETINGS;RESEARCH, SYNTHESIZE, AND REVIEW FOOD RESCUE BEST PRACTICES;DEVELOP FOOD RESCUE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM, SUPPLY LIST, METRICS, STAFF AND VOLUNTEER TRAINING PLANS, AND PUBLICITY PLAN;EVALUATE PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION AND OUTCOMES;CONDUCT CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT CYCLES;IDENTIFY AND CONTACT POTENTIAL PRODUCE FARM DONORS;ORIENT INTERESTED DONORS TO FISH, BILL EMERSON GOOD SAMARITAN ACT, FOOD CODE, FOOD RESCUE TAX EXEMPTIONS, ANDCOST SAVINGS;CONDUCT SITE VISITS WITH INTERESTED DONORS;DEVELOP AND SIGN MEMORANDA OF AGREEMENT WITH INTERESTED DONORS;IDENTIFY AND CONTACT POTENTIAL COMMUNITY MEMBER, CORPORATE, FAITH-BASED, AND SERVICE CLUB FOOD RESCUE VOLUNTEERS;ORIENT INTERESTED VOLUNTEERS TO FISH AND FOOD RESCUE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM, AND METRICS;SIGN LIABILITY WAIVERS WITH INTERESTED VOLUNTEERS;IDENTIFY CUSTOMER SEGMENTS INTERESTED IN LEASING FOOD BANK STORAGE AND EQUIPMENT;DEVELOP VALUE PROPOSITIONS, OUTREACH CHANNELS, AND REVENUE STREAMS;DETERMINE KEY RESOURCES, ACTIVITIES, PARTNERS, AND COST STRUCTURE;CONTACT POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS;ORIENT INTERESTED CUSTOMERS TO FISH AND FOOD BANK STORAGE AND EQUIPMENT; ANDDEVELOP AND SIGN CONTRACTS WITH INTERESTED CUSTOMERS.THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT, THE GRANTS MANAGER WILL COLLECT DATA FROM NETWORK MINUTES AND THE FISH CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. SHE WILL ANALYZE THESE DATA TO MEASURE WHETHER THE PROJECT RESULTED IN EXPECTED OUTPUTS/METRICS/ACCOMPLISHMENTS, OUTCOMES, AND INDICATORS OF SUCCESS.THE GOALS OF THE BUILDING FOOD RESCUE CAPACITY IN CENTRAL WASHINGTON PLANNING PROJECT ARE TO: 1) COLLABORATE WITH FOOD SYSTEM, COMMUNITY, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO PLAN A MULTISYSTEM, INTERAGENCY FOOD RESCUE PROGRAM THAT REDUCES WASTE AND NUTRITION INSECURITY IN CENTRAL WASHINGTON; AND 2) COLLABORATE WITH THE FOR-PROFIT FOOD SECTOR TO IMPLEMENT AN INFRASTRUCTURE LEASING PROGRAM THAT FUNDS FOOD RESCUE IN CENTRAL WASHINGTON.THE EXPECTED IMPACT IS THAT FISH WILL BUILD FOOD RESCUE CAPACITY BY: 1) DEVELOPING AND EVALUATING A FOOD RESCUE PLAN THAT INCREASES ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD FOR FOOD BANK PROGRAMS; 2) RECRUITING PRODUCE FARM DONORS WHO PLAN TO REDUCE WASTE AND SUPPLY NUTRITIOUS FOOD FOR NUTRITION-INSECURE COMMUNITIES; 3) RECRUITING VOLUNTEERS WHO PLAN TO COLLECT NUTRITIOUS FOOD FOR NUTRITION-INSECURE COMMUNITIES; AND 4) CONTRACTING WITH INFRASTRUCTURE LEASING CUSTOMERS WHO WILL GENERATE REVENUE FO,R FOOD RESCUE OPERATIONS. SOCIETAL BENEFITS ARE IMPROVINGACCESS TO NUTRIENT DENSE FOOD AS PART OF A COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE; AND DEVELOPING LONG-TERM PROJECTS THAT INCREASE THE SELF-RELIANCE OF COMMUNITIES IN PROVIDING FOR THE FOOD NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.