Northwest Wayne News

Ideas on how to further decrease Michigan's food insecurities and the steps that have already been taken to improve the disparities were highlighted in the final report from the Food Security Council.

The council, which was created by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) in August 2020, suggested setting aside more money to fund fresh food programs, getting more feedback from residents who use the programs, and ensuring those who receive Medicaid benefits can access appropriate foods to meet their dietary needs, according to a press release from the Governor's office.

"Members of the Food Security Council are passionate about this complex challenge because most of us see its effects on a daily basis," Dr. Phil Knight, Food Security Council Chair, said in the release. "Families and individuals faced with food insecurity deal with toxic stress that impacts all parts of their lives - including their health and their ability to maintain employment and support their children. We appreciate Governor Whitmer's leadership in tackling the issue of food insecurity."

Dr. Knight, who serves on the Food Bank Council of Michigan, is joined on the Food Security Council by directors of the state's Health and Human Services, Agriculture and Rural Development, and Labor and Economic Opportunity Agencies. Representatives from public schools and 16 other appointees are also a part of the council, the release stated.

According to the release, the report's recommendations have three main components that included increasing the availability of healthy food, understanding and supporting residents experiencing hunger, and improving navigation to connect food and nutritional programs. In addition, there are 11 more targeted proposals.

Although the final statistics for 2020 have yet to be reported, the release pointed out that preliminary data shows at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, food insecurity increased to about 1.9 million people including 552,000 children in the Wolverine State.