Smith County Food Security Council
Our vision is to see everyone in Smith County hunger-free and well-nourished. We’re here to change the way we take care of our neighbors and our entire community. We're on a mission to end hunger and improve health. Our team brings together areas of expertise from healthcare, non-profits, social services, education, government, faith-based organizations, public health, business, and agriculture so we can develop multi-sector solutions to end food insecurity in Smith County.
Established: 2018
Geographic Focus: Smith County, TX
Leadership Structure: The Leadership Team meets separately from the coalition to provide guidance, support, and strategic direction to the coalition. (Two- tiered Leadership Structure)
Coalition Coordinator: Formal - Funded Staff Coordination
Community Assessment: Completed a windshield tour to assess the neighborhood and an assessment of health care organizations.
We have done a lot of research on food insecurity but also on coalition development. We learned what works and doesn't work and have been able to move faster with that knowledge and grounding. -Valerie Smith, MD FAAP, Leadership Team Member & Co-Chair Healthcare Workgroup - SCFSC
Action Teams
Our goal is to reduce food insecurity by strengthening programs for children in school and community settings.
Projects: Incorporating food insecurity screenings into school enrollment forms; Connecting children who participate in free and reduced school meal programs with community food resources; and piloting a nutrition education and food distribution program for food insecure Head Start children
Co-Chairs: Gloria Bell, Tyler ISD & Sarah Tison Malone, Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas
We aim to increase food insecurity screening and referral programs among healthcare providers in Smith County.
Projects: Healthcare training and technical assistance on the implementation of Hunger Vital Sign food insecurity screenings; Supporting expansion of the Partners in Health Program, providing nutrition education and healthy food to food insecure families.
Co-Chairs: Kinsey Jeffers, RD, MPH, East Texas Food Bank & Valerie Smith, MD, MPH-FAAP, St. Paul Children’s Services
Our goal is to increase access to healthy foods through community agriculture projects.
Projects: Developed a directory of local agriculture resources; Piloting a backyard gardening program for families; Connecting local farmers with food pantries through Ample Harvest.
Co-Chairs: Caleb White, Micro Family Farms & Jackie Erlandson, St. Paul Children’s Services
Faith-Based and Non-Profit Groups
We work with non-profits and faith-based organizations to reduce food insecurity by increasing food pantry capacity and connecting faith-based organizations and churches to food resources in our community.
Projects: Enrolling food pantries to 903help.org and ampleharvest.org; Connecting food pantry clients to SNAP, WIC, and Medicaid
Co-Chairs: Sabrina Salts, St. Paul Children’s Services; Herwanea Sirles
Community Awareness and Advocacy
We will increase the awareness of food insecurity within Smith County and promote advocacy opportunities to reduce food insecurity.
Projects: Provide useful resources and information online; Mapping current food resources; Expanding the ETFB Roadshow Pop-Up program; Developing a toolkit for local businesses and food pantries to better understand food insecurity
Chair: Tim Butler, East Texas Food Bank
Coalition Resources
Coalition Stories
Connect with the Smith County Food Security Council
Contact the Smith County Food Security Council
Sabrina Salts, Coalition Coordinator sabrina@stpaulchildren.org
Public Meeting Schedule
General coalition meetings have been delayed due to COVID-19, but they plan to resume coalition wide meetings this summer.
