When I first started at the Capital Area Food Bank a little over three years ago, I was stunned at the disparities between wards east of the Anacostia River and the rest of the District. I am still stunned today.
Especially stark is the lack of access to affordable, healthy foods in Wards 7 and 8 compared with Wards 2 and 3. DC Hunger Solutions’ 2006 report, “Healthy Food, Healthy Communities,” found only two major chain grocery stores east of the Anacostia River for 140,000 residents in Wards 7 and 8 (Wards 2 and 3 had one store for every 11,881 residents). Since that report was released, the statistics have changed, but the magnitude of disparity remains the same.
In 2007, a Giant supermarket opened in Ward 8 after almost a decade without a major chain grocery store. While the opening was touted as a victory for Ward 8 residents, three stores is hardly sufficient to meet the need of the community’s 47,000 residents.
My questions are these: How has this situation been allowed to develop and continue for so long? Why aren’t more District residents aware of this situation? And, most importantly, what will it take to change the situation?
During my time working in the East of the River community as part of the Food Bank’s Harvest for Health program, I have learned that in order to change the current situation and increase community food security, all stakeholders have to make a commitment to make change a priority. This may sound rhetorical, but what I mean is that affected communities have to take ownership of their situation and want to change; the non-profit sector which provides services to the community has to collaborate to ensure that programs meet the needs and wants of the community, are not duplicative, and have impact; and the District Government must make access to healthy foods a priority and provide support to agents of change to ensure lasting, sustainable solutions.
Maybe the most difficult of all these pieces is raising the visibility of the issue(s) among all District residents and empowering underserved communities to advocate for themselves. By providing an open forum for discussion on food system issues that affect everyone in our community, the DC Food For All has the potential to raise awareness and question the status quo. That is a critical first step towards action and meaningful change.
