Help Reduce Food Deserts Nationwide

    In the United States, nearly 1 in 8 Americans are facing food insecurity, including 13 million children. The low-access rate to food in Virginia is 17.8%, which is about 1,428,843 people. (moveforhunger.org). Food insecurity is present in both urban and rural areas, but many factors influence the rate of food insecurity and presence of food deserts in VA, such as access to food, household resources, vehicle availability/public transportation, neighborhood resources, geographical location, income inequality, housing discrimination, and gentrification. Communities in food deserts lack the right to grow, sell, and eat fresh, nutritious, affordable, culturally appropriate, and locally grown food. Food deserts are environmental racism at work. Multiple layers and levels of institutional, environmental racism has created and reinforced a variety of racialized injustices in the food system. These injustices include disproportionate access to environmental resources, targeted disamenities, and the failure to include people and communities of color in discussions of environmental issues. Food deserts are geographic areas where residents’ access to affordable, healthy food options (especially fresh fruits and vegetables) is restricted or nonexistent due to the absence of grocery stores within convenient traveling distance. They are often found in urban areas that are low-income and heavily minority-populated with inadequate access to nutritious food (foodispower.org).
    The Healthy Food for All Americans Act uses tax grants to benefit those suffering from food insecurity due to location, lack of resources, or income. One proposition will grant a 15% tax credit to companies that establish grocery stores in food deserts. To allow access to nutritious food, companies that provide healthy food additions to grocery stores, such as produce, will receive a 10% tax credit. Food banks constructed in food deserts will receive a grant for 15% of their construction costs. Additionally, temporary access merchants will be granted 10% of their operating costs.
    Although known for agricultural productivity including poultry, dairy, and beef production, many of Harrisonburg’s residents struggle to access fresh, affordable and culturally appropriate foods. 1 in 10 people struggle with hunger or food insecurity in Harrisonburg. The Northeast Neighborhood in Harrisonburg, which is one of the areas that experiences the most food insecurity, is the city’s most prominent African-American neighborhood, showing how diverse communities often align with food deserts.
    By signing this petition, you can be a part in the reduction of food deserts not only in our community of Harrisonburg, but nationwide. The passing of The Healthy Food for All Americans Act will help provide individuals struggling with food insecurity with more access to healthy food options which will lead to an improvement in physical health and the overall wellbeing of the individuals in our local communities and our entire nation.
    Petition unterzeichnen
    Petition unterzeichnen
    Sie haben JavaScript deaktiviert. Es kann sein, dass Ihre Website ohne JavaScript nicht richtig funktioniert.

    Datenschutzpolitik

    Wenn Sie hier unterzeichnen, akzeptieren Sie die Nutzungsbedingungen von Care2
    Sie können Ihre E-Mail-Abonnements jederzeit verwalten.

    Sie haben Probleme, dies zu unterzeichnen? Informieren Sie uns.