Food insecurity
Food insecurity affects farmworkers at higher rates than the general U.S. population, and it can increase their risk of suffering from several chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and obesity, particularly among women. Farmworkers often have to choose between healthy food and medication.
After being displaced by a fire, elderly Asian residents feel depressed and isolated as they struggle to access basic necessities in their temporary accommodation far from familiar surroundings. Alerted to their situation by a Red Cross first responder, local community organizations intervene to bridge gaps in direct services, creating a model for rapid response in the event of an emergency that jeopardizes the well-being of underserved Asian seniors in the Bay Area.
As they cultivate gardens, seniors in Sacramento find a renewed sense of purpose. Sharon Chandler is one such senior who introduces the love of gardening to residents of the Delta Cove senior apartment complex in South Sacramento. The initiative fosters social interaction, encourages healthier eating habits and induces gardeners to incorporate home-grown produce into their diets.
Low income seniors struggle with unaffordable rents in densely populated Koreatown, in Los Angeles. Amid the high concentration of residents, there is a severe shortage of low-income and senior apartments with long waiting lists for government-assisted public housing.
The “food as medicine” movement is growing in popularity as more people look to plant-based solutions for ills that continue to plague the Black community at disproportionate rates.
Sacramento State college student Jaliyah Dramera doesn’t always have money to buy the foods necessary to fuel herself properly. She is not alone.
More than two-thirds of the 23,687 college students polled in California reported facing food insecurity.
For Korean seniors, finding their lunch meal in Koreatown is one of their biggest concerns. It is not just about having a simple, nutritious meal. Having a culturally appropriate lunch with others is also a precious time for socializing with friends and acquaintances.
After losing his wife and children, Ron Clayton, a Fontana native, faces health challenges, which lead him to homelessness. His story highlights the link between health and homelessness, and the need for better access to healthcare for those experiencing homelessness.
Food-insecure Korean seniors who have recently begun to access the benefits of Market Match — a program that has given low-income Californians access to fruits and vegetables at farmer's markets across California — could lose this crucial safety net as the governor works to close a multibillion-dollar deficit.
