Food Justice

View online.

The entire Food Justice series (with added features) is available in the order below.

• Full playlist

Chapters 

• Chapter 1: What is Food Justice?
  This chapter provides insight into what food justice means to people working in the hunger relief system and people experiencing food insecurity.
    
• Chapter 2: Neighborhood House Produce Distribution
  This chapter introduces you to Neighborhood House’s Food Market, mass produce distribution events providing food rescue from Second Harvest Heartland and their partner grocery stores, such as Cub Foods, and tells the story of how Loaves and Fishes strives to provide healthier meals to their guests.
   
• Chapter 3: Dorothy Day Center: Healthy Meals
  This chapter tells the story of how Catholic Charities meal programs are working to serve healthier food and beverages to their guests. It also provides an educational session by The Food Group’s dietitian on the high amounts of sugar found in many beverages.
   
• Chapter 4: Keystone Community Services' Foodmobile
  This chapter gives us a tour of Keystone’s food shelf on wheels, The Foodmobile, which strives to provide healthier foods to guests at easily accessible locations. 
   
• Chapter 5: Union Gospel Mission’s Meal Programs
  This chapter shares the stories of guests eating at Union Gospel Missions Men’s Campus and reminds us that Little Sisters of the Poor survives on donated foods and tries to provide healthier meals to meet their resident’s chronic health needs. Also, listen to a conversation with the Commissioner of Health on the importance of healthier foods for good health no matter where you live.
   
• Chapter 6: Mounds View Schools’ Food Shelf
  This chapter gives us a unique look into a food shelf woven into a school district using fresh produce grown by students in the elementary school gardens. 

Extras 

• Healthy Donations Make a Difference
  Meal programs and food shelves rely heavily on donated food from individuals, food drives, grocery stores, and large corporations, to name a few. Donations of healthier items are much appreciated by the staff of these organizations and their guests. 
   
• A Face of Hunger
  A story from a woman who grew up living in Public Housing, using food shelves and food stamps as a main source of food for her family.  
   
• Some of the Causes of Food Insecurity
  Anyone could face hunger or lack of access to healthier food in their lifetime. Listen to a few stories of why this happens and remember we are all connected in this world. 
   
• Follow the Food: Hunger Relief System
  Learn about how food travels until it reaches a plate at a shelter or the refrigerator of a food shelf.  
   
• The Problem of Sugary Drinks
  There can be a lot of sugar in our beverages. Remember that water is always a good choice. 
   
• SHIP (Statewide Health Improvement Program)
  The SHIP grant provides staff expertise and funding to the hunger relief system to promote healthier foods and lives through policy, system, and environmental changes.

Show Food Justice to your family, friends in your neighborhood, at your work or during a community event. 

• Host a screening - Steps to host a successful and informative film screening in your community.

Guide conversation

Encourage discussion during your event on these important topics. Be creative and think of ways to help improve healthier food access. Become more aware of individuals and families facing homelessness and/or food insecurity in your neighborhood. Use the following discussion questions to guide conversation. These documents are in PDF format.

• Community members
• Donors 
• Staff members
• Volunteers

Evaluation

Please fill out the 3 question evaluation form and return by email or mail. Your thoughts and comments are appreciated. 

• Evaluation form

Nutrition and Food Insecurity Fact Sheet (PDF)
An information sheet about the food insecurity-obesity connection, the desire for healthier foods by those experiencing homelessness, and the reach of emergency food assistance in Minnesota.

Nutrition and Food Insecurity Fact Sheet (cost/healthcare savings) (PDF)
An information sheet about the food insecurity-obesity connection, the desire for healthier foods by those experiencing homelessness, plus the cost of obesity and chronic diseases for society.

Chronic Disease and the Impacts of Food (PDF)
A diagram of the human body, depicting common chronic diseases and how different foods can both negatively and positively impact the outcomes of people with these diseases.

Examples of taking what you learned in the show and putting it to use.

Take Action (PDF)
See a list of healthier food options to donate to food shelves and meal programs.

Promising Practices for Meal Programs and Food Shelves (PDF)
Check out promising practices and recommended action steps to use within meal programs and food shelves as a roadmap to help create a healthier food environment for clients and guests. 

Visit the various hunger relief organizations featured in the show for ways to learn more and get involved. 

Food banks 

The Food Group
Karena is a dietitian at The Food Group who talked about sugar and portion sizes in the show. Visit The Food Group’s website for great resources on culturally relevant foods in food banks and food shelves.

• Resource: Culturally relevant toolkit

Second Harvest Heartland
Food Justice featured Second Harvest’s mass produce distribution. Visit their website to learn more about the hunger issues in Minnesota and the United States.

• Resource: Hunger facts and research

Food shelves

• Keystone Community Services - The Food Mobile
• Neighborhood House - The Food Market
• Ralph Reeder Food Shelf - The School Garden Project

Meal programs

Dorothy Day Center and Opportunity Center - Catholic Charities
In Food Justice, Chef Mike made fresh pesto using donated basil plants, Chef Greg talked about how food can change a person’s mood and Chef Lashonda says we can provide a broader range of healthier foods for our guests. 

Little Sisters of the Poor
Chef Scott talked about preparing food with love, and mentioned that the unpredictable donations make every day like a “Chopped” culinary challenge for him. 

Loaves and Fishes
Cathy Maes talked about the importance of healthy meals served through her organization. 

Union Gospel Mission/Naomi Shelter 
In one scene of the show, Commissioner of Health Dr. Edward Ehlinger talks with staff and a resident about healthy meals and “food for the soul.”

Healthier Meals Coalition

The following organizations are additional meal programs and members of the Healthier Meals Coalition.

• Ain Dah Yung 
• Face to Face- Safe Zone  
• The Family Place 
• The Family Service Center- Catholic Charities 
• Salvation Army East Side 
• Salvation Army West 7th 
• Women of Nations 
• Women’s Advocates

Hunger advocacy groups

Hunger Solutions
Colleen Moriarty spoke of the larger-scale hunger relief food system here in Minnesota. Hunger Solutions has some great resources about hunger and food shelf locations in Minnesota. 

• Searchable food help map
• MN mobile food shelf map
• Hunger in MN maps

MN Hunger Initiative
A group of leaders with a common mission: to increase the effectiveness of the hunger relief system throughout MN through collaboration. 

Healthcare for the Homeless
Dr. Jason Como and Irene Alton spoke about the importance of nutrition for those experiencing homelessness.