September is Hunger Action Month, a time when neighbors come together to raise awareness about food insecurity and take meaningful steps to end hunger in their own communities.
At Toni’s Kitchen, this Hunger Action Month feels different. Even before the impact of over $1 trillion in federal SNAP and Medicaid cuts, in recent months, we have seen a 15% increase in need paired with a 20% reduction in our government-funded food supply, as well as reductions to the staffing and services of our dedicated partners.
While we know that fully stepping into these gaps will not be possible, we are working strategically to maximize the impact of our food work for the neighbors who we serve. At Toni’s Kitchen, we are planning the following initiatives:
A Nutrition Action Program that will provide one-on-one nutrition education and counseling to guests with chronic conditions–diabetes, weight management, and hypertension. This program will include: quarterly check-ins with medical professionals to track impact on A1C (diabetes), BMI (weight management), and BP (hypertension). As low-income populations lose access to medical care, we can lessen the impact for those with nutrition-related diseases. It won’t by any means replace the loss of medical care, but it will help guests gain some agency over chronic challenges.
A Senior Food Outreach Initiative designed to ensure that older adults in West Orange have the same robust and reliable access to healthy food through Toni’s Kitchen programs as in our more established service areas. We are collaborating with the West Orange Health Department, Women’s Club, healthcare organizations, faith communities, and senior housing buildings to identify seniors with food insecurity, prioritizing areas with the greatest need. By building this collaborative network prior to the rollout of federal cuts to SNAP and Medicaid in November, we aim to ensure that as more seniors become food insecure, we are in a place to intervene and provide the support needed.
Toni’s Kitchen is sharing findings, practices, and data with partners both in the food support space through our work with the NJ Community Kitchens Coalition, Food & Health Equity Coalition of Essex County (FHEC) and other strategic alliances, and community partners who provide other important services to ensure all available resources are fully integrated and leveraged.
And lastly, we are creating new volunteer and learning opportunities for all ages to help our community understand evolving issues and develop solutions. Launching soon! (Stay tuned to learn more!)
Solutions are achievable when we come together on behalf of our neighbors who need us. Please consider volunteering, donating food, and/or making a gift to Toni’s Kitchen. Thank you for standing with us!
