EJI starts new initiative to fight hunger in Alabama

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – The Equal Justice Initiative is beginning a brand new program to handle meals wants in Alabama.

“Alabama has one of many highest charges of meals insecurity within the nation,” Govt Director Bryan Stevenson stated.

Stevenson added inflation has exacerbated starvation issues, saying “that greenback doesn’t get the identical issues {that a} greenback obtained on the grocery retailer a yr in the past.”

This system will assist meals banks within the state just like the Meals Financial institution of East Alabama, West Alabama Meals Financial institution, Serving to Hand Ministries and Edmundite Missions tackle their wants as extra households “are actually going to meals pantries and meals banks for the primary time.”

Stevenson additionally talked about there can be a separate program to assist households who’ve particular dietary wants, similar to diabetes, allergic reactions and intolerances, and others.

“Usually the distribution fashions that we depend on aren’t able to being tailor-made to these totally different sorts of wants and people totally different sorts of households,” he stated.

EJI plans to concentrate on poor rural areas and concrete areas which can be thought-about meals deserts for its initiative.

Stevenson stated combating starvation decreases the potential of kids misbehaving at school, plus persons are much less prone to commit crimes.

“It opens up alternatives for schooling and employment and wholesome residing circumstances,” Stevenson stated.

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