Community Food Security - read the Hunger Commission's food access study and download free food access study materials including curriculum for nutrition education workshops.

Public Assistance Programs

Many respondents commented that they did not know what public assistance programs were available and/or did not know if they were applicable. Neighborhood organizations and local churches should disseminate information regarding public assistance programs to encourage and assist individuals who could benefit from food stamps or the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program. Public Assistance outreach could be performed at a neighborhood health fair.

Avondale/Glen Elder faces a number of barriers to accessing affordable, nutritious food that need to be addressed by state and federal governments. The Senior Nutrition Services Home Delivered Meals program needs to be supported financially so that capacity to provide meals to homebound seniors can increase. Far too many seniors literally die waiting for Senior Nutrition Services to be able to serve them.

The WIC program also suffers significantly from insufficient staff. To reach more mothers, more WIC staff must be available to provide services and decrease the wait time for an initial appointment. Further, more WIC farmers' market vouchers should be made available (through increased government funds) for local WIC offices to distribute. These vouchers encourage healthy child development and support local agriculture.

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