Food Insecurity Leads To Creation Of Howard County Food Council

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Nearly one in six Howard County residents experience food insecurity, officials say, and almost one in four express concerns about affording essential expenses like rent, mortgage and food.

To address those concerns, leaders have created the Howard County Food Council to tackle food insecurity "holistically by enhancing the local food system through policy solutions and coordination of existing resources and providers to improve efficiency and ensure access."

The Howard County Food Council has been funded with a $225,000 grant from CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield in response to their Place-Based Strategies: Diabetes Request for Proposals.

"The establishment of the Howard County Food Council represents a crucial step in addressing the root causes of food insecurity," said Antigone Vickery, deputy health officer of the Howard County Health Department. "By bringing together diverse partners, we can create sustainable solutions that ensure every resident has access to nutritious food."

The Food Council will focus on reducing food insecurity through various strategies and will build on the work of the HCLHIC’s Food Security Committee and recommendations from the Howard County Food & Nutrition Security Roundtable Report. The Council will work to enhance coordination among the numerous partner agencies within the county, leading to improvement in long-term health outcomes, specifically related to the occurrence of diabetes and other chronic health conditions, county leaders said.

“How we nourish our bodies plays a vital role in improving our long-term health and wellness. I remain dedicated to our residents having access to high quality, nutritious food,” said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball. “We have many outstanding community partners who do meaningful work in the area of providing food. This Council will create a more efficient system to make sure those who are food insecure are able to meet their needs and the needs of their families.”

The Council will be based out of the Howard County Office of the University of Maryland Extension and borrow expertise from experts there, too.

"Our expertise in nutrition education, agribusiness, gardening, environmental and natural resource preservation, and more will be invaluable assets to the council. We believe this partnership will be instrumental in driving transformative change to improve food security and strengthen our local food system for all," said Lynn Rubin Traversa, area Extension director for Maryland's Central Cluster.