Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1524818
36 August 2024 Inhalation Providing education; Offering internet resources When pantry partners request allergen-friendly products, SSF also delivers accessible educational materials such as posters, fly- ers and QR codes, in both Span- ish and English. In addition, they offer pantry staff training about allergies to further assist them in supporting visitors. Moreover, SSP offers a food noti- fication system that enables pan- try users with technology access to leave feedback and receive alerts when allergen-friendly foods arrive in their local pantries. ese text and email notifications can help visitors make more produc- tive trips to their pantry and limit transportation costs. SSF and FARE's Teen Advisory Group (TAG) FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) is a United States- based "charitable organization with the mission to improve the quality of life and health of those with food allergies through trans- formative research, education, and advocacy." It has multiple initia- tives, including the Teen Advocacy Group (TAG), which founded Securing Safe Food in 2020. As the FARE website explains, "FARE's Teen Advisory Group (TAG) is [FARE's] voice for the teen and young adult food allergy community." Its members, ages 11 to 22 years old, from around the US, want to make a differ- ence for people managing aller- gies. ey help lead FARE's youth programs, write content for FARE, serve as mentors for other teens with allergies and represent FARE at national events. Appli- cations for the 2025 TAG team will open in December 2024. For more information: https:// www.foodallergy.org/resources/ teen-advisory-group. of their donations and decreasing food waste. SSF acts as the intermediary, man- aging communications and the food delivery process, start to fin- ish. As the Hunter College article explained, if a pantry has limited supplies of particular allergen- friendly foods, they notify SSF about their product and quan- tity preferences. When a partner food manufacturer is due to make a monthly or quarterly donation, SSF will pair it with a suitable pan- try, prioritizing information about the pantry's request and general dietary needs. Foods are delivered directly from manufacturers to food pantry sites. With SSF work- ing as a facilitator, the donation process places minimal burden on pantry staffs, helping them focus on safely feeding their users. Culturally responsive foods; Maintaining original packaging SSF supplies pantries with allergen- friendly staples such as non-dairy alternatives, sunflower seed butter, baking mixes, gluten- free grains and snacks, while focusing on foods that have low environmental impact. In addition, they recognize higher rates of food allergies among Asian, Hispanic and Black communities and the importance of having cul- turally responsive, allergen- friendly options such as cassava and masa flours, rice noodles, millet and beans. erefore, SSF continually assesses and adapts the foods they provide. ey also acknowledge that a cultural staple like legumes may be safe for one person but trigger a severe reaction in another. SSF also emphasizes the foods it provides be kept in their origi- nal packaging to prevent cross- contact with allergens in other foods and to support allergen- avoidant visitors in understand- ing ingredient statements. prioritizes those with concentra- tions of allergen-avoidant users or those located near its medical clinic partners. SSF expects those pantries to "translate their expe- riences with SSF into long-term, allergen-friendly practices beyond supplemental foods." SSF strives to disperse resources for maximum impact and believes every food pantry and its commu- nity are unique. erefore, as a partnership begins, SSL offers sur- veys and tracking tools to pantry managers and collects data on vis- itors' food allergies, related special diets and allergens to be avoided, as well as demographic data such as age, ethnicity and language. Obtaining donations from food manufacturers SSF relies on allergen-friendly and gluten-free food manufacturers to supply food pantries with reg- ular shipments of safe food and has worked with more than 100 manufacturers to date. As the SSF website mentions, "Even one or two donated boxes of product can make a difference for visitors with dietary needs." e brands are either certi- fied gluten- free or have a facil- ity free from at least one of the top nine allergens, as recognized by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). SSF vets manufacturers to ensure that donations can be considered allergen-friendly and useful for the diverse communities it serves. However, they do not limit them- selves to one allergen profile. An example on their website explains, "Soy-based milk or almond flour are allergenic for some individu- als but life- changing food staples for others." Brands that donate on a cyclic basis are eligible for the SSF Partner Pro- gram and its benefits. Currently, 19 manufacturers are participating and receiving increased network- ing, social media, SSF website features and interview opportuni- ties, while seeing tangible impacts