Food Justice
Overview
Hunger and poor access to healthy food are realities for people of low income in Marin, despite the county’s general affluence. Over the past year, food insecurity among the low-income families and communities of color we serve within the county has intensified. At a time when so many have so much and others have so little or nothing at all, Community Action Marin wants to raise awareness about what we can do together to make healthy, good food accessible to everyone in our community. Take a look at some of the safety net programs we provide access to that help build food security.
Living our values guides all that we do. With trust as our foundation, we pursue healing-centered engagement to bring about transformational change. We also recognize the importance of doing the work in our own house to create meaningful steps toward equity and well-being in order to do the hard work to accomplish our goals of racial and economic justice in our Marin community. Download our Equity & Well-being roadmap in English or Spanish below.
Impact
The Numbers
Of families we serve have limited access to healthy foods
Families (and 1 in 3 seniors) in Marin struggle to put food on table
Healthy, organic meals provided to children in Marin daily
Programs
Community Action Marin is working hard to address and eliminate food insecurity. We are growing food and partnering across the county to strengthen healthy food access and justice for all. The agency’s Whole Family Approach works to ensure that needs are met and outcomes at the individual, agency, and community levels are achieved to strengthen well-being.
Central Kitchen
The Central Kitchen, a 2,000 square foot commercial kitchen, is one of only a few in Marin County and is located in the heart of San Rafael. When not in use for Community Action Marin programs, we help to support local food entrepreneurs and non-profits that need a commercial kitchen by renting space.
Healthy Meals
Supported by funders, parents, partners, and community, we are committed to healthy eating and active living for all of us. Our menus include new items that include fresh spring produce, as well as familiar favorites.
Production Farm
Our organic garden offers a replicable and scalable model for creating a sustainable community resource for good, healthy food. The Production Farm has 15,000 square feet of land dedicated to orchards and organic crops. Last year we gave over 40,000 pounds of groceries to food insecure families, increasing food security across the county!
Apprentice Program
Our Kitchen Apprentice Program trains and mentors those seeking a career in the food industry or entrepreneurship opportunities focused on food. The 6-month program equips individuals with the knowledge and skills to develop and launch a small food business or to join the larger food and hospitality industry.
If you are interested in learning more about food justice and all of Community Action Marin’s
advocacy efforts, click here.
Watch our Good Food for All Video!
Discover a Path to a Food Industry Career
Our Kitchen Apprenticeship Program trains and mentors those seeking a career in the food industry or entrepreneurship opportunities focused on food. The 6-month program equips individuals with the knowledge and skills to develop and launch a small food business or to join the larger food and hospitality industry.
All of what grows in our farm, it goes directly straight to our kitchen and is incorporated into our menu. We want to have the kids be able to get in there, get dirty, dig, plant, harvest and see the entire process. From planting a little seed to having it grow and being able to taste it.
Leah Walton
Nutrition Services Manager