FARMINGTON — A collaboration between the Greater Franklin Food Council and the Healthy Community Coalition is set to bring a yearlong series of meetings to Franklin County, with the intent to make stronger connections among folks working on and interested in the local food system.
“Over the past year or more, we have had so many folks inquiring about how they can get involved with the GFFC,” said Erica Emery, executive director of the council, in a news release.
After meeting with Sabrina Keene at the coalition, it became clear there was a huge opportunity for the groups to collaborate and work on community engagement together.
“Our programs through the MaineHealth Healthy Community Coalition serve people all across the county, and we want to make sure people are informed about our services and we want to hear about needs in our communities,” said Keene.
The plan is to hold these meetings quarterly with other groups in Greater Franklin county collaborating on meeting content and agenda items. The first Local Food Community Convening is scheduled for 2-4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21, in the Bass Room at Franklin Memorial Hospital, 111 Franklin Health Commons.
The format for the meeting will include an introduction from the council and an overview of the Local Food Plan that was developed in 2022, a Resource Spotlight on the Healthy Eating, Active Living program run by coalition, and breakout groups based on community interests.
“The real focus and purpose of these meetings is to get folks who are working in similar areas of the food system talking together,” said Keene, who will be running a breakout group for food pantries and people interested in working on food security. Other breakout groups will include a farmer focus group led by Emery to talk about local marketing efforts for farms and a community interest roundtable led by Bella Russo, GFFC Steering Committee chair.
Registration for the event is encouraged.
For more information and to register, visit greaterfranklinfoodcouncil.org.
Check out other upcoming area events!
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