Latest news with #Foodbank
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Hunger Heroes aims to help feed families during the busy summer months
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore is trying to help struggling families put food on the table by coming to you. The Hunger Heroes Mobile Market started this year on May 10 and will go through the end of August. During the summer, families who rely on school meal programs may need extra help, and the Foodbank is using this new market to fill the gap. The Foodbank says one in four children within their service areas will face hunger in the summertime. The market will bring fresh food to areas of the greatest need, making sure families get fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy, proteins and more. The families get to choose what they need to help reduce food waste. 'The plan is three per site. So roughly 18 of these will be throughout the distribution,' said Jeremey Rodden, community engagement manager. 'Each of the sites will have a consistent schedule for the months of June, July, and August. just to make sure that our neighbors are prepared and kind of have an expectation of when they're coming, you know, for, you know, for the three months of summer.' They can help feed up to 50 families. Today, June 5, Hunger Heroes will be at the Mary D. Pretlow Library from 1-3 p.m. or until supplies run out. All future locations and times are below: Thursday, June 51-3 D. Pretlow Library – 111 W. Ocean View Ave, Norfolk, VA 23503 Thursday, June 121-3 Creek Community Center – 2901 Margaret Booker Dr, Chesapeake, VA 23323 Friday, June 206-8 Beach Parks & Recreation at Williams Farm Park – 5269 Learning Center Cir, Virginia Beach, VA 23462 Thursday, June 262-4 Memorial Library – 443 W Washington St, Suffolk, VA 23434 Friday, June 276-8 Beach Parks & Recreation at Rosemont Elementary – 1257 S Rosemont Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23453 Thursday, July 101-3 Creek Community Center – 2901 Margaret Booker Dr, Chesapeake, VA 23323 Wednesday, July 161-3 Town Park – 3305 Main St., Exmore, VA 23350 Friday, July 186-8 Beach Parks & Recreation at Williams Farm Park – 5269 Learning Center Cir, Virginia Beach, VA 23462 Thursday, July 242-4 Memorial Library – 443 W Washington St, Suffolk, VA 23434 Friday, July 256-8 Beach Parks & Recreation at Rosemont Elementary – 1257 S Rosemont Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23453 Thursday, August 71-3 D. Pretlow Library – 111 W. Ocean View Ave, Norfolk, VA 23503 Friday, August 86-8 Beach Parks & Recreation at Rosemont Elementary – 1257 S Rosemont Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23453 Thursday, August 141-3 Creek Community Center – 2901 Margaret Booker Dr, Chesapeake, VA 23323 Wednesday, August 201-3 Town Park – 3305 Main St., Exmore, VA 23350 Friday, August 226-8 Beach Parks & Recreation at Williams Farm Park – 5269 Learning Center Cir, Virginia Beach, VA 23462 Thursday, August 282-4 p.m. Morgan Memorial Library – 443 W Washington St, Suffolk, VA 23434 Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Advertiser
4 days ago
- Health
- The Advertiser
Food system's billions of 'hidden costs' a sick outlook
Millions of Australians are being let down by a national food system that is cultivating insufficient fresh produce, contributing to high obesity rates and diet-related diseases, a first-of-its-kind report has found. The CSIRO report, released on Monday, found such "hidden costs" could be as much as $274 billion - the highest of any equivalent system worldwide. The agency's research examined Australia's network of food production, processing, transport, distribution, marketing and consumption to strengthen it against sustainability challenges and boost the delivery of healthy food. Among key issues in the $800 billion system - underpinned by 100,000 farmers - was a scarcity of fresh produce ending up on the tables of Australian consumers. "Australia's food system does not produce enough vegetables to meet recommended daily intakes," the report by the nation's science agency said. "The promotion of convenient, highly processed foods is costing the Australian economy billions (of dollars) in lost productivity from the impact of preventable, diet-related diseases." There was a "significant opportunity for communities, governments and businesses to work together to create future food environments that are healthier, more sustainable and more equitable". Australia's "industrialised food system" included many high-quality and safe items, but was also associated with obesity and diet-related diseases at epidemic levels. This was linked to the poor diet of the average Australian, who ate too few fruit and vegetables and too many nutrient-poor "discretionary foods". "Displacement of healthy foods with discretionary foods means that many Australians suffer from micronutrient deficiencies despite the relative abundance of food," the report said. There was also uneven access to grocery stores for healthy diet choices, room for improvement on food safety, and widespread food insecurity across the country, according to the report. About 3.4 million households experienced moderate or severe food insecurity in the past 12 months, while 31 per cent of remote Indigenous people experienced food insecurity, it said. In addition to impacts on human health, hidden costs include animal welfare, loss of biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions, pollution and air, soil and water degradation, and food waste. "This national stocktake provides an evidence base to guide our actions as social, cultural, environmental, and economic priorities shift," CSIRO agriculture and food director Michael Robertson said. "We have an intergenerational responsibility to pursue these goals vigorously." Foodbank chief operating officer Sarah Pennell said the findings confirmed the charity's observations from operations around the country. "Too many Australians are struggling to afford and access nutritious food," Ms Pennell said in a statement. "It's especially concerning that fresh fruit and vegetables, essential for good health, are among the first things to be cut from household budgets when money is tight. "Good nutrition is a basic right, not a luxury, and this report reinforces the urgency of addressing Australia's growing food insecurity crisis." Millions