Impact

Protein is often the most expensive portion of an emergency food box.  The MPFS Protein burger has been tested and provides a suitable, inexpensive protein option, and is easy enough for a child to prepare.  Proposed Outcomes: 1) Produce 1 million burgers annually; 2) Distribute them to 35,000 low-income individuals monthly in Marion and Polk counties; and, 3) Provide skills/education to at least 20 incarcerated youth annually.  This grant was a start-up grant.  The original intention was to work with Oregon Youth Authority to provide an educational/vocational program at Hillcrest Youth Correctional Facility that allows youth to gain job skills and hope for their futures, while increasing the supply of affordable protein for emergency food distribution.  Although in the end Oregon Youth Authority was not involved, the program opened the vocational training for young people who are looking to secure jobs in the food services industry.  The Better Burger has been successful in more ways than they could ever have imagined at the outset of the project.  Marion-Polk Food Share has expanded their partner horizons, is distributing the burger widely and holds out the vision of involving incarcerated youth when feasible in the future.