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2019 Leah's Pantry Annual Report #NourishingResilience

We started this year with the goal of changing the conversation around trauma, nutrition, and food security.

In 2019, we delivered over 60 presentations to more than 3,000 people—igniting a broad, multi-sector conversation about the link between trauma and nourishment.

Provocative questions got people thinking—and acting.

Collaboratives like the State Nutrition Action Council (SNAC) and the San Diego Accountable Communities for Health incorporated ideas, language, and trauma-informed principles into their initiatives.

State agencies in California, Washington State, Wisconsin, Florida, and Arizona wove trauma-informed nutrition security into their nutrition education programs through curriculum training, conferences, and product development.

In addition to making an impact at the state level, we also sought to catalyze the organizational transformation of our partners.

We now have close to 50 pantries in the Nutrition Pantry Program, the trauma-informed food distribution program. Together, these sites serve over 56,000 California residents per month. We expect to triple this number in 2020.

EatFresh.org, our recipe website, provided delicious ideas to over 50,000 users and more than 200 organizational partners in 2019.

Our three year contract with SF’s Department of Aging and Adult Service hit its stride—providing 1:1 counseling to over 100 older adults at risk of serious nutrition insecurity and engaging over 300 in workshops at congregate meal sites throughout the city.

And we were busy building! We expanded Food Smarts to tackle food waste—debuting a 3-week curriculum in San Mateo County, CA that engaged over 300 residents in conversations about making delicious food using every last bit!

And last, we debuted Around the Table, the nation’s FIRST trauma-informed nutrition education curriculum for older youth and adult caregivers.

We’re pleased to announce that our pilot data is showing transformative change in health values, stress awareness, and food and cooking skills. These skills are the foundation of long term behaviors which can withstand the ups and downs of life.

What's ahead for 2020?

We’re diving into the organizational and programmatic work required to support trauma-informed, healing centered programs and policies.

This means: continuing our own work, collaborating with partners new and old, and deep listening to community members.

Donating to Leah's Pantry means supporting...

California community organizations participating in six-month learning collaboratives to develop trauma-informed nutrition and food security projects.

High school students cooking together and engaging around the health of their communities in their classrooms using the new Around the Table curriculum.

New mothers finding ways to improve their own nutritional health while developing healthy attachment to their newborns in San Francisco’s Bayview.

Transitional foster youth in San Diego who are healing from their trauma, building relationships grounded in connection, and exploring the foundations of a nourished life through cooking and conversation.

Thank you for helping us improve the health, wellness, and resilience of communities through trauma-informed nutrition security.

Created By
Adrienne Markworth
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