Letter: Fund programs to alleviate food insecurity

As a provider of nutrition services to members of our community who struggle with food insecurity on a daily basis, I would like to encourage discussion among our lawmakers who represent us in local and national government.

The impact of food insecurity on our community must not be underestimated. Children who are food insecure have consequences that reach beyond a rumbling tummy; poorer overall health, inattentiveness, poorer social interaction, and a stark educational achievement gap lead to lifelong obstacles for some of the most vulnerable of us. Diminished opportunities for higher education and improved socioeconomic status are clear markers for the true impact of the cycle of poverty. Fifty percent of the children in the Cedar Rapids Community School District qualify for free or reduced price lunch, and 1 in 8 Linn County residents are food insecure. In addition to cash in hand, obstacles to adequate nutrition include proximity to a retailer of fresh and healthy foods as well as the lack of appropriate transportation. There are more factors at work here than SNAP can solve.

It is vital to promote initiatives and fund programs that consider innovative and empowering ways to alleviate food insecurity while supporting improved overall health and nutritional literacy. This will create meaningful outcomes for individuals and for our entire community.

Sofia Mehaffey

Cedar Rapids