This coalition was initially formed:
as a grassroots initiative responding to a locally identified need
in response to a funding requirement or opportunity
in response to an agency request

Mission/Purpose
To make the necessary changes to the regional food system, insuring that all people have access to sufficient quantities of high quality food to maintain health and vitality. Our new mission statement is Healthy Land, Healthy Food, Healthy People.

Description
Members interact primarily for the purpose of exchanging information and communication.

Organizations/Groups Represented
Aging Agencies
CAP agencies
Food pantries
Homeless Shelters
Human services
Individual community members
Other (please specify)
Other school staff (teachers
administrators
etc.)
Producers (including farmers markets)
Public health/WIC staff
Tribes
UW-Extension Physicians/hospital, USDA rep., local college pers

Primary Leadership
Provided by Extension

Extension's Leadership Role
Active member; provide leadership for particular activities or committee(s)

Strategies/Projects/Activities of the Coalition
assessing/measuring the extent of hunger/food insecurity
conducting outreach to connect potential participants to federal nutrition assistance programs (school meals, food stamps)
improving community capacity to address hunger/food insecurity (* primary project)
networking a variety of organizations/individuals working in the area of hunger prevention
networking emergency food providers in the county
organizing food drives to supply emergency food providers
promoting/coordinating food collection and distribution other than food drives (through Hunt for the Hungry, Plant a Row for the Hungry, gleaning projects, etc) (* primary project)
promoting/coordinating the Senior or WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program (* primary project)
raising awareness of hunger and food insecurity

Funding
This coalition has funding for general operations.

Internal Planning
This coalition has participated in planning and organizational (internal) development activities (such as strategic planning, creating a mission statement, training of members).

Evaluation
This group has not evaluated its functioning.
This group has evaluated its strategies/projects/activities.

Success Story
Our Mobile Farmers Market is a great success. The vehicle was obtained through our CAP agency with Vitamin Settlement funds, local producers provide the fresh produce and the market travels to 6 rural communities and two tribes 3 times each bringing fresh produce and education enabling Seniors and WIC participants to use their vouchers in areas without farmers markets.

Comments
We participated in a strategic planning process led by our Extension CRD agent in 2005. The process led to a name change, a shortened mission statement and short, medium and long range visions.