Current Initiatives
Food Insecurity Is Still With Us in Chicago
Food Insecurity Has Grown The Past Decade
As a result of food deserts, many people do not have access to healthy foods, leading to malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies, which have serious consequences. Malnutrition is the cause of almost half of all deaths of children under five and the primary cause of many chronic diseases in adults.
Apr 22, 2021
Why is food insecurity a problem in Chicago?
Other barriers to obtaining food often include unemployment, lack of access to transportation and health problems. These barriers and more can prevent people from obtaining enough food for their entire household.
April 22, 2021
Goal: Providing Healthy Food Options
Protecting our most valuable resource.
Why is food insecurity a problem in Chicago?
Barriers to obtaining food often include unemployment, lack of access to transportation and health problems. These barriers and more can prevent people from obtaining enough food for their entire household.
Food Insecurity Threatens Sustainable Communities
The Challenge Affects Us All.
As defined by the US Department of Agriculture, a food desert is “an area with a poverty rate of at least 20 percent and where at least a third of the population lives more than a mile from a supermarket or large grocery store.” The limited access to affordable and nutritious food due to cost and lack of grocery stores in the area forces people living in these food deserts, commonly black and brown people, to frequently get meals from fast food restaurants because they are a lot more accessible. As a result, residents of food deserts have a higher risk of diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and other conditions related to diet.
According to the Food Empowerment Project, in Chicago, there are estimated to be more than 500,000 people living in food deserts and the majority of the food deserts are located on the South and West sides of the city. Another 400,000 live in areas filled with fast food restaurants but lack nearby grocery stores. It is important to tackle this issue of food insecurity and food deserts in your city because of the severe health effects it has on these populations and communities long-term.
Everybody eats, Everyone Eats Healthy
Action Agenda For Eliminating Food Insecurity
Keyworks has been involved with food distribution and food insecurity issues in underserved communities for more than two decades.