Home » Nourishment » Food Insecurity: Neighbors Helping Neighbors

Food Insecurity: Neighbors Helping Neighbors

food insecurity
Spread the love and SHARE!

Food Insecurity: Neighbors Helping Neighbors

Those of you who have read my previous articles know that I am passionate about the benefits of whole food nutrition, a.k.a. food from nature, not science. But not everyone has access to or the resources to buy whole foods.

According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, about 1.2 million North Carolinians don’t know where their next meal is coming from. According to feedingamerica.org, rural communities are especially hard hit by hunger. The organization says that 11.2% of Henderson County residents and 12% of Transylvania County residents experience food insecurity.

Food insecurity is defined as the consistent lack of food to have a healthy life because of one’s economic situation. People experiencing this often have limited access to nutritious foods such as fruits, vegetables and lean proteins. They often rely on less expensive and more readily available processed foods that are high in fat and refined carbohydrates. 

“If you can’t feed one hundred  people, then just feed one.”  Mother Teresa

Sowing the Seeds of Nourishment

Before I relocated to the beautiful NC mountains, I volunteered in a food bank warehouse, sorting and packing boxes of food for families in need. During the height of the COVID pandemic, the number of families served dramatically increased. In 2022, this number continued to increase to historic highs as prices for necessities soared. In fact, some people who had volunteered previously for the food bank became clients themselves during this time.

After I moved, I didn’t have to look far for a way to continue helping alleviate food insecurity. My new mountain community has a ¼- acre garden in which we grow and harvest a variety of vegetables for the sole purpose of donating to our neighbors in need. I am now part of a dedicated team of Victory Garden volunteers who sew seeds, plant vegetables, water, weed, harvest, and deliver thousands of pounds of fresh vegetables to food banks in Hendersonville and Transylvania counties. Deliveries are made several days a week during the harvest season to ensure that the vegetables are at peak freshness. In 2022, 6,400 pounds of vegetables were donated, and we are on track to exceed that number this year!

For 15 years, volunteers in this garden have been providing fresh, nutritious food which might not otherwise be accessible or affordable for our neighbors in need. We are making a difference in the lives of others, and I am honored and blessed to be part of this team.  Interested in learning more about small plot gardening?  Read more articles Here. 

The recipe below is a summer favorite that celebrates the bounty of fresh vegetables available this time of year. They are GBD (golden brown delicious)!

Corn & Zucchini Fritters

Corn and Zucchini Fritters

Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: corn, easy, fritters, zucchini
Servings: 8 servings
Author: Lisa Woodie

Ingredients

  • 1 cup flour
  • tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt plus more, to taste
  • cup milk
  • 2 tbsp melted butter
  • 1 cup grated zucchini
  • 1 cup fresh corn kernels
  • ¼ cup Vidalia (sweet) onion, finely chopped
  • 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped
  • ¼ cup red bell pepper, chopped
  • ½ cup freshly shredded cheddar cheese
  • extra virgin olive oil
  • black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  • Mix flour, baking powder, ½ teaspoon salt and black pepper in a large bowl. Whisk together milk, egg and butter in small bowl. Add egg mixture to the large bowl. Stir in all vegetables and cheese.
  • Heat a little oil in a cast iron skillet over medium heat and swirl around to coat the pan. Working in batches, drop 1 heaping tablespoon portions of batter in the skillet and flatten a little. Cook each batch until GBD (golden brown delicious!), about 1-2 minutes per side.
  • Transfer each batch to a baking sheet lined with paper towels, sprinkle each fritter with a little salt, and tent the baking sheet with foil to keep them warm. Cook the remaining batches, adding more oil as needed.
  • The fritters are delicious plain, dipped in ranch dressing or topped with salsa.
Nourish Your Body with Good Fuel

About the Writer:

Chef Lisa Woodie, owner of Homemade Fresh, LLC, provides tips and recipes to nourish your body with whole food fuel. She recently relocated her business to the Hendersonville area after serving clients in Charlotte for 11 years. Homemade Fresh is a meal preparation business that personalizes meal plans based on each client’s tastes, preferences, and dietary requirements. She plans your meals, shops for the ingredients, prepares and packages the meals, and leaves them in your refrigerator with easy heat-and-eat instructions. She also provides service for dinner parties, paired food and wine tastings, events with hors d’oeuvres, and other types of catered events. For more information, visit www.homemadefresh.net.

More Blog Posts

1 thought on “Food Insecurity: Neighbors Helping Neighbors”

Comments are closed.