BY GRACELYN GIESE
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
GREEN BAY – Wello, a Green Bay based non-profit organization, has been awarded $180,000 in grant funding by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP).
Funding from this grant will go towards the Cultivating Community program which tackles food insecurity in Brown County.
Beginning in 2010, Wello has been community-led and dedicated to “building physical, mental, social and environmental well-being,” shared Beth Heller, director of strategic partnerships.
After years of working with Brown County communities and school districts, the nonprofit began the Cultivating Community program in 2020.
“Cultivating Community has been a flexible, relationship-based healthy food access initiative that supplements current centralized food insecurity efforts with a nimble network of relationships that moves fresh food that is produced in our region to food insecure BIPOC individuals through trusted community channels,” Heller noted.
By purchasing from local farmers Wello is able to prioritize the quality of food and strengthen the local economy.
Funds from the DATCP grant will support the Cultivating Community program through the purchase of local and culturally-specific foods as well as to “support program operations and to compensate our resource center partners for the time and logistical support they provide for these distribution efforts,” said Heller.
The Cultivating Community program is partnered within trusted community channels, including Casa ALBA Melanie, COMSA, We All Rise and Vivent Health, with more partners to come.
To learn more about Wello or find a local Cultivating Community partner visit wello.org.