This past Sunday the Access Hunger Walk brought over 600 individuals, congregations, and businesses together to advocate for solutions to food insecurity and poverty. The funds raised through this event are going to be distributed as micro-grants to 18 organizations whose work ranges from community gardening projects, food system policy work, nutrition and healthy lifestyle programs, food pantries and gleaning programs, to food justice initiatives.
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Wrapping up its 39th year, the Hunger Walk was focused this year on celebrating the Good Food principles as outlined in the Michigan Good Food Charter. The walk kicked off with live music, face painting, chalk art, and Tatertats, offering families a fun way to connect to these principles. During the opening ceremony, Mayor Rosalynn Bliss, Connie Dang the Director of Multicultural Affairs at Grand Valley, and Superintendent Theresa Weatherall Neal of GRPS highlighted the Good Food principles as they relate to our community. As participants trekked the 5K route they answered questions that guided them towards an understanding of Good Food as being healthy, green, fair, and affordable. These small changes were made in an effort to encourage participants to leave the walk inspired to uplift the Good Food principles in support of Michigan’s commitment to ensure that Good Food is available to all.
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Good Food is…
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Healthy – It provides nourishment and enables people to thrive
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Green – It was produced in a manner that is environmentally sustainable
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Fair – No one along the supply chain was exploited for its creation
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Affordable – All people have access to it
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