Hmong American Center

Los Nrog Peb Noj aka Lets Eat

Project of Hmong American Center

PROJECT CONTACT

Andy Her

715.842.8390

andyher@hmongamericancenter.org

PaVous Moua

pavouamoua@hmongamericancenter.org

The Hmong American Center (HAC), a non-profit serving the Southeast Asian Community (SEAC), aimed to address food insecurity by partnering with local farmer's markets. Recognizing that traditional food banks lack culturally familiar items, HAC worked with farmers and Crazy Fresh to provide culturally appropriate produce, benefiting both the Hmong community and local farmers.

The program targeted 200-300 low-income families weekly, offering diverse produce such as lemongrass, ginger, and bamboo shoots. The initiative supported small Hmong family farm vendors, providing them a consistent income. Families, predominantly Hmong and Southeast Asian, with limited English proficiency and annual incomes under $20,000, underwent income verification for eligibility. The project incorporated photo release forms and storytelling to report success, with an annual gala showcasing impactful stories. Success metrics included distributing to 350 families, addressing challenges through weekly team meetings.

PROJECT UPDATE 1

Hmong American Center successfully oriented local farmers market vendors on the program’s processes, including start dates, invoicing, and delivery procedures. Once this was complete, 12 farmers supplied for the program through which the center has served approximately 200 families weekly since the beginning of the program. Key learnings include improved organizational and outreach skills. Challenges included distributing all the purchased food due to miscalculations of quantities families would be interested in receiving, with more Hmong families growing their own produce than realized. There were also difficulties coordinating deliveries for homebound individuals. Solutions involved reaching out to community members, food pantries, churches, and other organizations, with plans to post more flyers and connect with underserved communities. Major activities moving forward include further engagement with underserved populations and community housing.

PROJECT UPDATE 2

The Hmong American Center expanded its outreach by collaborating with other organizations for distribution and promoting its program through schools, targeting families in need. Key accomplishments included increased distribution efforts, although challenges arose due to weather-related farmer losses and scheduling conflicts. To address these issues, the Center sought additional farmers to fill gaps and established consistent scheduling with staff and producers. Moving forward, the Center plans to enhance its outreach efforts and network with more organizations to increase program visibility and support for participants.