Food insecurity: "A lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life" (Feeding America 2022). This can be short or long term and affects both children and adults. It can often be reliant on household economic income level, social condition, and geographic location.

Food desert:  “Food deserts are geo­graph­ic areas where res­i­dents have few to no con­ve­nient options for secur­ing afford­able and healthy foods — espe­cial­ly fresh fruits and veg­eta­bles. Dis­pro­por­tion­ate­ly found in high-pover­ty areas, food deserts cre­ate extra, every­day hur­dles that can make it hard­er for kids, fam­i­lies and com­mu­ni­ties to grow healthy and strong” (The Annie E. Casey Foundation 2021)

Nutrition: "The process of providing or obtaining the food necessary for health and growth." (Oxford Dictionary 2022)

Image from: https://labblog.uofmhealth.org/industry-dx/even-before-covid-19-many-adults-lacked-stable-food-supply

• Roughly a third of residents of Dayton grapple with eating deficits (Wehrley-Pyles 2018)

• Of all Dayton households with children, 29.4% face food disparity (Wehrley-Pyles 2018)

• West Dayton in particular struggles with food access (Figueroa 2021)

• DAYTON in 2019 rate of food insecurity:

  • • Montgomery County - 14.3%

    • Greene County - 12%

    • Warren County - 8.5%

• Why is this happening?

  • History of redlining and racism

  • Economic instability and loss of jobs

Food for Flyers is an effort being made to reduce food insecurity within students in the UD Community. The Brook Center and the Dean of Students collaborated to create the Food4Flyers Food Pantry. They encourage UD students to take whatever food or other items they are in need of.

Donations:

• Drop off physical items at the Brook Center O Office

• Monetary donations can be made online

Shopping:

• The Food4Flyers Food Pantry is located in the Brook Center and is available at these times when class is in session:

  • Monday and Tuesday: 6PM - 8PM

  • Wednesday: 9AM - 11AM

  • Thursday and Friday: 2PM - 4PM

  • By appointment if you email the Brook Center

Image from: https://udayton.edu/studev/health_wellness/brook/index.php

One option for Dayton community members to access fresh foods and locally grown fruits and vegetables is the 2nd Street Market. This farmer’s market is open year round on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and many vendors take EBT, and WIC (2nd Street Market 2022).

HYDRO-GROWERS (Takes EBT and WIC)

• Sells locally grown hydroponic vegetables, including greens, spinach and tomatoes. Also sells eggs and cider seasonally.

GARBER FARMS (Takes EBT and WIC)

• Sells fresh and locally grown produce.

CARROLL CREEK FARMS (Takes EBT)

• Sells 100% grass-fed beef and lamb, all-natural Berkshire hogs and pastured poultry. Their meat products are produced locally in Warren County without the use of antibiotics or growth hormones

Image from: https://www.pexels.com/photo/pile-of-assorted-varieties-of-vegetables-2255935/

Gem City Market is a community-owned grocery store located at the corner of Salem and Superior Avenue in Dayton. Its mission is “to serve, engage, and empower [Dayton] neighborhoods by providing affordable, high quality food in a clean and welcoming environment that is worker and community owned” (About Us 2022).

Other benefits of Gem City Market:

• Offers 72 Hour sales each weekend to allow community members to purchase food at the lowest costs. (Schwartzberg 2022)

• Has a roughly 1,000-square-foot community kitchen that hosts cooking and food preparation classes. (Schwartzberg 2022)

• Accepts SNAP and EBT 

Image from: https://www.daytonlocal.com/news/community/gem-city-market-opens-in-dayton.asp

• Works with Community Partners to bring affordable and healthy food to the Dayton Area 

• Collaborated with Public Health of Dayton and Montgomery County to start strategizing ways to achieve local food security.

• Can link people to resources that are already in Dayton.

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