It Takes a Community to Create Food Security

When there is no food in the house food becomes the focus of of each day. When the focus of the day is securing food for the household the focus is not centered on performing well at school or on the job so you can create new and greater opportunities for success. Securing food on an extremely limited budget requires creativity and often requires the purchase of food that is less nutrient dense - like Ramen noodles. While Ramen noodles are not necessarily nutritionally bad, when they are the basis of a weekly diet it's problematic. When the least expensive food is purchased it is often a less nutrient dense food. While that food may stave off hunger it does not produce the nutritional results that create clear thinking, stable blood sugar levels and the ability to show up and give your best effort.

Eden Gives is a Detroit based nonprofit that is focused on creating a model for food security that allows equal access to nutritious food. For 13 years Eden Gives has distributed weekly boxes of food that are largely produce to Detroit families through a partnership with Trader Joe's. Many discussions have occurred at those food distribution events about how to create equity in the food system that allows consistent access to produce. One thing we have all learned over the last 13 years is that we're stronger together and when we care for each other and work together, everyone can eat. It takes a community to create an equitable and just food system and we are determined to continue engaging and building our community of #foodwarriors, leveraging our creativity and creating workable solutions that create abundance of food in Detroit communities. Through the 11 food distribution events we complete weekly our dedicated and engaged #foodwarriors are creating food security for over 400 families weekly with food that would have thrown away. Our thanks to partners like Trader Joe's who have created through their store processes the opportunity to share food with our community that would otherwise be thrown away. Their dedication to no food waste and our #foodwarriors' dedication to food security create an opportunity to end weekly hunger in over 400 households. Detroit's culture of innovation is showing up to create a food system that works for everyone.

For more information about Eden Gives check out these resources: www.edengives.org, fb: Eden Gives ig: @eden.gives