FoodCorps at Healthy Communities of the Capital Area

 Thousands of young Americans have dedicated themselves to reforming the food chain, from field to table, and of all the programs that have emerged to channel that energy and idealism, FoodCorps is the most inspiring. - Michael Pollan, Author

FoodCorps is a national service organization with the mission to connect kids to local and healthy food and build a community of future leaders in the fields of food and agriculture. Last year, FoodCorps placed its first class of 50 Service Members at sites in 10 states across the country; HCCA was one of the original 6 local sites to host a FoodCorps member in the state of Maine. Now in its second year, with 80 members in 12 states and a new Fellow program to provide additional support for Service Members, FoodCorps plans to expand to three more states next year and broaden their base to 130 members.

The three pillars of FoodCorps Service are:

+ Education: teach hands-on lessons about agriculture, food and nutrition
+ Engagement: building and tending school gardens
+ Access: sourcing local foods in school cafeterias

This year, FoodCorps at HCCA is orchestrating several projects aimed at fulfilling the program’s three pillars.

+ Leading after school cooking and gardening programs at Gardiner Regional Middle School
+ Teaching food- and agriculture-based science labs, lessons on nutrition education, and healthy cooking in Cony Middle and High School classes
+ Working with after school groups and teachers to build programming around existing and new school gardens at Riverview Community School, Helen Thompson School, Pittston School and Gilbert School
+ Partnering with Mike Flynn, Student Nutrition Services Director in MSAD11, to deliver nutrition education through cooking in the classrooms and develop long-term strategies for incorporating more local food into school meals
+ Recruiting volunteers and bringing together community stakeholders to work toward sustaining FoodCorps-supported programming beyond the service term

HCCA also partners with FoodCorps at the local, state and national level to provide opportunities for professional development tailored to the interests and aspirations of the FoodCorps Service Member.