food deserts in the united states…. 76,777 residents of escambia and santa rosa counties received...
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FOOD D
ESERTS
I N T
HE
UN
I TE
D S
T AT
ES
…
76,777Residents
Of Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties
Received Emergency Food Assistance
In 2011
From the 16 largest pantries
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The Population of
Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties
combined is
448,991
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That’s 17.1% of the Escambia and Santa
Rosa County population.
1 in 6of our neighbors
did not have
enough to eat last year.
* The Population of Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties combined is 448,991
The Toronto Food Policy Council warns that food banks, considered an emergency stop-gap service, have become “one of the cornerstones of society’s anti-hunger and antipoverty strategy – private charity has surmounted public policy as the primary response to hunger.”
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“We don’t think of community gardens as an anti-hunger strategy, because we don’t think gardens can meet all food security needs. We see community gardens themselves as community development. They create a community where people can come together and problem solve, and come up with the next step toward food security. Community gardening makes the food system visible in urban areas.”
o -Sean Cosgroveof the Toronto Food Security
Council
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AK Suter Bellview Elementary Bellview Middle Blue Angels Elementary Bratt Elementary Brown Barge Middle C. A. Weis Cordova Park Elementary Creative Learning Academy Episcopal Day Escambia Westgate Ferry Pass Middle Global Learning Academy
Gulf Breeze Elementary Head Start Program Office Holm Elementary Jim Allen Elementary Lipscomb Elementary McArthur Elementary NB Cook Elementary O. J. Semmes Elementary Oakcrest Elementary Ransom Middle Warrington Middle Woodham Middle Workman Middle
Existing School Gardens (26)
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Self-Reliance and Teamwork
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Pensacola Montessori
Head Start Pre-KOakcrest Elementary
Entrepreneurship
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Fundraising Opportunity
Marketing, pricing,
salesmanship, and money
handling skills
Community involvement
Giving Back: Sharing the Abundance
Donate Extra Produce to Neighbors
or Families in Need
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BENEFITS OF COMMUNITY GARDENS
Improve the quality of life for
people in the garden
Provide a catalyst for neighborhood and community development
Stimulate social interaction
Encourage self-reliance
Beautify neighborhoods
Provide nutritious food
Reduce family food budgets
Conserve resources
Create opportunity for recreation,
exercise, therapy, and education
Reduce crime Preserve green space
Create income opportunities and
economic development
Reduce city heat from streets and
parking lots
Provide opportunities for intergenerational and cross-cultural
connections
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* Source: American Community Gardening Association
Existing Community Gardens (15) Aragon Court Community Garden CDAC Community Garden Ever’man Natural Grocery Community Garden Gadsden Street United Methodist Church Garden Government Street Community Garden GROW / Eastside Community Garden Gulf Breeze Community Garden Hollice T. Williams Community Garden IHMC Community Garden Julian & Callie Harris Memorial Community Garden MANNA Pantry Garden Movement For Change Community Garden New Hope Home Community Garden Perdido Bay Community Center Garden Sacred Heart Hospital Community Garden UWF Student Garden
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DEFINITION OF A FOOD DESERT
* To qualify as a “low-income community,” a census tract must have either: 1) a poverty rate of 20 percent or higher, OR 2) a median family income at or below 80 percent of the area's median family income…
Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) defines a food desert as, “…low-income urban areas that are more than a mile from a supermarket ORlow-income rural areas that are more than 10 miles from a supermarket.”
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ESCAMBIA COUNTY?
The Food Desert locator of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) displays 12 defined food deserts within 9 Escambia county zip codes.
*Escambia County zip codes 32524 - 32514 - 32504 - 32503 - 32505 - 32526 - 32501 - 32506 - 32507
CHALLENGES…
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are not being utilized on nutritious foods.
• Lack of transportation restricts food purchasing opportunity- Consequences…
--Convenient stores and Fast Food restaurants are main food distribution centers.
-- Higher food costs and malnutrition
___________________________________
• Lack of independence
………………….Lack of individual empowerment
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
WHAT WE ARE CONSIDERING…Health & Environmental Education
Maintains an environment where everyone is both a teacher and a student
Education on WIC and SNAP Benefits & Use Applied to both local retail and community members
Mobile MarketA mobile market would supply local produce once or twice a week and accept SNAP credit from local community members.
Community Garden ProjectsDevelops food security of a given community Provides a space for community and leadership development
Public TransportationReliable and consistent public transportation and/or ride sharing may be provided so that community members can make weekly or bi-weekly trips to the nearest grocery store.
PARTICIPANTS…EVERYONE!
Community Members
Local organizations- Manna- Florida Dept. of Children and Families- etc.
Schools
Churches
City and County Government
Major Partners Ever’man Natural Grocery
Leadership Pensacola Class of 2011
City of Pensacola Parks and Recreation
Escambia County Health Department
Escambia County School District Food Services, Administration, Schools
Escambia County Extension
Pensacola State College
Sacred Heart Hospital
Unite Escambia Health Solutions Team
University of West Florida
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FOOD SECURITY
Who needs food? ………. EVERYONE !
Food Security
People have "food security" when they have both physical and economic access to enough food to lead a healthy and active life.
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Availability
Adequate food availability through agricultural production, imports, and government policies
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Access
Conditions that give people access to food in stores, farmers’ markets, and other outlets
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Utilization
Full utilization of food through adequate, balanced diet, safe water, sanitation, education, and health care.
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”Growing our own food is going to make our food stamps last longer.”
“Many food stamp recipients who do home gardening make it a family activity.”
“…gardening has had a positive effect on the eating habits of the children…they like to eat whatever they take care of, even spinach”
“Many of the Saratoga and Mechanicville gardeners had enough produce to freeze or can for winter meals.”
“This year, like last, Ms. Garland preserved squash and beans.”
* SNAPGARDENS.org
How to Get Involved
Manna Food Gardens ProjectSarah Bossa- Garden Program Director
P: 850-432-2053 F: 850-432-6605