Waco, Texas' New S.C.R.A.P. Collective Promotes Sustainability, Composting, Gardening, and Overall Healthy Communities in Year 1
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Waco was 1 of 10 U.S. Communities That Received More Than $2.5 Million in Grants for Community-led Sustainability Projects As A Part of The Newest Round of Partners for Places Matching Grants and Has Succeeded in its First Year.

WACO, Texas - Txylo -- Waco's Sustainable Community and Regenerative Agriculture Project or "S.C.R.A.P." Collective has recently concluded its first year of working to promote sustainability in the Central Texas community. Having received a $150,000 grant from The Funders Network and a matching grant from the Cooper Foundation, the S.C.R.A.P. Collective is growing a healthy, equitable food system in Waco to address issues of food waste, food insecurity, and climate resilience. Partners of the S.C.R.A.P. Collective include- Mission Waco's Urban REAP program, the City of Waco, the World Hunger Relief Institute, Global Revive, Da'Shack Farmers Market Health and Wellness, Inc., Family of Faith Worship Center, Baylor University programs such as the Environmental Humanities Minor and the Growing Leaders and Learners Project, the Cooper Foundation, several congregations, and Waco ISD schools.

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"Cooper Foundation is honored to have played a supportive role in the S.C.R.A.P. Collective project. The Collective's emphasis on an equitable, grassroots collaboration to cultivate a regenerative food culture in Waco has served as an example of what can be achieved when a group of people come together with a shared vision to create positive change," states Cooper Foundation Executive Director, Felicia Goodman. "By increasing community members' understanding of and access to composting and gardening, the program has enriched the lives of individuals and families and made Waco as a whole better."

The S.C.R.A.P. Collective has worked to create an ecosystem of urban gardens, farms, and educational programs to nurture community health, reduce landfill emissions, practice racial equity, and empower food sovereignty among Waco's diverse populations. Over the past year, the S.C.R.A.P. Collective has built partnerships and engaged over 4,000 community members through 100 events. The Collective also increased the pounds of food waste diverted from the landfill from 52,000lbs. to 123,000lbs. as well as increased the pounds of compost produced from 33,000lbs. to 48,00 lbs. The group also increased the pounds of produce grown from 5,900 lbs. to 22,000lbs., amongst other accomplishments.

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"At its core, the Partners for Places grant has been an invaluable resource for advancing the work of environmental justice, which is a strategic goal of the City of Waco's Office of Sustainability and Resiliency. Through these incredible partnerships, the City has been able to better engage and empower historically disadvantaged communities that are the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change," states Eric Coffman, Sustainability Programs Manager for the City of Waco.

In addition, according to Mr. Coffman, "something as basic as compost might not seem as exciting as solar panels and electric vehicles, but it's relevant and accessible to everyone. It was inspiring to watch how the topic of compost activated and brought together such diverse communities around Waco to learn about and help tackle the climate crisis."

On September 10-11, 2024, the S.C.R.A.P. Collective will be participating in the Green Communities Conference, which is an annual event dedicated to cultivating sustainable actions in communities across Texas, as well as planning more events for this Fall.

For more information on the S.C.R.A.P. Collective, visit https://missionwaco.org/urban-reap/.