Baltimore is Redesigning Access to Healthy Food (EfficientGov)

The Baltimore Health Department is increasing seniors’ and low-income families’ access to healthy food through corner stores and free online shopping.

Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen told WYPR Healthwatch that one in four of the city’s senior citizens lives in a food desert. Because food choice “is predicated on privilege,” the city’s health department has been working on two programs that increase senior access to healthy food, the Virtual Supermarket and Healthy Corner Stores programs.

Both programs are expanding in part to a $750,000 grant from the AARP Foundation as well as $150,000 from the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission in 2017.

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