Program areas at Food Strong
Care-A-Van is a food-focused program that provides a variety of resources to those in need while fostering excitement over fresh, local foods. Care-A-Van provides nutrition education, arts and crafts, books, music, health screenings, food demonstrations, community resources, and much more at the events we partner with. We bring our Care-A-Van events to a variety of community settings such as farmers markets, community potlucks, arts festivals, and school events.
Learing Gardens In 2016, Food Strong Founder Sara Continenza began to work closely with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District to build a School Garden toolkit and curriculum based on Ohios Learning Standards. Food Strong has since guided students at 2 CMSD schools through the design, planting, maintenance and harvest of onsite fresh food and flower gardens. A large emphasis is placed on STEM learning, entrepreneurship, environmentalism, art and community development. We have also partnered with local artists to guide our students through the design and creation of food focused murals to spread awareness while beautifying our communities. The mural project was funded by Cuyahoga Arts and Culture. Food Strong also operates a Learning Garden at the urban farm at the Coit Road Farmers Market which serves as an onsite location where various educational programs can be hosted.
Care Strong Project events focus on offering free health screenings, education, and information to those who are less fortunate. Screenings are made possible by our partners: University Hospitals Department of Family Medicine and the Case Western Reserve University Physician Assistant Program. Every person screened received coupons to spend on fresh produce at the nearby Coit Road Farmers Market.Throughout the year, we are making monthly visits to the Salvation Army in East Cleveland to provide them with these resources, as well as the Zelma George Shelter Downtown (not open to public). Additionally, these free health screenings are offered during Care-A-Van events once a month May-October.