At Charles H. Parker Academic Center, kids kicked off a garden program to help solve food access problems in Mecklenburg County, according to a recent story in the Charlotte Observer. In this area, 15% of people can’t easily get to grocery stores. Second graders got their hands dirty on December 7, planting cabbage and taking care of vegetable gardens. This project took the place of earlier plans for a West Boulevard neighborhood farmers market.

Many local kids don’t have enough food at home. “Children go hungry because their low-income families often find themselves having to make choices between paying the rent and utilities and purchasing food, especially healthy food,” according to a report by the Foundation For The Carolinas.

New numbers show a big jump in food needs. Between 2021 and 2022, requests for food help went up 38%. During this time, Meals on Wheels went from 117,000 to 133,000 deliveries. The problem hits some groups harder than others. Black residents make up 47% of people getting food help, while Latino residents account for 37%. Kids have it worse than adults: the county’s child hunger rate reached 22.3% in 2012, higher than the U.S. rate of 21.6%.

UNC Charlotte’s Colleen Hammelman says high living costs are a big reason for food access issues. To help more people, the project will give out home growing kits to students. By showing kids how to grow food, the program hopes to make a real difference. Student leaders Rutwa Patil and Meadow Palmer help younger kids who then teach these skills to their families.

Fresh produce is hard to find at food banks. The Foundation For The Carolinas study states: “Food banks and food pantries attempt to provide as much fresh food as possible, but those often are the first food items to go and do not go far enough.”

Kids and seniors are half of the people helped by Loaves & Fishes/Friendship Trays. They helped 38% more people in 2022 than in 2021.