One of the most beautiful things about humanity is our ability to navigate difficult situations. Wherever there is tragedy, there is hope. Volunteers spring up out of nowhere, building a network of good, doing whatever they can to bring goodness back into the world. It may be difficult to see sometimes, especially as the negativity often tries to outweigh the positive. But as our treasured Mr. Rogers once said, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”
In the face of instability and raging global pandemic, City of Good was born. Executive Director, Britt Udesen tells the tale, “As we headed into the early stages of the pandemic and the shutdown loomed, local restaurant owners Dave Krick and Kris Komori faced the tough decision of having to lay off hundreds of workers. They quickly mobilized other community leaders to create City of Good with the idea that they could keep restaurant workers employed, pay local farmers for their products, and provide fresh, nutritious food to neighbors experiencing food insecurity.”
She continues, “Within a few weeks, we were delivering ready to eat meals to kids at Boise Community Schools and working with seven beloved Boise restaurants. It was a true grassroots effort that has led to a thriving organization with deep community partnerships.”
City of Good is a nonprofit operating in the City of Trees whose sole mission is to help build a sustainable food system. They do this in a number of ways, from supporting local farmers to meal delivery and more.
“Since our founding, we have delivered more than 108,000 meals and 64,000 pounds of fresh, local produce to neighbors. The numbers are big and continue to grow,” Udesen shares with pride. They rely on a small but mighty staff and are largely supported by an essential team of volunteers. “Each person brings a passion for sustainable food systems, a deep commitment to partnerships, a whole lot of ingenuity, and a willingness to learn along the way. Programs change constantly, as community needs and preferences change, so we're a nimble bunch!”
“Also, spreadsheets, caffeine, and humor,” she adds.
With a healthy hunger for positive change, City of Good continues to grow. The organization is now partnering with the Idaho Botanical Garden and the Boise Farmers Market to create a Food Hub. The Hub will be located within the Botanical Garden and “will provide a permanent home for the Farmers Market, a streamlined process for receiving and distributing local produce, and a shared space for deeper collaboration.”
Being a part of a vital organization that does so much good for so many people, the tales of success and gratitude abound, which is something we all need to hear. “There are a million wonderful stories but one of my favorites comes from a community school pantry,” Udesen says. “We know that food is about more than just nutrition. It's about connection, belonging, security, and joy. A school administrator at Whitney Elementary School told us; “After school today a family from Iraq came in and became teary eyed when she saw some of the foods we had to offer. Her first-grade daughter’s eyes lit up with excitement recognizing food from her country.’”
Another thing that sets City of Good apart from other food security organizations is that they pay every farmer and producer. “We're working to build a resilient, sustainable food system that serves every Boise resident.”
And we’re grateful to hear such wonderful stories of success, adaptation, and the pure, unadulterated goodness of humanity.
Since our founding we have delivered more than 108,000 meals and 64,000 pounds of fresh, local produce to neighbors.