“It’s truly for everybody. It’s just an opportunity to learn, to meet the council and understand a little bit more about what that group’s intention is for Grant County, and then also learn about current changes in important programs like SNAP and SUN Bucks.” 

Lexi Smith, GCHD public information officer  

MOSES LAKE — The Grant County Health District is launching a new community-led effort aimed at improving access to healthy and affordable food across the county, beginning with a public virtual presentation later this month. 

The newly formed Grant County Food Council will hold its first community presentation, “The Right to Food,” from noon to 1 p.m. Sept. 16 via Zoom. The event will feature Anna Nepomuceno, director of public policy for Northwest Harvest, who will discuss statewide efforts to address hunger, provide updates on the federal Farm Bill and explain how potential changes could affect programs such as SNAP, SUN Bucks, summer meals and other food assistance services. 

According to Grant County Health District Public Information Officer Lexi Smith, the council was created as part of the district’s Community Health Improvement Plan, which identified food security as one of three major priorities alongside behavioral health and transportation. 

“An objective that was identified for food security in particular was to build a coordinated food system infrastructure in Grant County,” Smith said. “One of the specific activities for that objective was establishing this food council with representation from all towns, community members, growers, nonprofits and schools in Grant County.” 

The council brings together organizations involved in food access and nutrition throughout the region. Current members include the Grant County Health District, Quincy School District, Columbia Basin Hospital, Mattawa Food Bank, Othello Food Bank, Family Services of Grant County, Northwest Harvest, Cloudview Farm and a Washington Food Coalition district representative serving Adams, Grant and Lincoln counties. 

Smith said organizers hope the council will include a broad range of community stakeholders. 

“It’s supposed to have a pretty diverse group of anybody who’s really involved in improving food access in Grant County,” she said. “Nonprofits, community-based organizations, libraries, clinics, farmers, food distributors, care organizations and nutritionists.” 

The council’s formation follows findings from the Grant County Community Health Assessment, which found food insecurity remains a significant challenge for local residents. The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines food insecurity as a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life. 

Data from the assessment showed nearly one in five Grant County residents participated in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP or food stamps, between 2016 and 2020. The report also found Grant County has historically had higher participation rates in food assistance programs than the statewide average. 

The assessment identified children and Hispanic or Latino residents as the groups experiencing the highest levels of food insecurity in the county. 

While food assistance programs and local organizations provide resources, Smith said residents face a variety of barriers beyond food availability itself. 

“Many residents live far from grocery stores, food banks, farmers markets and other food resources,” Smith said in an email. “Seniors, homebound residents and people living in small or isolated communities may have additional challenges reaching food resources.” 

Other barriers include the higher cost of fresh and healthy foods, limited access to culturally relevant foods, work schedules that make food distribution hours difficult to access and language or information gaps that prevent residents from learning about available services. 

“People may not know where food resources are located, what services they qualify for or when distributions are available,” Smith said. “Language and communication barriers can further limit access.” 

The Sept. 16 meeting will be facilitated in both English and Spanish. Organizers say it is open to anyone interested in food security, nutrition access or strengthening local food systems. 

“It’s truly for everybody,” Smith said. “It’s just an opportunity to learn, to meet the council and understand a little bit more about what that group’s intention is for Grant County, and then also learn about current changes in important programs like SNAP and SUN Bucks.” 

The council plans to offer regular trainings and presentations covering food assistance programs and the local food system as it continues its work throughout Grant County. 

The meeting can be joined via Zoom with the meeting ID: 893 3391 6100.