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Go to your local library and check out some groceries today!
The Virtual Supermarket Project is part of a city push to make healthy food more accessible in communities where major supermarkets are scarce. Baltimore’s health department launched it last month at two of the city’s public library branches. They’re located on opposite ends of town: one neighborhood is mostly African-American and working-class, the other racially and economically mixed.
These areas lack large, competitively priced supermarkets within walking distance — sometimes called “food deserts.” Both communities have plenty of fast-food and corner stores, but many tend to offer less healthy fare.
“In Baltimore, where we’re working at with the libraries, you see that the mortality burden from diet-related causes like diabetes, stroke and heart disease are among the highest in the city,” says Ryan Petteway, a city epidemiologist.
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April 27th, 2010 at 8:47 am
We got underwear in our drop box once. Big pink granny panties.
I actually think in some ways this is not a half-bad idea. One neighbourhood I used to work in is not “walkable” and yet many low-income families don’t own cars. So they eat take-out pizza or frozen dinners, instead of fresh local produce, because it’s easier, cheaper, and lasts longer, and they can’t walk to a local market 3x week.
April 27th, 2010 at 9:15 am
I love the idea of some mischievously smiling granny sneaking away totally commando from your location.
April 27th, 2010 at 9:17 am
:)
April 27th, 2010 at 10:04 am
Used to be that libraries sometimes located in shopping centers. Why not combine food for the body and food for the soul?
April 27th, 2010 at 6:00 pm
We still have 2 Ottawa Public Library branches (Elmvale Acres + Emerald Plaza) in shopping centres (well, strip malls). They do quite well! Not to mention “outreach” to New Canadians can be accomplished while grabbing a coffee at the neighbouring Starbucks (where many immigrants congregate for a sense of community, when not at the library, of course!)
April 27th, 2010 at 10:18 pm
Healthier food often tends to be more expensive, I hope there’s enough funding for this program.
April 27th, 2010 at 10:44 pm
Huh… that’s a pretty good idea. It’s really sad that there are places that the residents have no easy access to a market, but it’s a good work-around solution.
April 28th, 2010 at 6:13 pm
Healthier food is more expensive, unless one grows it. Solution? Gardens in (or on or beside) libraries. They did it in Alexandria!