| About the Council |
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The mission of the Worcester Advisory Food Policy Council is to work with the Worcester community to reduce hunger and increase food security and the overall health of residents of Worcester.
History In 2004 the Worcester County Hunger-Free Network was formed as a collaboration between the Worcester County Food Bank and its partner agencies working in hunger relief throughout the county. Shortly after, they hosted a Community Forum on Hunger in collaboration with Congressman Jim McGovern. Numerous residents, agency representatives, business and community leaders, and politicians attended, resulting in growing collaboration around the complex issue of hunger. In 2006 Congressman McGovern contacted then-Mayor Tim Murray to update him on the Forum and seek his support in creating an Advisory Food Policy Council for Worcester. The Council was formed at the appointment of the Mayor in February of 2006. The Council immediately began engaging in the expansion of the Summer Food Service Prgoram, which provides free meals to children and youth under the age of eighteen at sites throughout Worcester. In January 2007 the Worcester Advisory Food Policy Council (WAFPC) was awarded a Planning Grant by The Health Foundation of Central MA (THFCM). An extensive planning process occurred throughout 2007 and in 2008 the Council was awarded a Pilot Project Grant as part of the Synergy Initiative of THFCM to pilot the project, Hunger-Free & Healthy. Hunger-Free & Healthy was piloted in 2008, was funded for implementation in 2009 and for continued implementation in 2010. Purpose
The purpose of the WAFPC is to bring together the many actors and players in the local food system of Worcester, MA. This includes human service agencies, local hospitals and healthcare centers, schools, agriculture, distribution, businesses, social justice organizations, policy makers, public health organizations and anti-hunger advocates. The Council meetings are a place for issues to raised and solutions created.
To get involved or to find out when the next Council Meeting is, contact Project Manager Liz Sheehan at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
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