SOFSA Blog
Evaluating SOFSA
During the 2022-2023 academic year, SOFSA's Evaluation Intern, Ellen Pitstick, developed a plan to evaluate SOFSA and its impact. Evaluating a food council like SOFSA is important because it allows members and leaders to understand how the network operates, how it is...
In the news: ‘JUST SURVIVING’: The end of pandemic SNAP benefits has pushed Syracuse toward a hunger crisis
A recent article in The Daily Orange chronicled the impact of the end of a pandemic-era boost to SNAP assistance. The enhanced benefit ended in March, leaving consumers with less to spend on food each month and leading to even longer lines at area food pantries....
SOFSA Site Visit Recap: OCRRA Amboy Compost Site
On Wednesday, May 10th, SOFSA celebrated International Compost Awareness Week by hosting a tour at Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency (OCCRA), a large-scale compost facility in North Syracuse. A total of 26 attendees signed up for the event to learn about the...
In the news: “State Budget Helps Expand Double Up Food Bucks NY – Funding helps combat food insecurity and supports New York farmers“
SOFSA was featured alongside our partners at Field & Fork Network for advocacy to support Double Up Food Bucks NY, which supports people using SNAP to purchase more local fresh fruits and vegetables through a dollar-for-dollar match, up to $20 a day. With...
On the Horizon: Syracuse-Onondaga Food Justice Fund
Beginning in fall 2023, SOFSA and our partners will begin a community-driven participatory grantmaking process to support small-scale food justice projects across the city of Syracuse, Onondaga County, and Onondaga Nation. What is Participatory Grantmaking?...
In the news: “Farming for good: Tips for signing up for a CSA program”
A recent news article touted the opportunity for consumers to join a CSA (or Community-Supported Agriculture) program this season. According to the USDA, a CSA consists of a community of individuals who pledge support to a farm operation so that the farmland becomes...
Meet Camryn Corbett
Please welcome Camryn Corbett (she/her/hers), our new Special Projects Intern! Camryn has been with the organization since the beginning of February. A Syracuse-area native, Camryn hails from Camillus and is an undergraduate senior at Syracuse University, studying...
In the news: “Syracuse’s refreshed zoning ordinance draws praise, criticism as it heads to final approvals”
SOFSA Director Maura Ackerman was recently featured on WAER 88.3 in their coverage of the ReZone Syracuse hearing that took place on Tuesday, March 28th 2023. SOFSA community liason Rhonda Vesey and Food Access Healthy Neighborhoods Now! (FAHNN) Chairperson also spoke...
Meet Alexander Warshal
It is our delight to introduce Alexander Warshal (he/him/his), SOFSA’s new Food Systems Project Coordinator! As Food Systems Project Coordinator, Alexander will focus on topics such as food rescue, farm-to-institution, farmer engagement, and urban agriculture. He is...
In the news: “Winter market helps address food desert in Syracuse’s Southside”
The Valley Plaza Winter Market was recently featured in the news as a project that is currently addressing food access issues in the Southside of Syracuse. SOFSA partners Brady Farm and Food Access Healthy Neighborhoods Now! (FAHNN) have been instrumental in the...