Our county ranks second in the state for food insecurity. One in six of our children go hungry each day.
We are addressing food insecurity with sustainable food distribution programs.
WHAT IS FOOD INSECURITY?
Food insecurity is the state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food.
Many families live in food deserts throughout OC. Food deserts are defined as urban areas and/or settings where it is difficult to buy quality fresh food that is affordable.
Waste Not OC has a food recovery and distribution program connecting county agencies, grocers and restaurants with pantries and shelters to distribute surplus food that would otherwise have been thrown away.
Orange County is one of the few counties in California to have more than one food bank. We have partnered with Orange County Food Bank and Second Harvest Food Bank to provide healthy fruits and vegetables through various distribution channels, including school-based and mobile pantries.
Orange County United Way At Work
United Way is advocating for our children’s health by investing in local partners in several key initiatives:
Innovative food provisioning
Our unique partnership with OC Food Bank and Second Harvest Food Bank provides OC residents an opportunity to obtain fresh fruits and vegetables through school and community pantries, and pop-up farmers’ markets for seniors.
In addition, excess food from restaurants and catering events is redistributed to those in need through Waste Not OC, ensuring more families have access to wholesome meals.
ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD
We have established community gardens as a means to educate residents on environmentally sound and less costly sources of fresh produce while simultaneously empowering them to be self-sufficient.