ForResidents

A Food Policy Council (FPC) is a resident-led body that advises city government on how food, land, and health rules get written. When residents show up, the agenda shifts toward equity instead of optics.

• Find your ward and alderperson at stlouis-mo.gov.
• Request the FPC meeting calendar from your ward office or check the city clerk's site.
• Show up once to listen — then share one story or one ask the second time.
• Bring a neighbor. Two voices are louder than one.

SNAP/WIC matching programs double your food benefits — $10 in benefits becomes $20 of fresh produce — at participating farmers' markets and grocers. It puts money back in your pocket and into local growers' hands.

• Bring your EBT card to a participating St. Louis farmers' market (many run May–October).
• Ask the info booth for 'Double Up Food Bucks' or the local match program.
• Apply for SNAP/WIC if you don't have benefits yet — eligibility is broader than people think.

Story is policy in disguise. When residents share what food meant in their grandmother's kitchen, on their block, or in their school cafeteria, they're providing the data lawmakers and funders rarely hear.

• Listen to current episodes to hear the format.
• DM @foodcitystl with a 2–3 sentence pitch of your story.
• Record a voice memo on your phone — polish isn't required.

Community gardens, mutual aid pantries, and produce swaps build food sovereignty block by block. They also build the social fabric that policy alone can't manufacture.

• Find a community garden near you (Gateway Greening, Heru Urban Farming, GFGP).
• Volunteer once a month — bring kids, no experience needed.
• Host a porch swap: neighbors trade extra greens, eggs, herbs, or canned goods.