The HOPE

Project

Home of Pantry Education

Join us in breaking the cycle of food insecurity with food education

What Is The HOPE Project?

The HOPE Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing food education to communities that struggle with food insecurity and access. Everyone deserves the knowledge to provide themselves and their families with nutritious food to eat.

Food Education can be incorporated in various ways. There is opportunity in all settings, schools, cooking classes, gardening classes, community events, workshops, and educational resources. Both virtual and in-person. When every person has the opportunity for food security, we bring hope back into the kitchen.

The Prevalence of Food Insecurity is Increasing

One in 8 households (12.8 percent) experienced food insecurity, or lack of access to an affordable, nutritious diet. An estimated 44.2 million Americans lived in these households.

One in 20 (5.1 percent) households in the U.S. experienced very low food security, a more severe form of food insecurity, where households report regularly skipping meals or reducing intake because they could not afford more food.

Over 1 in 6 households with children (17.3 percent) experienced food insecurity, an increase of 40 percent compared to 2021.*

Nearly three-quarters, or 72%, of middle-income families say their earnings are falling behind the cost of living.*

The HOPE Project Goals

Food Education

Change Lives

Food Security

Food Education can be incorporated in various ways. There is opportunity in all settings. Schools, cooking classes, community events, workshops, and educational resources. Both virtual and in-person.

Basic cooking skills: Food preparation skills allow individuals to cook from scratch, using fresh ingredients that are often less expensive than prepared foods.
Food waste reduction: 61% of global food waste comes from households. Food education teaches the essentials of waste reduction and the practices associated with storing food properly, planning meals, batch cooking, shelf life, and more.
Making nutritious food choices: Learning how to acquire and keep nutritious food to make a variety of meals will encourage the opportunity for better choices in the household. Therefore reducing the risks of food-related health problems.

Sponsors

In the spring of 2023, The HOPE Project partnered with The Bonney Lake Market in Buckley, Washington to bring members a 12-week virtual food education course. This project included communication by email, 12 weekly lessons including videos, recipes, print-outs, and a private facebook community just for members. This project created the opportunity for over 100 participants to learn about food storage, pantry essentials, batch cooking, and so much more!
A special thank you to the sponsors that helped us make it happen.

Donate Today

Amy Cross standing in her kitchen holding a mason jar filled with strawberries.

Amy is an urban homesteader and grocery expert who teaches families how to care for their produce and reduce food waste. As the Founder and CEO of The Cross Legacy and The HOPE Project, she has made it her mission to utilize social media to share her tips and tricks. She has knowledge that has been passed down for generations after growing up on a 200-acre farm. Her viral Strawberries in a Jar hack has been shared over 18 million times and she has been in publications around the world. She has over 115k followers on Instagram and is also on YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest, and Facebook. Amy is TED Talk Speaker, you can view her talk, How Strawberries Changed my Life.

One of the biggest ways that Amy helps families and communities save money on groceries is by eating what they buy. The average American household throws away 30 to 40% of the food they purchase. Amy wrote a bestselling eBook, I Bought It, Now What? which includes her directions for how to wash and store 50 of the most popular fruits and vegetables. Her fruits and vegetables last at least three weeks by following these tips. She also offers an individual virtual course, The Grocery Solution. In this course, Amy teaches others how to stick to a $135/person/month grocery budget that her family follows. You can make it a reality for your family too!

“FRAC’S HUNGER & POVERTY IN AMERICA PAGE: Hunger Quick Facts of 2022”. 2023 Food Research & Action Center https://frac.org/hunger-poverty-america#data

“Amid Inflation, More Middle-Class Americans Struggle to Make Ends Meet”: Jessica Dickler January 18, 2023. https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/18/amid-inflation-more-middle-class-americans-struggle-to-make-ends-meet.html#:~:text=Nearly%20three%2Dquarters%2C%20or%2072,incomes%20between%20%2430%2C000%20and%20%24100%2C000