This model works to increase capacity for food systems by creating or improving areas within their programs and systems. These programs work to improve access to local healthy foods, increase client knowledge about how they might incorporate healthy foods into their diets, or identify gaps in services in their community and develop program models to help fill those gaps.
Potential AmeriCorps member activities could include:
• Create a needs assessment to determine community needs
• Develop and coordinate a program that focuses on food processing, community meals, cooking education, or community food education (community gardens).
• Improve data collection, monitoring, and evaluation systems in order to increase capacity for grant funding opportunities.
• Build relationships between local small-scale growers and food banks to increase the amount of healthy produce in the food system