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LAA receives $40,000 grant to alleviate hunger among Latino families

LAA receives $40,000 grant to alleviate hunger among Latino families

Partnership will strengthen Latino community in metro Atlanta by providing meals to families in need

 

[Atlanta, GA] (January 19, 2017) – The Latin American Association (LAA) is participating in the Hispanic Federation’s National Hunger Relief Initiative (NHRI), which aims to provide 460,000 meals to families in need this year. The LAA will be distributing food on Thursday, January 19 thanks to the generous support of the Walmart Foundation, which funds programs to address hunger and nutrition education as a way to strengthen local communities.

According to Feeding America, 21% of Latinos are food insecure, more than twice as much as white non- Hispanics (10%). Almost 25% of Latino children live in a food-insecure household.

The LAA was awarded $40,000 to help 2,000 individuals in one year through four initiatives aimed at eradicating hunger and malnutrition in Atlanta:

  • Food pantries at its Buford Highway and Norcross locations
  • Special and off-site events to highlight the importance of healthy eating and reach out to the Latino population
  • Nutrition workshops offered with UGA Extension and Open Hand to promote healthy eating habits
  • Offering help to eligible Latinos to apply for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP benefits)

“We see many families in our community that don’t have enough to eat,” said Aníbal Torres, executive director of the LAA. “There are many families that we are not able to help. Thanks to the generous support of the Hispanic Federation and the Walmart Foundation, we will be able to reach out to these families and offer them food, nutrition information and help applying for benefits that they are eligible for.”

“Hispanic Federation is proud to support the Latin American Association and call them a partner in the fight against hunger.  Food insecurity is an issue that plagues far too many Latino families, and the National Hunger Relief Initiative seeks to address this crisis head on. With the support of the Walmart Foundation, we’re providing thousands of meals across the country, and giving hope and sustenance to those families that need it the most,” said José Calderón, President of the Hispanic Federation.

In addition to providing 460,000 meals to Latino families this year, NHRI will service over 7,000 individuals and distribute 59,000 pounds of food over the course of the year. NHRI will also focus on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) outreach and application assistance and promoting healthy eating habits. With the support of the Walmart Foundation, NHRI is operating in 5 states over the course of the year.

“Collaboration and dedication are key to making a positive impact on the issue of hunger in local communities across the U.S. We’re proud to work with Hispanic Federation and the Latin American Association to support hunger relief and nutrition education for individuals and families in need. Thanks to the programs these grantees have implemented, thousands of underserved people will have access to emergency meals and information to help themselves and their families make healthier life choices,” said Carol May, Program Manager of the Walmart Foundation.

In October of 2014, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation announced a commitment to create a more sustainable food system, with a focus on improving affordability by lowering the “true cost” of food for both people and the environment, increasing access to food, making healthier eating easier, and improving the safety and transparency of the food chain. The commitment includes a goal of providing four billion meals to those in need and invest in programs that provide nutrition education for 4 million people, by 2020.

For more information about the grant awarded to the LAA, visit www.thelaa.org

 

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