Blue Ridge Women In Agriculture

BLUE RIDGE WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE IS DEDICATED TO STRENGTHENING THE HIGH COUNTRY'S LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM BY SUPPORTING WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH RESOURCES, EDUCATION, AND SKILLS RELATED TO SUSTAINABLE FOOD & AGRICULTURE. THE PROPOSED VISTA PROJECT ALIGNS WITH THE 2018 PROGRAMMING PRIORITY OF HEALTHY FUTURES BECAUSE OF OUR FOCUS ON FOOD SECURITY BY ALLEVIATING HUNGER AND INCREASING ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS LOCALLY GROWN FOOD. OUR PROGRAM ALSO SUPPORTS THE PROGRAM PRIORITY OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE OF OUR FOCUS ON PROVIDING SKILLS TRAINING RELATED TO AGRICULTURE AND THE FOOD INDUSTRY. LASTLY, OUR PROGRAM SUPPORTS THE 2018 PROGRAMMING PRIORITY OF EDUCATION BECAUSE OF OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH PREK-12 SCHOOLS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. THE SPECIFIC LOW-INCOME POPULATION THIS VISTA PROJECT WILL SERVE ARE FARMERS OPERATING SMALL-FAMILY FARMS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO FACE FOOD INSECURITY BECAUSE THIS VISTA PROJECT WILL SEEK TO INCREASE FOOD SECURITY, FOOD ACCESS (JUSTICE), AND AGENCY RESILIENCY. THREE VISTA MEMBERS WILL CONTINUE THE GOALS OF THE PROJECT BY PERFORMING ACTIVITIES FOCUSED ON OUR THREE FOCUS AREAS OVER A THREE YEAR PERIOD. THE FIRST VISTA MEMBER WILL WORK SPECIFICALLY ON FOOD SECURITY BY BUILDING AND IMPROVING UPON THE NETWORK OF COMMUNITY, FAITH, SCHOOL AND SERVICE AGENCY GARDENS THAT ARE COMMITTED TO GROWING FOOD FOR THOSE IN NEED. THE SECOND VISTA WILL WORK SPECIFICALLY ON FOOD JUSTICE BY HELPING TO EXPAND, IMPROVE, AND CREATE AN EFFICIENT IMPLEMENTATION SYSTEM FOR OUR DOUBLE BUCKS PROGRAM SO THAT MORE SNAP/EBT CARD HOLDERS ARE ABLE TO PURCHASE LOCAL PRODUCE FROM OUR FARMERS? MARKETS AND FOOD HUB. THE THIRD VISTA MEMBER WILL HELP THE OVERALL GOALS OF OUR NONPROFIT?S AGENCY RESILIENCY BY SUPPORTING OUR MEMBERSHIP AND DONOR MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, BY IMPROVING OUR FUNDRAISING AND DONOR STRATEGIES AND DEVELOPING OUR DATABASES.

THIS GRANT SUPPORTS THE COSTS INCURRED TO IMPLEMENT MEASURES TO RESPOND TO THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS 2019 (COVID-19), WHICH MAY INCLUDE WORKPLACE SAFETY, MARKET PIVOTS, RETROFITTING FACILITIES, TRANSPORTATION, WORKER HOUSING, AND MEDICAL EXPENSES. IT PROVIDES NEEDED RELIEF TO THE FOOD PROCESSORS, DISTRIBUTORS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND PRODUCERS FOR THEIR COSTS INCURRED BETWEEN JANUARY 27, 2020, THE DATE UPON WHICH THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE (HHS) UNDER SECTION 319 OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT, AND DECEMBER 31, 2021. BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE THE EMPLOYEES OF THE FOOD PROCESSORS, DISTRIBUTORS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND PRODUCERS.