Food Security Programs at Mission First
by Becky Staffieri| According to DC Hunger Solutions, nearly 11% of households in Washington, DC struggle to buy enough food for themselves and their families. The struggle to afford enough food is even higher in households with children, at 13.6%. According to the Food Research & Action Center’s “Food Insecurity Among Older Adults,” 12.8 % percent of DC’s seniors are currently food insecure and over 20% face the threat of hunger. Mission First Housing Group serves more than 1,000 households in Washington, DC, including 365 children and 617 seniors – many of whom are food insecure or at-risk of food insecurity. As part of our robust Resident Services program across our portfolio, Mission First ensures high quality services are available to all residents. A major pillar of our work is our Health and Wellness initiative designed to promote and improve wellness and healthy living among residents. Resident Services provides access to healthy foods, physical fitness opportunities, health screenings and health/wellness education. Partnerships with local non-profits that specifically target special populations help Resident Services tend to residents’ needs. A large part of this work is ensuring that residents have food to nourish their bodies. “At Mission First, we believe that everyone deserves access to nutritious food—it’s not a privilege, it’s a basic need,” said Mo Peterson, our Regional Director of Resident Services for DC and Maryland. “I see every day how food insecurity affects the individuals and families we serve. It’s more than just missing a meal; it’s about stability, health and dignity. That’s why we’re committed to finding sustainable solutions, but we can’t do it alone.” Two of our largest partnerships for Health and Wellness in Washington, DC are the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) and Mt. Carmel Baptist Church. For nearly five years, our Resident Services team has been coordinating the monthly distribution of fresh food donations from Mt. Carmel Baptist Church and produce from CAFB. These healthy and fresh food programs support the most vulnerable seniors and families at our properties. CAFB partners with 400 nonprofit food distribution partners, like Mission First, to provide convenient access to food or other hunger resources at no cost to DC residents. Every third Wednesday of the month, CAFB delivers fresh produce to the circle adjacent to The SeVerna and SeVerna on K for residents of our five properties in the Mt. Vernon Triangle and community residents in need of food. CAFB provides a seasonal variety of fruits and vegetables for the distribution each month. Our staff works together to sign in attendees and distribute the produce available that day to ensure everyone receives what they need. On the third Friday of the month, Mt. Carmel Baptist Church brings 35 bags each to Golden Rule Apartments and Golden Rule Plaza for senior residents. The bags are donated by the church as part of its mission-based program, Serving People In Need Now (SPINN). The church receives food through the Catholic Charities SHARE Food Network. Volunteers including church members and Mission First staff unload the food and prepare bags to distribute door-to-door to the residents. Seniors must sign up to receive the bags, and as the need grows, we are looking to expand the program and actively seeking funding to add to the church’s generous monthly donation. “With the support of our stakeholders and community partners, we can expand food programs, reach more people, and make sure no one in our care goes to bed hungry,” said Mo. “Together, we can create real, lasting change—one meal, one family and one community at a time.” In addition to these programs, we also work one-on-one with individuals and families to connect them to additional resources to support a nutritious diet and host activities on-site including healthy cooking demonstrations with Chef Herb as part of a partnership with University of the District Columbia SNAP-ED, health fairs with representatives from various food and wellness centers and distribution of complete, well-balanced meals at the holidays. We also include a healthy recipe in our monthly resident newsletter. It is important to Mission First to not only provide a safe and affordable home to our residents, but to also support their daily needs. The Resident Services Department provides support for residents to live independently, overcome challenges and meet individual and family goals. Our Health and Wellness Program initiatives, along with our work in education and employment, community engagement and youth enrichment promote enhanced overall well-being for our residents. If your organization offers programs that can support our residents in PA, NJ, MD and Washington, DC, please let us know. We are always looking for more opportunities for our residents. |