Government
BY EDMOND ORTIZ
A citizens group is helping San Antonio city o cials in their e orts to better ensure residents have more access to healthy, a ordable food. The setup The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District hosted the latest meeting of a health equity network food insecurity work group June 20 at the San Antonio Area Foundation’s o ce. Cleo Garcia, Metro Health spokesperson, said the health equity network is a collaborative of 40 partner organizations aimed at improving food security, housing stability, and access to respectful care. Garcia said work group members are commit- ted to reducing local food insecurity by 5%. City o cials said they already have a solid partner in the San Antonio Food Bank, where Pres- ident and CEO Eric Cooper said lingering nancial e ects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and rising costs of food and housing have compounded challenges for many local families. “It’s one thing to look at data based on census estimates and poverty rates. It’s a whole other thing to try and get into the community and talk to people about their experiences with food,” said Dr. Ryan Ramphul, a faculty member of the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health. Put in perspective The work group considers data from sources, such as the city’s SA Forward health equity dashboard, which monitors the number of Bexar County residents who or unable to regularly and easily access a ordable, fresh, nutritious foods. Local groups focus on food insecurity
Volunteers at Coker Methodist Church put food into a visitor’s truck during the church’s May 16 food distribution event. Coker’s food pantry, 231 E. North Loop Road, serves 300-plus people with free food every Thursday.
EDMOND ORTIZ COMMUNITY IMPACT
Cooper said the food bank helps feed 105,000-plus people weekly directly and via partnerships across Bexar and 28 surrounding counties. “The food bank thinks of its work as both feeding the line—meeting that need for calories, nourishment and physical food—and shortening the line,” Cooper said. “That’s about workforce development, job training and placement, and moving people to self-su ciency and self-reliance to help them be more secure.” Going forward City Council will be briefed on the food insecu- rity work group’s progress this September. Until then, the city will hold evening pop-up markets at various locations this summer providing fresh food and information on local assistance.
Food insecurity in Bexar County
17.4%
16.2%
Residents experiencing food insecurity in 2022
San Antonio households receiving bene ts in 2022
$3.43 Average low-priced meal in 2022
SOURCES: MAP THE MEAL GAP 2023 REPORT, U.S. CENSUS BUREAU AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY COMMUNITY IMPACT
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