Recovered Produce Helps People in Recovery
Transition Sarasota is a local non-profit organization with a commitment to creative solutions for our local food system. This growing season, we started a new program for collecting produce left over from farmers markets to provide to local organizations to feed those in need. Much of the produce would otherwise have been composted. The Salvation Army Sarasota County was one of the recipients and over 3,115 pounds of farm fresh produce was donated to them through this program. That’s over 9,200 servings of fresh food!
I recently had a tour of the Center of Hope campus with Lisi Brannen, Q-Life Operations Manager. She is a walking encyclopedia of The Salvation Army programs and history. During the tour, I had the pleasure of meeting Alpha Bangoura who has been the chef for ten years and, in March 2023, became the Food Service Manager. Picture a ball of energy who loves helping people and who is super enthusiastic about healthy food and veggies. Someone who is creative in the kitchen, makes sure everything gets used, and who’s soup is legendary. Ok, that’s Alpha. The kitchen prepares about 250 meals a day or 7,000 meals a month. Imagine how much food is needed in order to do that! Taking a peek into the dining room, I was introduced as the person from Transition Sarasota who delivers fresh produce each week. The room full of people erupted into a spontaneous cheer and round of applause! It felt great to know we are making a difference.
The recovered veggies help to feed people participating in recovery programs who live at The Salvation Army facility while making the commitment to making big changes in their life .While attending a program, three meals a day are served. Receiving fresh, healthy food is especially important to people who are making the commitment to get off the cycle of substance abuse and who may be experiencing related health issues. Through programs like Community Recovery Program and VIPER, participants get the help they need to recover from substance abuse and become more engaged members of our community. There are usually 50 people at a time participating in residency programs.
Street Teams is another great program offered and helps to keep downtown Sarasota beautiful by keeping streets free of litter. Able-bodied men and women work during morning hours and then come back to the campus for a nutritious lunch. The afternoon is spent focusing on employment and housing goals. There are also programs for families.
This has been such a rewarding experience for both Transition Sarasota and The Salvation Army. Farms like Mondragon Farms, Honeyside Farms, and Peach Pit Farms, who have all participated in the farmers market pilot program, are excited to give back to the community. Transition Sarasota is happy to support valuable programs by supplying fresh, healthy food. The Salvation Army had received fresh produce at a time when it is expensive and difficult for them to get. And Alpha? He’s thrilled, too! (That’s him on the left)
Joyce Norris, Executive Director - Transition Sarasota