How Health Equity Initiative is Making a Difference in Virginia

Everyone deserves access to health and nutrition, yet many people in our communities still face challenges in achieving basic well-being. Health equity is the principle that everyone has the right to fair opportunities to be as healthy as possible. Here in Virginia, the fight for health equity is more crucial than ever. More than 132,240 people in the service area of the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore are projected to be food insecure, putting them at greater risk for health inequity.

What is Health Equity?

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, health equity is the state in which everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their highest level of health.

Health is more than just the absence of disease. Key social factors and other barriers, including how people are born, grow, live, work, and age, also shape our health outcomes. According to the World Health Organization, these are a few examples of social determinants of health that can influence health equity:

• Education – Less education often means lower health literacy and access to fewer resources
• Race and Ethnicity – Can impact treatment experiences and access to care
• Gender – Biases affect the quality of care and health outcomes
• Housing – Unstable or inadequate housing can result in poorer quality of health
• Income – Lower income limits healthcare access and healthy food choices
• Food Insecurity – Lack of nutrition increases health risks

Food Insecurity and Health Equity

Food insecurity is a major roadblock to health equity. Chronic diseases, mental health issues, and diminished quality of life are direct consequences of inadequate access to enough nutritious food. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, without consistent access to healthy meals, individuals are more likely to develop conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and obesity, which disproportionately affect low-income and marginalized communities. 

Additionally, food insecurity often creates stress and poor health, as people often face the decision between paying for medical care or purchasing food. By addressing food insecurity, we’re working toward achieving health equity by ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to lead a healthy, productive life.

Food banks play a vital role in promoting health and well-being. The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore works to eliminate hunger daily through our programs, facilities, and a large network of community partners.

Healthy Pantry Initiative

Food pantries and a network of partners across Virginia are part of the Healthy Pantry Initiative, a health equity movement to implement healthy pantry practices and better support the health and nutrition of our neighbors facing hunger. As part of the Healthy Pantry Initiative’s goals to combat food insecurity and achieve health equity, we:

• Treat all people with respect, dignity, and courtesy.
• Value increased access to resources and opportunities.
• Remove barriers by offering transportation, extending service hours, offering resources for non-English speaking neighbors, and allowing families to choose their own food
• Offer fresh and healthy foods that meet the dietary needs of neighbors facing hunger. Through the Healthy Pantry Foods Program, individuals with special dietary needs, such as those facing health-related challenges like diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity, are offered access to nourishing foods that are low in sodium, sugar, and trans-fat.

How You Can Help

Your support can help vulnerable people in our communities move one step closer to achieving health equity. Host a food drive to collect non-perishable goods such as canned vegetables, pasta, rice, and peanut butter. Mobilize your neighbors, colleagues, or classmates to build awareness, foster community spirit, and help us directly address the social determinants of health in our own backyards.

Donate to a food bank online to provide meals for dozens of families struggling with food insecurity. A $10 donation to the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore provides 20 meals, with donations going toward the purchase of fresh produce, dairy, and protein for families in need of these items for a well-balanced diet.

Achieving Health Equity

The path to health equity is not an easy one. By supporting initiatives like the Healthy Pantry Initiative with the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, we can take meaningful steps toward closing the gap. Visit our website to learn how you can make an impact. Together, we can ensure that everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances, has access to the resources they need for a healthier, more equitable future.