Did you know...

The food most accessible to low-income families are cheaper food options, including highly processed options that lack the nutrients we all need to be at our best. Many of these food options are high in calories and low in nutritional value. A child from a food insecure family might eat fast food one night and nothing the next. Breakfast might be a bag of chips – and that’s it for the day. Cheaper and fast-food options temporarily quiet the stomach rumbling but lead to lifelong health problems.

The coexistence of hunger and obesity is threatening the health of our children and costing our state billions in health and education.

The Salvation Army is actively working to solve a problem with no end in sight: hunger.

From the very beginning of our organizational history over 150 years ago, we’ve provided emergency food resources through food pantries, soup kitchens, home delivered meals, homeless outreach, and mass holiday feedings. But so often, the food most readily available to the poor lacks in nutritional value what it makes up for in shelf life and cost. “Junk food” is a temporary fix to abject hunger that can sadly complicate and create chronic health problems – like obesity and diabetes – leading to more crises and expenses for those already disadvantaged.

Feeding Families for Life: Fighting Hunger the Healthy Way initiative is so much more than a handout or an occasional hot meal: it’s a fresh perspective on reducing hunger in healthy ways.

Through this initiative, The Salvation Army is:

• Providing fresh produce, lean proteins, and other healthy meal options at our food pantries, soup kitchens and feedings programs.
• Educating families and individuals about how to budget and afford healthy food choices for everyday meal planning.
• Providing healthier, fresh options for snacks, meals, and food distributed to families and individuals.
• Growing Community Gardens funded by Heinz Endowments, creating a space for families to benefit from fresh foods, recipe cards, and a place to discover new healthy options.
• Providing children with healthy options over the weekend through our Love In A Backpack program. Love in a Backpack also provides healthy meals for children during the weekdays over the summer when school is not in session.

Feeding Families for Life considers the whole family, holistically inspiring and empowering each generation to not only feel full, but to also feel – and do – better. Our goal: to empower the people we serve to be healthier through exposure to more wholesome food choices.