Written by: John DeRousie, Custom Marketing Solutions FULTON, NY The need for food subsidy and the lack of accessible nutrition information, is of great concern to the many human services agencies that serve Oswego County.

The Nutrition Coalition of Oswego County recently completed a comprehensive resource directory that provides local human service agencies with valuable information that they may share with their clients regarding food subsidy, including a list of food pantries and soup kitchen and access to nutritional information. Displaying copies of the directory are coalition members: Carolyn Handville (left), coordinator of OCOs Cancer Services Program Partnership; Amy Roland (center), director of OCO Nutrition Services; and Danielle Wert, coordinator of the Rural Health Network of Oswego County.

While many area food pantries are serving more families and individuals than ever before, a significant amount of other families and individuals are lacking in the knowledge of how to locate and access food pantries as well as learning more about proper nutrition for themselves and their families.

In an effort to address this issue and combat it head on the Nutrition Collaboration of Oswego County has compiled a comprehensive Resource Directory.

Although, nutritional resources are available, we believed there was a need for a Nutrition Directory that was as comprehensive as possible and was user friendly for agencies to locate food resources where their clients live. The directory provides local human service agencies with valuable information that they may share with their clients regarding food subsidy and access to nutritional information, said Amy Roland, director, OCO Nutrition Services.

Organized by school district, the Nutrition Collaboration Resource Directory contains contact information for agencies and organizations that deal with hunger issues, a list of food pantries and soup kitchens complete with location and hours of operation; locations for free food distributions; and information and locations for the Food Sense program. Updated regularly, the directory is looking to add a list of days and times for area farmers markets, as well as contact information on community gardens that exist in Oswego County.

We have heard very positive feedback regarding the resource directory, added Roland. The agencies have responded that the format of the directory, and the critical contact information that it contains, allows them to quickly provide their clients with accurate information. It has proven to be a valuable resource when discussing the availability of food subsidy for those who live in Oswego County.

To date the Nutrition Collaboration Resource Directory has been distributed to the appropriate agencies.

For more information on the directory, contact Roland at Oswego County Opportunities at 315-598-4712 or via e-mail at aroland@oco.org

The Nutrition Collaboration Resource Directory marks the completion of one of the organizations two initial goals. The other goal of establishing a community garden began last spring and was an immediate success. Located in Fulton, the community garden provided consumers of local food pantries with the opportunity to come together to tend their garden and raise fresh vegetables for themselves and others who depend on food subsidy.

Read the original:
Nutrition Collaboration Addresses Hunger in Oswego County