Community-led food resilience: integrating grassroots food access into municipal emergency planning

Patne, C. E.; Murphy, H.; Patne, E.

Partnering with grassroots organizations creates the link between institutions and communities, vital to addressing inequities and building long term resilience. Food insecurity does not begin or end with the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the many grassroots organizations working to address COVID-19 related food insecurity in Baltimore is Mera Kitchen Collective. Prior to COVID-19, Mera Kitchen Collective primarily hosted pop-up events and provided catering services. By utilizing their culinary background and talents, they support refugee and immigrant women through business development and food-based storytelling. Through identifying key aspects of Mera Kitchen Collective's post-pandemic actions, the benefits that grassroots organizations bring to emergency responses become apparent. As the likelihood of future pandemics and other kinds of disturbances increases, it is imperative to understand the characteristics that allowed these organizations to quickly address the gaps in equitable food access and long-term food system resilience.