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Ashland Food Angels is a grassroots, fully volunteer cooperative
venture which helps other organizations serving low income
people in the Rogue Valley, primarily through the daily collection
and redistribution of food retrieved from markets, bakeries
and local organic farmers. The compound goals of providing
food for those in need, offering an opportunity for self-help,
self-reliance and community service, and keeping usable items
out of the landfill have been met daily since 1996. In addition
to our food deliveries, we have also gathered and donated
warm clothing, blankets, kitchen utensils and personal care
items.
An additional aspect of our work involves several classes
at Ashland High School, to whom we donate food weekly. Each
year, the classes are visited by Pamala Joy, who speaks to
them about community service, alternative life styles choices,
and aspects of well-being, including healthy eating patterns.
The Ashland Food Angels has been highly successful and effective,
helping many individuals and families over the years, and
keeping a great deal out of landfills and into the hands of
people who can use the food and other retrieved items. The
Food Angels have expanded from helping one group to serving
several different groups regularly, as well as many other
groups and individuals through one time or occasional donations.
The ripple effect of this project has contributed significantly
to the lives of many in this area and is now so firmly in
place that it will continue for many years to come. We are
different from food banks in that we gather food for organizations
to give away, and we predominately focus on fruits and vegetables.
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