Food Preservation and Youth Empowerment

Food insecurity and access to basic needs

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

Food insecurity and food waste are significant challenges in Los Angeles. Despite being a resource-rich city, many low and mixed-income communities struggle with consistent access to nutritious food, with 1 in 5 residents experiencing food insecurity annually. At the same time, up to 40% of food in the U.S. is wasted, contributing to environmental harm and lost economic resources. Youth in these communities often lack access to healthy food, impacting their development and well-being. By addressing these issues through innovative solutions like freeze-drying surplus food, Community Space Food Bank aims to provide sustainable access to nutritious food, reduce environmental impact, and empower youth through community service learning initiatives. This approach not only tackles immediate hunger but also promotes long-term community resilience and self-sufficiency.

The grant will support Community Space Food Bank's innovative freeze-drying program and youth service learning initiatives, addressing food insecurity and waste in Los Angeles. Key components include:
Expansion of Freeze-Drying Facilities:
Acquiring equipment to preserve surplus food from schools, markets, and food banks. This extends shelf life, reduces waste, and ensures a stable supply of nutritious meals.
Acquisition of a Van:
Funding will purchase a van to efficiently pick up and distribute fresh and freeze-dried food, enhancing our ability to serve low and mixed-income areas in Los Angeles.
Youth Service Learning Program:
Engaging youth in operations from food collection to outreach, this program fosters leadership and community involvement. Youth will participate in workshops on sustainability, food preservation, and service, empowering them as future leaders.
Community Outreach and Partnerships:
Expanding our network of partners, including schools, farmers markets, and supermarkets, to source surplus food and engage the community. Regular events and outreach will build support and raise awareness about food waste and insecurity.
By supporting these initiatives, the grant will help reduce food waste, provide sustainable access to nutritious food, and empower youth through meaningful service opportunities, addressing immediate hunger and fostering long-term community resilience.

If our work is successful, Los Angeles County will experience a significant reduction in food waste and an increase in food security, especially in low and mixed-income areas. Our freeze-drying program will ensure surplus food is preserved and distributed efficiently, providing a stable supply of nutritious meals. Youth involvement in our initiatives will foster a generation of leaders committed to sustainability and community service. In the long term, our model can be scaled to establish a network of freeze-drying centers across Los Angeles, and eventually throughout California and the U.S., amplifying our impact. This network will help communities manage food resources more effectively, reduce waste, and ensure that vulnerable populations have consistent access to healthy food. Our efforts will contribute to a more resilient, self-sufficient, and united Los Angeles, where food insecurity is significantly diminished, and environmental sustainability is prioritized.

As a proposed early-stage project, we will measure success through key metrics: the amount of surplus food preserved & distributed, reduction in food waste, & the number of community members served. We'll track the volume of food collected, freeze-dried, and distributed monthly, aiming for continuous growth.
Youth engagement will be assessed through participation rates in our service learning program, the skills they develop, & their involvement in community outreach. Surveys & feedback forms will evaluate their growth in leadership, sustainability knowledge, & community service.
Community impact will be measured by the number of partnerships with schools, markets, & food distributors, along with community involvement levels in our initiatives. Regular feedback sessions will help us adapt & improve.
Long-term success includes scaling our model to establish a network of freeze-drying centers across LA & beyond, amplifying our impact on reducing food waste & enhancing food security.