Our Kitchen Table has again been chosen as a recipient of funds raised by the Access of West Michigan Walk for Good Food. OKT uses these funds to support the operations of the Southeast Area Farmers Market. Stay tuned to learn how you can support the 2023 Walk for Good Food by joining a walk team, donating to OKT’s team, or becoming an OKT corporate walk sponsor.
As food justice activists across the nation begin to look at root causes of hunger and under-nutrition, they are beginning to address the injustices in the food system that make food charity a necessity. Access of West Michigan has been on the leading edge of this movement, as is reflected in the name they’ve given their annual fund-raising walk, The Walk for Good Food.
Please support the Walk for Good Food! The Southeast Area Farmers’ Market is one of the recipients of Walk funds — and OKT manages the market! Open from the first Saturday in July to the second Saturday in November at Grand Rapids’ Martin Luther King Jr. Park, our market ‘s vendors are primarily women of color from Grand Rapids’ Southeast neighborhoods. Most of our sales are completed with food assistance dollars. Because the market takes part in the Double Up Food Bucks program, our patrons using SNAP benefits can purchase twice as much fresh, local produce. This means that our neighbors with income challenges can feed their households even more nutritious food –even though they live in neighborhoods that otherwise have very limited access to healthy foods.
When you support the walk you support the market. JOIN TEAM OKT or pledge your support through an online donation. OKT also seeks corporate donors to be our sponsors for the event. Download the corporate sponsor packet here.
On May 1 – May 11, you can walk in your neighborhood as part of Team OKT on the 45th Annual Walk for Good Food. Please join us as we work to transform our food system. By walking or donating, you will raise funds that directly support the Southeast Area Farmers Market and help create a Good Food System for everyone in our community.
May 1: In-Person Kick Off at Briggs ParkThis year’s event will include an optional in-person kick-off event at Briggs Park (324 Knapp St NE, 49505) from 2 to 4pm. The event will include t-shirt pick up, light refreshments, routes for walking, and children’s activities. Stay tuned as more details will be shared in the days to come.
May 1-11: Walk in your Neighborhood Over the past two years we’ve found that many loved engaging in the Walk by gathering in their own community or walking on their own. So, we have started a new tradition! When you join Team OKT, you not have to attend the in-person event to participate. SIGN UP TODAY! Visit the Walk website to learn more about the event or click below to get started.
#Walk4GoodFood
Click here to join or donate to Team OKT!
-Optional in-person kick-off event May 7 at Briggs Park.
-Walk in your neighborhood anytime between May 1 and 14.
The 2022 Access of West Michigan Walk for Good Food is an annual 5k walk in Grand Rapids. The goal of the Walk is to fund non-profit organizations that address issues of food access and poverty. Our Kitchen Table has been chosen as a recipient agency. Money OKT receives from the Walk will help fund the Southeast Area Farmers’ Market, a walkable neighborhood market in a Grand Rapids neighborhood with little access to healthy, fresh foods.
OKT’s work, and the work of the other recipient organizations aligns with the definition of Good Food, which is food that is:
The work of the recipient organizations ranges from community gardening and urban farming, nutrition programs, food pantries and meal programs, to food justice and community development initiatives. Our collaborative work has a vision of a thriving Good Food system for all people.
The Walk brings non-profit organizations, businesses, congregations, farms, and individuals together to bring awareness of the great work happening in our community to address food access and poverty. By walking together we unite in vision of a Good Food system for all and broaden our shared impact for social good. Over the last 43 years, the Walk has raised millions of dollars for dozens of local and international non-profit organizations.
What if everyone in our community could have equal access to food that nourishes, creates good jobs, is affordable, and treats the earth well as it is produced? What if non-profit organizations, businesses, congregations, farms, and individuals could come together to achieve this vision?
We believe it’s possible.
That’s why we walk.
Share the vision.
Walk with us.
The Access Walk for Good Food is an annual 5k walk in Grand Rapids. The goal of the Walk is to fund non-profit organizations that address issues of food access and poverty. Our Kitchen Table has been chosen as a recipient agency. Money OKT receives from the Walk will help fund the Southeast Area Farmers’ Market, a walkable neighborhood market in a Grand Rapids neighborhood with little access to healthy, fresh foods.
OKT’s work, and the work of the other 13 recipient organizations aligns with the definition of Good Food, which is food that is:
The work of the recipient organizations ranges from community gardening and urban farming, nutrition programs, food pantries and meal programs, to food justice and community development initiatives. Our collaborative work has a vision of a thriving Good Food system for all people.
The Walk brings non-profit organizations, businesses, congregations, farms, and individuals together to bring awareness of the great work happening in our community to address food access and poverty. By walking together we unite in vision of a Good Food system for all and broaden our shared impact for social good. Over the last 42 years, the Walk has raised over millions of dollars for dozens of local and international non-profit organizations.
What if everyone in our community could have equal access to food that nourishes, creates good jobs, is affordable, and treats the earth well as it is produced? What if non-profit organizations, businesses, congregations, farms, and individuals could come together to achieve this vision?
We believe it’s possible.
That’s why we walk.
Share the vision.
Walk with us.
Access of West Michigan has again chosen Our Kitchen Table as a recipient of funds raised by the Walk for Good Food. OKT will use these funds to support our Southeast Area Farmers’ Market during its 2022 market season. Stay tuned for information how to join or sponsor the OKT Walk Team!
Thank you Walkers and Supporters! You are the reason this event has once again been a success, raising funds to support the work of the OKT-managed Southeast Area FArmers Market and 13 other local organizations that are working to create a good food system for all. We are so grateful for your efforts.
It’s not too late to donate! Donations are collected through June 30th. Our fundraising page will remain live until then. Stay tuned as we tally final results and announce our top fundraising teams after we’ve collected all donations. If you have been collecting cash or check donations you can drop those off at our t-shirt curbside pick up locations next Tuesday, May 18 between 3-7pm (click here for locations). You’re also welcome to mail them to Access of West Michigan, 1700 28th Street SE, Grand Rapids MI 49508. Checks should be made payable to Access of West Michigan.
Did you get a yard sign?
Questions or need more info? Visit accessofwestmichigan.org/walk or contact Walk for Good Food Director Alaina Dobkowski: alaina@accessofwestmichigan.org or 616-747-0988.
Walk for Good Food T-Shirts & Masks
Did you raise $150? Come and get a free Access Walk for Good Food T-Shirt! We will have walk t-shirts and masks available for curbside pick up May 18, 3-7pm! To get a closer look or for pick locations and details, click here. T-Shirts are available in sizes Youth S-L, and Adult S-3XL. They will also be available for a $15 purchase. Masks are free. Items available on a first come first serve basis.
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| Thank you for all your efforts! |
#Walk4GoodFood
Please join us Sunday for Annual Access Walk for Good Food. This community-wide event brings together several hundred walkers to raise awareness and funds for local and international non-profit organizations working to create food secure communities — including the Southeast Area Farmers’ Market.
You can sign up today! It’s easy! Click here to sign up directly on the Access West Michigan website. Or, email media@OKTjustice.org and ask us to register you.
| For information, visitAccessofWestMichigan.org. |
#Walk4GoodFood
The 42nd Annual Access Walk for Good Food supports The Southeast Area Farmers’ Market as well as these local agencies which strive to bring healthier food to our income-challenged neighbors:
New City NeighborsPlease take a minute, click on the links, and learn about the work being done here in the Greater Grand Rapids Area. Then, sign up to walk or donate today! Look for Team: Our Kitchen Table!
Tomorrow is the Access of West Michigan Walk for Good Food!
It’s not too late to take part!
Our Kitchen Table 