Mobilized initiatives bring resources to Southeast Ohio
A growing number of mobile initiatives are closing the gaps in Southeast Ohio. A colorful art bus, a veggie-filled van and a college-run rescue kitchen are finding a way forward. These on-the-go projects share a common goal: to meet people where they are.
Crafty Art Bus Brings Creativity to Appalachian Kids
Wheels meet gravel with a satisfying, crisp crunch. A once-yellow school bus painted electric blue comes to a stop. On its side, three rabbits dance in a row, one painting, one strumming guitar and a third with its nose in a book. The Crafty Art Bus reflects founder Daisy Carlson’s love for creative expression.
“I manifested this dream for so long,” Carlson says. “I hit 33 and I went through a midlife crisis and I was like, I got to figure out what my imprint is on the world. I started thinking about it and [realized] I should really make my bus dream come alive.”
The Crafty Art Bus brings art, music and literature to children who otherwise wouldn’t have access to them. The mobile art and music studio, located inside a renovated children’s school bus, meets at various parks, libraries and public venues across the region.
The first half of the bus is an art studio equipped with various crafting materials according to the project of the day—paint, markers, beads, glitter and more. The back half features a library of donated books and instruments. Most popular with kids is the slide that swoops out the back door.
All levels of artistry are welcome in the Crafty Art Bus. Carlson believes there is no right or wrong way to express oneself creatively.
“In my bus, I never say no,” Carlson says. “It’s all beautiful. The mission is that we’re all unique in our way and embracing that. I love watching them [the kids] create, I love watching them design things and just feeling so proud of it.”
Carlson saw a need for an organization that prioritized children’s developmental needs in a positive, engaging way. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Carlson moved to Athens to attend Ohio University, where she graduated with a degree in family studies. Now 35, she has dedicated her life to enriching the lives of children in Appalachia.
“Transportation is our hardest problem,” Carlson says. “In Appalachia, we have these rural pockets of people who are stuck, and we need to figure out how to get the resources to them.”
The Crafty Art Bus curates an enriching environment for children to build self-esteem and emotional wellness through art exploration. Instilled in their mission statement, Crafty is curating a space for healthy self-expression.
“I want kids to start using music and art as therapy,” Carlson says. “Realizing that that is a cool, safe spot to just be yourself, we all need that.”
Veggie Van Provides Fresh Food on the Move
When Ivan Orquera moved from Anaheim, California, to Athens, he noticed all the green. Soon after, he met local farmers and discovered his interest in local food.
“I’m on East State Street, and I see a bunch of vendors outside with their canopies,” Orquera says.
“I had heard about the farmers market, so I go and check it out. That was really the start of my interest in local food.”
Orquera became the Food Coordinator for The Veggie Van, a mobile farm market stand that carries locally produced resources to rural communities in Southeast Ohio throughout each growing season. The van makes stops in Nelsonville, Coolville and Glouster to bring resources into communities with limited access to fresh produce.
Affordability, sustainability and accessibility are at the heart of Veggie Van, with an emphasis on keeping it local. As a nonprofit organization, the van is sponsored by Community Food Initiatives (CFI), a membership-based social benefit organization. CFI combats food insecurity and health disparities and works to improve overall health in the region.
“We’re not for-profit,” Orquera says. “So, we’re not thinking about profit; we’re thinking about what people are used to paying at the grocery stores. We try to be affordable. So, when I’m bidding on produce at the auction, I try to make sure that I can price it at an affordable cost.”
The Veggie Van works to connect families and individuals with the farmers and producers who grow the food they consume. Food education is important to the van’s mission.
“My favorite thing to do is engage with people in those communities,” Orquera says. “We try to instill the value of local produce, and then it’s not just about the produce. It’s about talking to people, asking them questions and getting to know them.”
740 Rescue Kitchen Serves Sustainability
Two years ago, Hocking College Executive Vice President Jarrod Tudor received a phone call that would set a new idea in motion. On the line was Kara Brooke, executive director of the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, sitting with Robin Burrow, the mother of hometown hero Athens High School alumnus and Cincinnati Bengals Quarterback Joe Burrow.
Together with the Joe Burrow Foundation, Brooke asked Tudor to start a rescue kitchen in Southeast Ohio. From that conversation, the 740 Rescue Kitchen was born, an initiative to fight hunger and reduce waste.
With support from Hocking College’s culinary program and funding from the Joe Burrow Foundation, the 740 Rescue Kitchen has since grown into a network that provides nutritious meals and resources to 10 counties with 14 and counting distribution sites, including schools, churches, community centers and food pantries.
Volunteers or partners collect or donate surplus food from grocery stores, restaurants and farms. Then, volunteers and chefs prepare the ingredients into healthy, cooked meals. Once prepared and packaged, the distribution process begins, delivering meals directly to individuals, families and shelters.
“We’re really solving two problems,” Tudor says. “The biggest problem, by far, is taking care of families in need and who are hungry. But also, reducing the amount of food waste. You think about a lot of food that would otherwise go into a landfill, we’re taking that food, repurposing it, reworking it, cooking it, putting it into individual meals.”
When Tudor approached Hocking College President Betty Young with the idea, she welcomed the collaboration.
“Being able to be a part of this is a great extension of what we do with our academic program,” Young says. “With some of the funding challenges that have come into existence for some of these programs over the past year, this is meeting even a bigger need than we would have had even a couple of years ago.”
By rescuing food that would otherwise be discarded, the program keeps landfills empty and stomachs full, while helping children and families thrive.
“If you’re hungry, you’re not going to learn,” Tudor says. “In terms of getting these kids into a situation where they can learn, finish high school successfully, go on to college, complete a degree or technical program or certificate, that’s social mobility in practice. But if you don’t have the absolute basics, you’re not going to be able to do stuff on the high end.”
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