What region or area do you provide services in?

Local Matters provides services in Central Ohio. Local Matters works to educate citizens on healthful food practices and ensure better access to affordable, fresh food.

How and when did the organization get started?

Local Matters was created out of the collaboration of community partners who believed in the need for nutrition education and the need for better access of fresh foods. The Greater Columbus Foodshed Project, which began in 2002, gained momentum when it received a $200,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In 2008, the organization received 501(c)(3) status – a tax-exempt non-profit – and officially became Local Matters.

Since then, Local Matters has been working hard to ensure Columbus’s most vulnerable neighborhoods have proper access to fresh food and nutritional education.

How many employees do you have?

Local Matters has 15 full-time employees and 4 part-time employees.

How many volunteers does your organization have?

(click “Service Projects” in the menu to learn more about volunteer opportunities)

In 2013, 289 volunteers donated a combined 4,300 hours of their time to Local Matters.