of Australians are being let down by a national food system that is cultivating insufficient fresh produce, contributing to high obesity rates and diet-related diseases, a first-of-its-kind report has found. The CSIRO report, released on Monday, found such "hidden costs" could be as much as $274 billion - the highest of any equivalent system worldwide. The agency's research examined Australia's network of food production, processing, transport, distribution, marketing and consumption to strengthen it against sustainability challenges and boost the delivery of healthy food. Among key issues in the $800 billion system - underpinned by 100,000 farmers - was a scarcity of fresh produce ending up on the tables of Australian consumers. "Australia's food system does not produce enough vegetables to meet recommended daily intakes," the report by the nation's science agency said. "The promotion of convenient, highly processed foods is costing the Australian economy billions (of dollars) in lost productivity from the impact of preventable, diet-related diseases." There was a "significant opportunity for communities, governments and businesses to work together to create future food environments that are healthier, more sustainable and more equitable". Australia's "industrialised food system" included many high-quality and safe items, but was also associated with obesity and diet-related diseases at epidemic levels. This was linked to the poor diet of the average Australian, who ate too few fruit and vegetables and too many nutrient-poor "discretionary foods". "Displacement of healthy foods with discretionary foods means that many Australians suffer from micronutrient deficiencies despite the relative abundance of food," the report said. There was also uneven access to grocery stores for healthy diet choices, room for improvement on food safety, and widespread food insecurity across the country, according to the report. About 3.4 million households experienced moderate or severe food insecurity in the past 12 months, while 31 per cent of remote Indigenous people experienced food insecurity, it said. In addition to impacts on human health, hidden costs include animal welfare, loss of biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions, pollution and air, soil and water degradation, and food waste. "This national stocktake provides an evidence base to guide our actions as social, cultural, environmental, and economic priorities shift," CSIRO agriculture and food director Michael Robertson said. "We have an intergenerational responsibility to pursue these goals vigorously." Foodbank chief operating officer Sarah Pennell said the findings confirmed the charity's observations from operations around the country. "Too many Australians are struggling to afford and access nutritious food," Ms Pennell said in a statement. "It's especially concerning that fresh fruit and vegetables, essential for good health, are among the first things to be cut from household budgets when money is tight. "Good nutrition is a basic right, not a luxury, and this report reinforces the urgency of addressing Australia's growing food insecurity crisis." Millions of Australians are being let down by a national food system that is cultivating insufficient fresh produce, contributing to high obesity rates and diet-related diseases, a first-of-its-kind report has found. The CSIRO report, released on Monday, found such "hidden costs" could be as much as $274 billion - the highest of any equivalent system worldwide. The agency's research examined Australia's network of food production, processing, transport, distribution, marketing and consumption to strengthen it against sustainability challenges and boost the delivery of healthy food. Among key issues in the $800 billion system - underpinned by 100,000 farmers - was a scarcity of fresh produce ending up on the tables of Australian consumers. "Australia's food system does not produce enough vegetables to meet recommended daily intakes," the report by the nation's science agency said. "The promotion of convenient, highly processed foods is costing the Australian economy billions (of dollars) in lost productivity from the impact of preventable, diet-related diseases." There was a "significant opportunity for communities, governments and businesses to work together to create future food environments that are healthier, more sustainable and more equitable". Australia's "industrialised food system" included many high-quality and safe items, but was also associated with obesity and diet-related diseases at epidemic levels. This was linked to the poor diet of the average Australian, who ate too few fruit and vegetables and too many nutrient-poor "discretionary foods". "Displacement of healthy foods with discretionary foods means that many Australians suffer from micronutrient deficiencies despite the relative abundance of food," the report said. There was also uneven access to grocery stores for healthy diet choices, room for improvement on food safety, and widespread food insecurity across the country, according to the report. About 3.4 million households experienced moderate or severe food insecurity in the past 12 months, while 31 per cent of remote Indigenous people experienced food insecurity, it said. In addition to impacts on human health, hidden costs include animal welfare, loss of biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions, pollution and air, soil and water degradation, and food waste. "This national stocktake provides an evidence base to guide our actions as social, cultural, environmental, and economic priorities shift," CSIRO agriculture and food director Michael Robertson said. "We have an intergenerational responsibility to pursue these goals vigorously." Foodbank chief operating officer Sarah Pennell said the findings confirmed the charity's observations from operations around the country. "Too many Australians are struggling to afford and access nutritious food," Ms Pennell said in a statement. "It's especially concerning that fresh fruit and vegetables, essential for good health, are among the first things to be cut from household budgets when money is tight. "Good nutrition is a basic right, not a luxury, and this report reinforces the urgency of addressing Australia's growing food insecurity crisis." Millions of Australians are being let down by a national food