Council opens nominations for Youth Food Champion Awards

This winter, the Good Food Council of Lewiston-Auburn plans to host the third annual Youth Food Champion Awards.

Up to five outstanding youth (individuals and/or groups) will be recognized for taking action to build a healthy local food system, from farm to fork.

Those eligible to win include individuals and groups ages 11-25 living in Androscoggin County, which includes Auburn, Durham, Greene, Leeds, Lewiston, Lisbon, Livermore, Livermore Falls, Mechanic Falls, Minot, Poland, Sabattus, Turner and Wales, according to a news release from the council.

The public is invited to submit nominations to support the identification of youth winners at goodfood4LA.org/awards.

Individuals or youth groups who have demonstrated one or more actions to help address or bring awareness to “local food issues,” such as hunger, sustainable agriculture, food waste, farmland accesses and food policy, are encouraged to nominate themselves, or be nominated. Examples of actions of prospective winners could include:

• Organized a fundraiser for, and/or volunteered their time at a local food pantry, soup kitchen, food bank, community garden, school garden, etc.;
• Spread greater awareness of the root causes of hunger through a research project and/or public presentation;
• Inspired their family to shop weekly at a local farmers’ market (perhaps by utilizing Maine Harvest Bucks) or purchase a CSA share from a local farm;
• Advocated successfully at their home, school, or community group to start composting food waste;
• Was vocal to their school committee or school board in favor of culturally appropriate food options for all students;
• Fundraised, or was vocal about the importance of protection of land for food production; and
• Supported greater awareness of the value of community food infrastructure (such as community food centers, community kitchens, etc.)

Additional information about award categories, as well as profiles of the past youth winners, are also found on the GFCLA website.

In addition to a framed award, up to five winners will each receive a $100 Buoy Local Card, a $50 Gift Card to OTTO Pizza Auburn, two movie passes to Flagship Cinemas, and their efforts highlighted on the GFCLA website and through local media. Local businesses interested in donating family friendly gifts to the prize package to uplift outstanding local youth are invited to email goodfood4LA@gmail.com or call 207-464-4800.

Awards will be presented at a to-be-announced, family friendly free public event in early 2024. The presenting sponsors of the 2023 awards are Bangor Savings Bank, St. Mary’s Nutrition Center, and Double Z Land & Livestock.

Food Champion Awards are given annually by the council to highlight efforts to create a more vibrant and sustainable local food system from farm to fork. Those honored with awards lead by example in one, or more, of the five principles of the LA Community Food Charter. In the past, awards have been given to entities; this is the third year that all awardees will be youth.

The deadline to receive nominations is 11:59 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8. More information can be found at goodfood4la.org/awards.

For more information, call 207-464-4800 or email goodfood4LA@gmail.com.