DAYTON, Ohio (WKEF)– According to Montgomery County’s Board of Commissioners, one out of every six families in Montgomery County are struggling with food insecurity and don’t know where their next meal is coming from.
Local leaders came together Saturday to tackle the issue and help families put food on their table. The event was held at Levitt Pavilion, and commissioners said it’s a great way to bring people of all ages together to promote healthier eating.
“We have over 80-thousand of our citizens here in Montgomery County that really need good food; they have limited access to decent food,” said Montgomery County Commissioner, Judy Dodge.
Dodge said she wanted to come up with a new, creative way to educate the community on healthy eating and how to access healthy food in their own backyard.
“We do have elevated numbers in our community as far as diabetes and chronic diseases, so having access and knowing that those foods are available is important to our community,” said Jennifer Wentzel, health commissioner of Public Health Dayton Montgomery County.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, diabetes is Ohio’s eighth leading cause of Death. Wentzel said protecting the community from these chronic diseases is a priority for them.
“We want our residents to be thriving in their everyday lives and in the work that they do. It’s important to have access to food and those that are healthy within the community,” said Wentzel.
Dayton 24/7 Now’s Kysha Hancock caught up with the Estrada family who said they are grateful to the county for putting this event together. They added it’s nice to know the county cares about people’s well-being.
“On the healthy plate, balanced meals, ensuring that they get all their food groups is really enforcing what we’re teaching at home, so the children aren’t just hearing it from us,” said Casandra Estrada.
Casandra said they even have their own garden at home, growing vegetables to give their kids a better understanding of the impacts of eating healthy.
“Mom and Dad want the best for us. Whenever they teach us like the simple things of like eating healthy, having good hygiene, it’s super important to learn at a young age that healthy food help you,” said Caitlin Estrada.
To learn more about accessing healthy food in the community, visit the Food Equity Coalition’s website.