system that is cultivating insufficient fresh produce, contributing to high obesity rates and diet-related diseases, a first-of-its-kind report has found. The CSIRO report, released on Monday, found such "hidden costs" could be as much as $274 billion - the highest of any equivalent system worldwide. The agency's research examined Australia's network of food production, processing, transport, distribution, marketing and consumption to strengthen it against sustainability challenges and boost the delivery of healthy food. Among key issues in the $800 billion system - underpinned by 100,000 farmers - was a scarcity of fresh produce ending up on the tables of Australian consumers. "Australia's food system does not produce enough vegetables to meet recommended daily intakes," the report by the nation's science agency said. "The promotion of convenient, highly processed foods is costing the Australian economy billions (of dollars) in lost productivity from the impact of preventable, diet-related diseases." There was a "significant opportunity for communities, governments and businesses to work together to create future food environments that are healthier, more sustainable and more equitable". Australia's "industrialised food system" included many high-quality and safe items, but was also associated with obesity and diet-related diseases at epidemic levels. This was linked to the poor diet of the average Australian, who ate too few fruit and vegetables and too many nutrient-poor "discretionary foods". "Displacement of healthy foods with discretionary foods means that many Australians suffer from micronutrient deficiencies despite the relative abundance of food," the report said. There was also uneven access to grocery stores for healthy diet choices, room for improvement on food safety, and widespread food insecurity across the country, according to the report. About 3.4 million households experienced moderate or severe food insecurity in the past 12 months, while 31 per cent of remote Indigenous people experienced food insecurity, it said. In addition to impacts on human health, hidden costs include animal welfare, loss of biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions, pollution and air, soil and water degradation, and food waste. "This national stocktake provides an evidence base to guide our actions as social, cultural, environmental, and economic priorities shift," CSIRO agriculture and food director Michael Robertson said. "We have an intergenerational responsibility to pursue these goals vigorously." Foodbank chief operating officer Sarah Pennell said the findings confirmed the charity's observations from operations around the country. "Too many Australians are struggling to afford and access nutritious food," Ms Pennell said in a statement. "It's especially concerning that fresh fruit and vegetables, essential for good health, are among the first things to be cut from household budgets when money is tight. "Good nutrition is a basic right, not a luxury, and this report reinforces the urgency of addressing Australia's growing food insecurity crisis."
West Australian
4 days ago
- Health
- West Australian
Food system's billions of 'hidden costs' a sick outlook
Millions of Australians are being let down by a national food system that is cultivating insufficient fresh produce, contributing to high obesity rates and diet-related diseases, a first-of-its-kind report has found. The CSIRO report, released on Monday, found such "hidden costs" could be as much as $274 billion - the highest of any equivalent system worldwide. The agency's research examined Australia's network of food production, processing, transport, distribution, marketing and consumption to strengthen it against sustainability challenges and boost the delivery of healthy food. Among key issues in the $800 billion system - underpinned by 100,000 farmers - was a scarcity of fresh produce ending up on the tables of Australian consumers. "Australia's food system does not produce enough vegetables to meet recommended daily intakes," the report by the nation's science agency said. "The promotion of convenient, highly processed foods is costing the Australian economy billions (of dollars) in lost productivity from the impact of preventable, diet-related diseases." There was a "significant opportunity for communities, governments and businesses to work together to create future food environments that are healthier, more sustainable and more equitable". Australia's "industrialised food system" included many high-quality and safe items, but was also associated with obesity and diet-related diseases at epidemic levels. This was linked to the poor diet of the average Australian, who ate too few fruit and vegetables and too many nutrient-poor "discretionary foods". "Displacement of healthy foods with discretionary foods means that many Australians suffer from micronutrient deficiencies despite the relative abundance of food," the report said. There was also uneven access to grocery stores for healthy diet choices, room for improvement on food safety, and widespread food insecurity across the country, according to the report. About 3.4 million households experienced moderate or severe food insecurity in the past 12 months, while 31 per cent of remote Indigenous people experienced food insecurity, it said. In addition to impacts on human health, hidden costs include animal welfare, loss of biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions, pollution and air, soil and water degradation, and food waste. "This national stocktake provides an evidence base to guide our actions as social, cultural, environmental, and economic priorities shift," CSIRO agriculture and food director Michael Robertson said. "We have an intergenerational responsibility to pursue these goals vigorously." Foodbank chief operating officer Sarah Pennell said the findings confirmed the charity's observations from operations around the country. "Too many Australians are struggling to afford and access nutritious food," Ms Pennell said in a statement. "It's especially concerning that fresh fruit and vegetables, essential for good health, are among the first things to be cut from household budgets when money is tight. "Good nutrition is a basic right, not a luxury, and this report reinforces the urgency of addressing Australia's growing food insecurity crisis."
