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The Cure to Food Deserts

Greetings, how are you doing today? I hope you are doing well.

We are fundraising for 2021, will you help us this year

We are organizing this fundraiser to benefit Human Agricultural Cooperative Inc.
Want to join us in making a difference? I'm raising money to benefit Human Agricultural Cooperative Inc, and any donation will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to us.

To make a lasting change requires dramatic and decisive actions. A group of community leaders on Fort Wayne’s southeast side are collaborating to make that change. Presently, they have created a way for everyone to be involved in the solutions to improve their community.

“We are working on transformational collaborations rather than transactional collaborations,” said Ty Simmons from the Human Agricultural Cooperative. “Each phase of our program is designed to educate, train, employ and feed the youth in our community, thereby creating long term results and impact.”

Phase One of the program will help Fort Wayne’s most vulnerable in the short term (band aid) during the current pandemic. Community leaders are planning to do a weekly food and supply distribution for ten (10) weeks. Similar to our community bbq event on April 19, the weekly event will distribute much needed food and personal protective gear to residents that are struggling during the Covid-19 outbreak. The group plans to feed and provide protective masks for a total of 3500 residents or more in this phase.

***(Completed and distributed over 1.5 million pounds of food in Indiana, Illinois and Missouri.)

Longer term plans are a part of Human Agricultural Cooperative’s Phase Two and Phase Three. The group plans to buy a refrigerated van or truck to help create a wider network of distribution for affordable fresh food throughout the neighborhood. “Our goal is to provide food distribution events twice a month. The more money we can raise, the more residents we can assist,” comment Simmons. “A refrigerated food van or truck and distribution is just a band aid to the food injustices in the Southeast of Fort Wayne.”

***Refrigerated trucks prices for a reliable truck have skyrocketed - our goal increased by $10,000. We have been looking everywhere for a nice one under $25,000.

Phase 3 group’s ultimate goal with this GoFundMe campaign is to build a community greenhouse (cure). The greenhouse will be utilized to educate, train and employ the youth and community on farming. The food produced will be donated to help feed those in need. Crops will also be sold to community residents, providing them with more affordable and healthier food options. Human Agricultural Cooperative has been working for the people for the last four years, but has just recently received its 501c3 status as a not for profit.

***(80% of all paperwork, permits and contracts are completed)
***(100% of building funds are secured we will be fundraising for equipment and supplies next month)

“For several years, Human Agricultural Cooperative has been working on a long term comprehensive plan for food and supplies distribution and a greenhouse for the southeast part of Fort Wayne,” Simmons said. “Efforts to obtain funding in the past have been well intentioned, but have had disappointing support and results. So we decided to obtain the land anyway and started fundraising anyway to build a greenhouse and create a sustainable resource to improve the Southeast side of town.”

The harsh reality is that zip code 46803 and 46806 are among the poorest zip codes and have some of the highest infant mortality rates in Indiana. Did you know that 46806 is in the top of infant mortality rates in the nation? “Some do care but most don't,” commented Simmons. “If more people cared, the Southeast wouldn't be in the shape that it is in.”

In the past 4 years, Human Agricultural Cooperative has donated over 1.5 million pounds of food to residents in Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, Evansville, East Chicago, Gary, Hammond, Chicago and St. Louis. They trained 54 youths in basic and long term sustainable farming. The group established a motto of “Together We Are Better” and now Together We Are Better and Stronger!! They have established a network of farmers, civil leaders, organization and suppliers united to help build up the community. Thank you John Jamerson and Brother Kamau.

The issues that the Southeast side of Fort Wayne faces are systemic. Past efforts have been temporary and have had valuable resources to be drained with little to show for it. Until we all work together for the greater good we will always be fighting to survive.

We have within our grasp a viable solution that can be easily realized through our cooperative work and financing. We are fully capable of improving the health of our Southeast Fort Wayne community now.

Budget

Phase One

Ten (10) Southeast Community BBQs and supplies (masks, gloves, Freedom toilet tissue and hand sanitizers) distribution events @ $1700 for 350 people for 10 weeks

$17000 ✅ (PAID)

Partnership with the United Way of Allen County.

Mission: to help 3500 residents with food and PPE protection.

Phase Two

Refrigerated truck 20,000✅ (SECURED)

Thank you Kristin Giant , Hyper Local Impact, United Way of Allen County and dozens of donors.

Gas, maintenance and repairs. $5000✅
This will allow us to pick up food from our network of farmers, organizations and suppliers for distribution to the residents of the Southeast and the entire city.

$5,000

Mission: to assist 4800 residents per year with fresh, frozen and canned food two times a month
(400 people per month).

$25,000

Phase 3
Land is secured and zoned Commercial I
30x40 greenhouse kit. $39,000✅ (PAID)

Thank you Sweetwater Inc, Chuck Surack, Jon and Barb Snyder, the Parkers, Suttles, Picketts, Ridleys, Reeder and many more.

Labor, equipment, exterior lights, supplies and permits. $21,000✅

$21,000

Mission: to educate, train, feed and mentor the youth and community within this facility for decades to come.

Goal: to assist 5000 residents each year with food insecurity and lack of access to healthier choices.

Added on - Additional costs for greenhouse and transportation fees for greenhouse, insurances, fuel and maintenance of truck and compensation for Coordinator, Assistants, helpers and volunteers

$30,000

Legal fees. $5000

Total

$86,000  Remaining

https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-cure-to-food-deserts

https://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/20200420/free-bbq-draws-a-crowd

https://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/20200419/sunday-gallery-southeast-curbside-community-barbecue

https://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/20190707/weed-soil-replant-4-students-learning

Human Agricultural Cooperative Inc
Registered nonprofit 501c3.
Donate

Donations 

  • Anitra Montgomery
    • $100 
    • 4 mos
  • Luann Watson
    • $30 
    • 5 mos
  • Jain Young
    • $85 
    • 11 mos
  • Jain Young
    • $75 
    • 11 mos
  • Tori Beasley
    • $50 
    • 11 mos
Donate

Organizer

Ty Simmons
Organizer
Fort Wayne, IN
Human Agricultural Cooperative Inc
 
Registered nonprofit
Donations are typically 100% tax deductible in the US.

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