Episode 209: Food Banks Need to Be Flexible and Willing to Adapt
About the Podcast
Today, Clancy speaks with Cassandra Mobley, Chief Operating Officer at the Mississippi Food Network where she leads the Operations, Agency Relations, Programs, and Procurement teams. You won’t want to miss their discussion about the need for food banks to be flexible and willing to adapt to their community, how food banks are funded, and the role of food banks in fighting food waste and food insecurity. Listen and enjoy the show!
About Cassandra Mobley
Cassandra Mobley is the Chief Operating Officer at the Mississippi Food Network. She leads the Operations, Agency Relations, Programs, and Procurement teams. She is also currently active on the Community Advisory Boards of the Forge AHEAD Center, the Mississippi Center for Clinical and Transnational Research (MS-CCTR), as one of the Principal Investigators on the MS Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL). She focuses on child feeding programs, mobile pantries, food sourcing, retail donation programs, and nutrition education.
Discussion Takeaways
- Every community is different, so in direct service operations, you need to be flexible and willing to adapt to the people's needs.
- Food sustainability is nutrition security for all people because when we invest in our local farmers and pay them a fair price, they can stay open, and will benefit the community at large.
- Grant programs, such as the local food producers cooperative agreement funds, have been a real game changer for direct service operators to provide fresh and locally grown food for families.
- Food dignity is to have everyone have enough food and get that food in a manner that they do not feel like they are accepting charity.
- Food is what we use to celebrate. It makes us feel good. It not only nourishes the body but nourishes them as a people.
#1 tip to improve access to healthy food
Adaptability is key—meeting the unique needs of different communities requires flexibility, strong partnerships, and a commitment to getting food where it’s needed most.
Each week on the Food Dignity® Podcast, the Food Dignity® Movement's Clancy Harrison hosts a wide variety of hunger experts and other people making changes on the frontlines. Join us as we dive deep into conversations that will change the way you think about food insecurity.
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