Today we’d like to introduce you to Helen Katich.
Helen, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born and raised in Denver surrounded by friends and family who were leaders in the larger Denver community. I grew up in heated dialogue with my father about politics and witnessed my mother build her small business that supports our senior citizens. While studying community organizing at the University of Colorado–Boulder, I became passionate and active in efforts concerning food access, witnessing first hand the environmental issue of food waste and a system that was leaving so many Coloradans food insecure. At that time, I worked with some of my best friends to co-found Boulder Food Rescue, an organization that works to build a less wasteful and more just food system. I continued deepening my learning about food systems, as a farmer for a season on a small organic farm in the North Fork Valley of Colorado, the director of Food Rescue Alliance, and now the CEO of Fresh Food Connect. My story was formed by working with my community to think creatively and strategically to build an equitable and participatory food system.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I have been incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to work on efforts that I find important, creative, and fun. My privilege provided me with a great education, a large social network, and financial stability that has allowed me to take risks and follow my passion in food systems within the nonprofit sector. Not every moment of my journey has been smooth, but I am committed to continue to use my privilege disrupt the obstacles that disproportionately impact our communities of color.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Fresh Food Connect story. Tell us more about the business.
Fresh Food Connect utilizes technology to solve two problems — excess garden produce, and food insecurity. The organization provides a platform to connect backyard gardeners with local hunger relief organizations, making donations both fun and easy.
Fresh Food Connect began as a project of Denver Urban Gardens, Groundwork Denver, and Denver Food Rescue, in Metro Denver. Since that time, the organization has grown to work with eight different communities around the state and is growing nationally to support the work of organizations throughout the country.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
We have had the luck of working with amazing folks around the state that work to address food insecurity in their own communities. Fresh Food Connect is lucky to work with dedicated, smart, and innovative leaders who want to promote the access of fresh, local foods to everyone while reducing our carbon footprint. Additionally, Fresh Food Connect has worked with incredible funders, including the Morgridge Family Foundation and the Rose Community Foundation that have provided us the opportunity to launch, prototype, and now, we are looking for the opportunity to grow.
Pricing:
- $200 annual licencing fee to start Fresh Food Connect in your community
Contact Info:
- Address: 3280 N. Downing Street, Unit E, Denver, Colorado 80205
- Website: freshfoodconnect.org
- Phone: 303-929-7380
- Email: helen@freshfoodconnect.org
Image Credit:
Michelle Christiance
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