DAY 1

HOW DO YOU FEED A PERSON WITH $4 A DAY IN A WAY THAT IS HEALTHY, ACCESSIBLE, AND CHEAP?

Nutrition is a key driver of health outcomes, yet eating healthy is difficult and expensive. Access to good, healthy food is not a given for residents of Alabama’s largest city. For example, Birmingham has fewer grocery stores overall than one would expect. The number of grocery stores per 100,000 population is 16.1, compared to a national average of 21.1. Large grocery centers, typically in shopping malls located away from residential areas, are the primary source of food.

The USDA found that 11,000 people in Jefferson County had no ready means of transportation and were more than a mile from a grocery store. For these residents with limited means of transportation, this creates a major problem. More than 19% of the low-income population in Birmingham has low food access, compared to 6.3% nationally. Moreover, 17% (1 in 6) of Alabama residents are on SNAP Benefit plans, which provides recipients a meager $4.17 per day for food.  

With your support, InnoHack Teams will be challenged to create sustainable, business solutions for increasing access to good, healthy food for the people within the Ensley, Woodlawn and Eastlake communities. Explore the issue at the links provided below.