…And just like that it’s Spring! Flowers are sprouting and the weather is turning! We are excited to share we are hiring a Finance Director and have a new addition to the team, Biscuit! See below to find out what else we’ve been up to this month.

We’re Hiring: Finance Director

Empower communities through health, food, and environmental equity with the Marion Institute. We seek a Finance Director to lead our nonprofit’s financial strategy, ensuring alignment with our mission. Join us in driving systemic solutions for a healthier future.

Please share this open position to your network!

See full job description here.

Welcome: Biscuit Smith

Meet the newest addition to the MI Team, Biscuit Smith. She first found herself interviewing for the open Finance Director position however after her first round of interviews she seemed unfazed and felt like she would be a better fit as our Chief Morale Officer. While her number-crunching skills were questionable at best, her ability to boost team spirits made her the perfect fit.

Welcome to the team, Biscuit!

On Wednesday, March 12th, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), which oversees supplemental food programs, announced it was cutting about $1 billion in funding that enables schools and food banks to buy directly from local farms and ranches. Today we are learning the administration has halted millions of dollars worth of deliveries to food banks across the country. These collective cuts are hurting our local farmers and producers, as well as children and food insecure families. Here is what we are doing and how you can get involved.

HIP Lobby Day

On March 13th, eleven Southcoast Food Policy Council Community Advisory Board members advocated for The Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) funding at the Statehouse, meeting with 17 legislators. The Healthy Incentive Program provides an additional $20 monthly to SNAP-eligible households to buy fresh vegetables and fruit from local farmers. We’re advocating for three specific items:

1. Add $5 Million to the FY25 Supplemental Budget to fund HIP to its original level of $40 to $80 monthly, depending on the household size.
2. Fully fund HIP at $25 Million for the FY26 Budget, and
3. Co-sponsor The Healthy Incentive Program to make it a permanent program for our neighbors. Take Action to support HIP and other Southcoast Food Policy Council priorities.

Legislative Breakfast: Focusing On Senior Issues

On March 14th, the SFPC collaborated on a Legislative Breakfast: United for Aging Well. This event engaged 20 legislators and staffers and 185 community members to support The Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) and additional bills aimed at supporting seniors from Plymouth, Bristol, and Cape Cod & the Islands. Congressman Keating provided the opening keynote and the Marion Institute’s Executive Director, Liz Wiley, spoke about the current food access crisis. Two of our SFPC Food Equity Advisors – individuals with lived experience of food insecurity – shared their stories about why HIP is important to them and requested legislators to vote favorably to make HIP a fully funded, permanent program in Massachusetts.

Join Us at Frogfoot Farm: Volunteer to Make a Difference!

We’re excited to kick off another season of volunteer efforts at Frogfoot Farm, and we need your help! Our farm plays a critical role in supporting local food systems by growing fresh, nutrient-rich produce for food relief programs. With an uncertain future and potential funding cutbacks ahead, our work—especially gleaning—is more important than ever.

BioMed has Expanded its Programs!

We have broken our courses down into 3 comprehensive categories:

In Person Presentation at the Marion Music Hall

Looking Ahead

Our Grow educators are keeping the learning exciting—diving into soil, seeds/seed saving, and mindful taste tests while gearing up for time in the gardens!

As the soil wakes up, we’ll turn in the cover crops and nutrients, aiming to plant our first kale and lettuce right after spring break!

Featured in this photo a student helped water seeds in preparation for transplanting them to the hydroponic system. He was very proud to help and enthusiastically encouraged the seeds to “grow strong” as he watered them with the spray bottle.

Greenhouse Initiative Highlight:

The 3 Brothers Quest: Exploring Humanity’s Mysteries

For over 30 years, they have been seeking answers to three fundamental questions:

1. Who are we?
2. Where do we come from?
3. Where are we going?

Drawing from Western, Eastern, Indigenous, and Quantum perspectives, they challenge mainstream narratives, exploring human origins, lost knowledge, and the forces shaping our reality. While some mysteries remain, their mission is to piece together a clearer vision of our past, present, and future—inviting others to join the journey.

Learn more about The 3 Brothers Quest here.