By: Maria Holmes, BA, INHC, Certified Community Health Worker
How do we feed our family when the cost of eggs has doubled, and a box of cereal has decreased in size? According to Massachusetts Food Bank President and CEO Catherine D’Amato, food insecurity has affected two million adults in Massachusetts due to the increase in the cost of food and proposed cuts in federal aid programs. Hampden County led the state with 54 percent of their residents with food insecurity. Thirty-seven percent reported food insecurity in the past year, and fifteen percent were children. Connecticut Foodshare President and CEO Jason Jakubowski reports that 1 in 6 children in Connecticut are food insecure, and an increase of insecurity by families are up 40 percent since COVID. Mr. Jakubowski also reports that more than half a million people do not know where their next meal is coming from. As community health workers partnering with providers in this community, food security is a social need we help to coordinate.
At SoNE HEALTH, our community health workers assist people in the community, our patients, who are experiencing empty plates. Community Health Workers help with filling out Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) applications to obtain debit cards from the state to help afford groceries. Community Health Workers also aid in finding organizations that help with affordable food in the community. These organizations include Farmer’s markets that provide healthy options, mobile and open food pantries, and food share programs that provide free groceries as well as referrals to dietitians that can aid with healthy food options. Our community health workers guide community members in navigating the system to get the support they need, like food, so that they no longer have empty plates.