Indian Cultural Association of Howard County Inc

We are working to set up a FOOD RESCUE & SALVAGE FACILITY IN HOWARD COUNTY. Currently, there is no such facility in the County. 

40% of food produced by farmers, processed by restaurants (leftover), or not sold by distributors, collectively is wasted due to lack of storage or a means to utilize. We propose an “innovative” solution to 2 major problems: FOOD WASTE & HUNGER.

ICA’s “innovation” is a common-sense solution to a not so uncommon problem. Salvage and Recovery seek to reduce waste.

An estimated 40% of perishable food is wasted.  ICA’s proposal of establishing a salvage and food rescue in Howard County will achieve the following:

(1) reduce waste of food produced by farmers, restaurants, grocery stores, and other suppliers, (2) salvage and distribute the recovered food to needy families, (3) Increase the food supply by recovery and salvage of food which would be otherwise be wasted. (4) Keep the food supply chain healthy. With the goal of increasing the nutritional value of meals delivered to the marginalized.    

Although not a new idea, it is innovating and is desperately needed during Covid-19 and will serve Howard county well after COVID.

The Indian Cultural Association (ICA) was formed in 2018 to celebrate Indian culture, preserve it for the next generation, and to bring our diverse communities together around its vibrancy, dance, music, food, and customs. In 2019, our events were attended by over 30,000 people. Our 2019 Highlights Newsletter can be viewed here. https://cb63b156-888a-4168-9ee...

Public service is an underlying tenet of Indian culture and comprised a strong component of ICA activity from its inception.  Due to ICA’s strong focus on service to our community, ICA quickly became the largest Indian cultural organization in the DEL-MAR-VA region.  

In response to the pandemic, ICA has focused on alleviating hunger and has distributed over 1,700,000 pounds of food thus far (and counting) to struggling families in our community. 

An article in Patch highlighting ICA's work during the pandemic.

https://patch.com/maryland/ell...

ICA was a semi-finalist for the MD Governor's service award and is a nominee for the prestigious Casey & Pebble Willis Making a Difference Award.

https://www.facebook.com/CFHoC...

Our goal is to see all people having access to healthy and nutritious food. The need is great and far exceeds the resources available. Thank you for considering our application.

At the core of ICA’s mission is service (1) to examine the need in our community and (2) to address these by whatever means possible. Both our cultural and social service events help the ICA advance its goal of improved cultural understanding and social equity. 

We have helped tens of thousands of people in Howard County consistently. People are hungry in Howard County and we have the means to affect the lives of tens of thousands of people.  We are committed to helping our neighbors.

ICA and its volunteer corps of 350+ have distributed more than 1.7 million pounds of food to struggling families (100,000+) in our communities since March 2020. Here's a video of our efforts.  

The pandemic has exposed fissures in our society, the disparities between the haves and have-nots. About 40% of the families can’t make ends meet, despite their best efforts. Our goal is to alleviate food insecurity among our most vulnerable and marginalized communities, often communities of color - Black, Hispanic, and people of color.  Food rescue/recovery and distribution to families in need will provide them with healthy, nutritious foods, alternatives. All communities currently struggling with hunger will benefit from ICA’s salvage initiative.

Through ICA’s salvage program Feed Hoco, we will tackle barriers to food security, impediments such as food deserts, transportation, physical and other limitations.  40% of people visiting the Howard County Food Bank in May 2020 had never sought food assistance before.  

Tens of thousands of people go hungry in our County. We have the resources; we need simply to redeploy them. By alleviating hunger and improving nutrition, we argue that there would be a net long-term financial gain from the savings, not to mention the increased productivity of an increasingly happy & healthy population. 

It is imperative that we invest in the local food system now to keep farms and food businesses viable and to provide food access to the most vulnerable in our communities so that food production and supplies remain stable, waste is minimized and all people have access to food in their communities. Feed Hoco will be the local food hub that forms a supply chain that will get nutrient-dense food to those who need it, whether at a community pick-up site or at home. 

ICA PLANS TO SET UP THE FIRST FOOD RESCUE AND SALVAGE OPERATION IN HOWARD COUNTY. Help us feed our neighbors. 

We have outpaced the County's hunger alleviation efforts on a shoestring budget. We have been out there in the snow, rain, blistering heat, and the bitter cold, to help our neighbors and fellow Howard County residents. Our food distributions are open to all.

When we started, it was just a few people unloading a tractor-trailer full of USDA food boxes. We now have a pool of 350+ volunteers and growing. ICA has given a purpose to so many who want to help their fellow beings. We have volunteers of all ages who love to come and make a difference in the lives of so many.  

Investing in ICA’s food rescue and salvage operation is a smart solution. Access to nutritious, safe, affordable & sustainable food is a basic human right.