Chatham Food Hub
Project Title
Chatham Food Hub
Funding Dates
2020
Description
Social determinants of health such as income level, access to housing, and access to nutritious foods all can affect health before patients even see a doctor. For rural communities with large Latinx and Black populations, COVID-19 has had a disproportionate effect on both the economy and the health of the community. The Chatham Food Hub is a systems-level intervention designed to create access to healthy food and provide an economic boost to the community. Working in partnership with the Chatham County government, local organizations, and restaurants in Chatham County, the Chatham Food Hub utilizes an online portal where residents can choose from meals prepared by area restaurants, local farm produce, and emergency food boxes from CORA Food Pantry. The residents then pick up their food at a drive-through location. In addition to providing food to needy families, the Chatham Food Hub also generates income for participating restaurants and employees. A research team will study the impacts of the food hub on food insecurity and jobs with the goal of developing a sustainable model that can be used in other areas of North Carolina.
Research Areas
Healthy Food Access
Rural Health
Project Leads
Eleanor Wertman, MPH (UNC Health Alliance)
Alice Ammerman, DrPH (HPDP)
Funding
COVID-19 Rural Response Grant – UNC Rural
Links
https://www.chathamhealthalliancenc.org/food-hub
https://www.facebook.com/chathamfoodhub/