The WORCESTER ADVISORY FOOD POLICY COUNCIL was established in February 2006 by former City of Worcester Mayor Timothy Murray. The Council’s mission is to reduce food insecurity and increase the overall health of Worcester residents. Council members include representatives from agricultural, anti-hunger, community development, educational, environmental, faith-based, governmental, and health organizations.

HUNGER-FREE & HEALTHY is a project of the Worcester Advisory Food Policy Council. Funding for the project is made possible through The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts. For more information on The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts, please visit, www.hfcm.org.

The first two years of Hunger-Free & Healthy focused on designing and piloting programs to increase household food security in Worcester such as healthy cooking classes, gardening skills, Food Stamp outreach, and increasing access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Hunger-Free & Healthy is now in its third year, the implementation phase, and in addition to continuing successful programs, focuses on implementing a strong public policy and advocacy agenda that supports systemic and sustainable solutions to the problems of food insecurity and poor health.