Nourishing Neighborhoods Report Highlights Leaders Addressing Childhood Food Insecurity
Findings illustrate value of supporting grassroots and regional organizations
PHILADELPHIA – Rite Aid Healthy Futures and Sankofa Consulting have released a new report highlighting how 28 organizations across six American cities have confronted childhood and youth food insecurity in ways that respect the agency, dignity and strengths of their communities.
Titled “Nourishing Neighborhoods: A Multi-City Approach to Confronting Childhood & Youth Food Insecurity,” the report highlights innovations and promising practices from organizations in Baltimore, Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, Fresno and Philadelphia.
All organizations highlighted in the report received funds through Rite Aid Healthy Futures’ Strengthening Cities grant initiative, which launched in 2022 with a two-year, $10 million commitment to address childhood food insecurity in major Rite Aid markets.
“Nourishing neighborhoods starts with empowering neighborhoods,” said Matt DeCamara, executive director of Rite Aid Healthy Futures. “The past two years have shown that when the organizations closest to their communities receive trust and support of their neighbors and partners, they can and will develop solutions to positively change food systems. Now more than ever, the stakes continue to rise, given the direct line between nutritious food, good health and racial equity. Healthy Futures is hopeful that increased awareness to our partners’ work will lead to more catalytic investments from philanthropy – and, ultimately, healthier children, families and neighborhoods.”
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, food insecurity affects more than 44 million people in the United States – including 1 in 5 children. While widespread, food insecurity disproportionately affects historically underserved communities and can lead to a litany of preventable chronic health conditions affecting children and adolescents well into adulthood.
The Strengthening Cities grant program was designed to support neighborhood-level programs, with a focus on funding Black- and Brown-led grassroots organizations and regional food banks. With support from Sankofa Consulting, Healthy Futures convened the grant partners in September 2023 for the inaugural Strengthening Cities Summit, where attendee discussions flowed into the Nourishing Neighborhoods report.
Through deeper examination, Rite Aid Healthy Futures and Sankofa Consulting found four key areas of innovations and promising practices. They included programs that are:
Fostering a Holistic Relationship with Food
Creating an Adaptable & Place-Based Food Supply
Expanding Reach through Strategic Partnerships
Cultivating the Next Generation of Food System Leaders
Turning the spotlight on local grant partners, the Nourishing Neighborhoods report shares tangible examples of these promising practices from all six featured cities. The report also explores shared challenges among the grantees, who are working to address the daunting realities of racism and poverty as they build more vibrant food systems within their cities.
The full report is available for download at RiteAidHealthyFutures.org/Nourishing-Neighborhoods-Report.
About Rite Aid Healthy Futures
Rite Aid Healthy Futures is a public charity that improves the lives and futures of kids in Rite Aid communities through partnerships that help build healthier, more equitable neighborhoods. Launched by Rite Aid in 2001, Healthy Futures supports causes, initiatives and organizations that help kids live long, happy and healthy lives. Grants are made possible through the generous donations of customers who round-up their purchases at Rite Aid through the KidCents program. Visit RiteAidHealthyFutures.org to learn more.
About Sankofa Consulting
Based in Seattle, Sankofa Consulting holds expertise in monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) across various sectors and geographies, Sankofa has provided consulting services for nonprofits of all sizes, with a commitment to advancing social justice and centering equity.
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Media Contact
Michelle McEnroe
717-975-5718
press@riteaid.com