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Health
- Perth Now
Food system's billions of 'hidden costs' a sick outlook
Millions of Australians are being let down by a national food system that is cultivating insufficient fresh produce, contributing to high obesity rates and diet-related diseases, a first-of-its-kind report has found. The CSIRO report, released on Monday, found such "hidden costs" could be as much as $274 billion - the highest of any equivalent system worldwide. The agency's research examined Australia's network of food production, processing, transport, distribution, marketing and consumption to strengthen it against sustainability challenges and boost the delivery of healthy food. Among key issues in the $800 billion system - underpinned by 100,000 farmers - was a scarcity of fresh produce ending up on the tables of Australian consumers. "Australia's food system does not produce enough vegetables to meet recommended daily intakes," the report by the nation's science agency said. "The promotion of convenient, highly processed foods is costing the Australian economy billions (of dollars) in lost productivity from the impact of preventable, diet-related diseases." There was a "significant opportunity for communities, governments and businesses to work together to create future food environments that are healthier, more sustainable and more equitable". Australia's "industrialised food system" included many high-quality and safe items, but was also associated with obesity and diet-related diseases at epidemic levels. This was linked to the poor diet of the average Australian, who ate too few fruit and vegetables and too many nutrient-poor "discretionary foods". "Displacement of healthy foods with discretionary foods means that many Australians suffer from micronutrient deficiencies despite the relative abundance of food," the report said. There was also uneven access to grocery stores for healthy diet choices, room for improvement on food safety, and widespread food insecurity across the country, according to the report. About 3.4 million households experienced moderate or severe food insecurity in the past 12 months, while 31 per cent of remote Indigenous people experienced food insecurity, it said. In addition to impacts on human health, hidden costs include animal welfare, loss of biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions, pollution and air, soil and water degradation, and food waste. "This national stocktake provides an evidence base to guide our actions as social, cultural, environmental, and economic priorities shift," CSIRO agriculture and food director Michael Robertson said. "We have an intergenerational responsibility to pursue these goals vigorously." Foodbank chief operating officer Sarah Pennell said the findings confirmed the charity's observations from operations around the country. "Too many Australians are struggling to afford and access nutritious food," Ms Pennell said in a statement. "It's especially concerning that fresh fruit and vegetables, essential for good health, are among the first things to be cut from household budgets when money is tight. "Good nutrition is a basic right, not a luxury, and this report reinforces the urgency of addressing Australia's growing food insecurity crisis."
AU Financial Review
4 days ago
- Business
- AU Financial Review
How philanthropy is reshaping the future
With many housing developments unfolding across the country, there are strong signs of economic prosperity. But look more closely, and the region is growing faster than even some hardworking people can keep up, with the cost-of-living crisis responsible for deep pockets of economic despair. Financial hardship among everyday households has escalated, pushing up demand for Foodbank to lend a hand by 40 per cent in the past five years. Research suggests that food insecurity in Australia has reached a critical point, with half of low-income households saying they have faced food insecurity recently and an influx of schools reaching out, says Foodbank chief executive for NSW and ACT, John Robertson. One in five Australians experienced food insecurity in 2024, and 700 schools in NSW and the ACT provide students with a free breakfast every day, he shares. More than half of food-insecure households are enduring the most severe level of hardship, leading members of the family to skip meals, reduce portion sizes or even go entire days without eating, Robertson says.
