28. December 2008 by Candace Carlisle.
Did you know that today’s kids have a shorter life expectancy than our generation does? From chronic, diet-related diseases to environmental factors, our sons and daughters are at great risk, as are their friends all across Texas. Our state is ranked in the bottom three for food security, defined as access to affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food. Poverty and hunger can mean a greater likelihood of obesity, diabetes and heart disease as more and more families rely on fast food with little or no nutritional value.
Already one in three children in Texas is hungry, and more than 25 percent of kids between the ages of 6 and 18 are overweight and nutritionally starving. That’s why we have to examine our broken food system, encourage reliance on non-emergency food sources, and re-integrate small, family farms into our cultural landscape.
An organization in Central Texas exists to do just this. Sustainable Food Center cultivates a healthy community by strengthening the local food system and improving access to nutritious, affordable food. Every year, SFC supports local farmers by hosting the year-round Austin Farmers’ Market and providing numerous other avenues for farmers to sell their produce; they launch community and school gardens to show over 10,000 of us how to grow our own food; and they teach free cooking and nutrition education classes through The Happy Kitchen/La Cocina Alegre™ to over 20,000 children and adults.
Support Sustainable Food Center and the collective strength and health of our community by participating in the Seeds of Hope campaign, which will enable SFC to grow its programs and reach out more effectively to Texans in need. By making your gift, you’ll join the movement to protect and strengthen our food system and prevent the continued depletion of our land and our health.
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