Hole Food Rescue’s Food for the Community Program // Comida de la Comunidad is a direct-to-community model that focuses on reducing barriers inherent to traditional food access such as time, location, language, and choice. Picture a farmer’s market with no financial transaction. An important aspect of this program is the ability to diminish the stigma around food assistance by informing participants that the food they take home helps reduce food waste in Jackson.

In 2023, Food for the Community programs saw more than 1400 individual monthly visits, a 30% rise in program utilization compared to 2022. Increased participation over the past year is attributed to several factors:

• Increase in food rescues from local food donors.
• Rising food costs
• Participant involvement in managing neighborhood locations
• Community trust and familiarity