By Elena Rowe//
The Frederick Food Security Network, which provides the community free, organically grown produce, is preparing for its spring semester.
The produce grown will be distributed to low-income residents who reside in one of the six food deserts in Frederick City. The network partners with two Frederick sites for distribution, The Housing Authority and the Community Action Agency.
The network was established in 2017 within the Center for Coastal and Watershed Studies by former manager of the network Connie Ray and coordinator of the Coastal Studies Program Claire Hudson , in partnership with the Americorp Vista program. In addition to Hudson as the interim director, graduate student Jen Carpenter was hired as the Hood greenhouse manager. Carpenter makes sure the gardens are properly cared for and works with the Hood students who volunteer for the network. As interim manager, Hudson takes more of an administrative role, applying for grants to make sure the program continues operation.
“Before the pandemic, we were told we would get a Frederick Food Security manager,” Hudson said. “Then the pandemic happened, and there was a hold on the hiring. The interim manager is a volunteer position at the moment, and we really need a full-time staff position.”
Hopefully, Hudson states, the position will be filled in July. Otherwise, the Network may not survive. Hudson is actively applying to grants to get funding for the organization’s services. She hopes to receive enough funds to pay students who work for the network part-time.
The pandemic has caused many changes to how the network operates, but they are still able to serve despite the circumstances. “Many of our distribution partners were reduced because their offices were closed,” Hudson said. “This made it difficult for us to do our job well. We did start working with essential organizations such as the Frederick Community Action Agency and the Housing Authority.”
Despite this, students are still interested in serving and giving back to the community. There are five honors students that have started serving with FFSN earlier this semester. Sarah Buckley, a sophomore honors student is excited to begin her volunteering with the network.
“I have wanted to volunteer with the FFSN since I learned about Claire Hudson’s sustainable honors course last spring,” Buckley said. “I was really excited to have an opportunity to volunteer this semester for my honor’s class.”
Buckley is passionate about helping people who face food insecurities and excited to kindle her passion with others who feel the same way.
“I’m excited to help prepare for the plant sale in May and work with a great team of dedicated people along the way. I admire what Claire and Jen have done to grow the FFSN and I just feel lucky to be able to contribute my time and energy to such a great organization,” Buckley said.
Another honors student, sophomore Kathryn (Katie) Cautero is also excited about serving with the FFSN and enjoys knowing she is helping families in need in the Frederick Community.
“I decided to volunteer with the Frederick Food Security Network because for my honors class this semester we are focusing on civic engagement and volunteering,” Cautero said. “FFSN was the perfect opportunity for me to give back to the Frederick community because I can volunteer here at the greenhouses at Hood. I’m liking this site so much that I’m considering sticking with it after my honors class ends.”
Other students have served at FFSN since their first year at Hood and have really enjoyed their time.
Junior Paige Tolbard has worked for the network since 2019 and has enjoyed the growing process.
“My favorite thing about the job is being able to watch the plants grow throughout the entire process, dry seed to fruit,” Tolbard said.
Junior Heidi Gonzalez Ramirez, has been involved with the network since her first year.
“I learned a lot about the importance of healthy and sustainable foods as well as the food distribution in the world and in Frederick,” she said. “This led me to apply with a job with FFSN at the end of my freshman year, and I loved it so much I couldn’t leave.”
The network is preparing for its annual plant sale, which will be held May 14-17. All funds from the sale will go towards the FFSN, in its efforts to grow, harvest, and distribute free organic produce to Frederick residents residing in food deserts.
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