The City of Salem Joins White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities

The City of Salem is proud to announce its proposal for the White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities has been approved by the White House and CDC Foundation. The proposal outlines the City of Salem’s commitment towards eliminating food insecurity and increasing healthy eating and physical activity by 2030.

Salem joins a national movement of community leaders and the Biden-Harris Administration’s National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health to reduce health disparities caused by diet-related chronic diseases.

“I am thrilled that Salem was accepted into the White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities,” said Mayor Dominick Pangallo. “We’ve worked hard to address food insecurity in our city and I’m grateful for the efforts of our staff, community partners, and Food Policy Council members to make this possible. By aligning our future work on this issue with the Biden-Harris Administration’s National Strategy, we can do even more to build greater access to nutritious food choices for residents of all ages.”

By participating in the challenge, organizations and communities are encouraged to commit to the following areas of the National Strategy:

Ensure kids have access to nutritious meals in the summer.

To reduce stigma and feed families at Salem Summer Eats sites, the City of Salem will work with Salem Public Schools and community partners to provide supplemental meals for parents and caregivers at meal sites to allow families to eat together, particularly at dinner sites where parents are more likely to attend with their children. These meals will be offered to anyone who attends with a child eligible for the program.

Reduce barriers to participation and involve community members in federal assistance programs.

The City of Salem’s Food Policy Council, Salem Food for All, will create and launch an ongoing, multilingual community outreach campaign dedicated to closing the SNAP gap and building more awareness about SNAP eligibility, how and where to apply, and how and where to use Healthy Incentive Program benefits, a program that doubles the use of SNAP benefits at farmers’ markets, farm stands and other outlets selling fresh produce. 

Create environments that support healthier choices.

The City of Salem commits to creating a multi-sector coalition to plan and implement long-term, sustainable, changes to eliminate health disparities in Salem’s vulnerable populations by improving access to healthy, affordable foods and reducing barriers to physical activity.

The City of Salem will also partner with Salem Public Schools to incorporate food literacy and school garden education into the district’s curriculum. Food literacy and school garden education is crucial for children to learn about where their food comes from, how the food system operates, and how to make healthier choices.

The City of Salem is positioned to successfully lead this challenge with its existing community partners who are already working towards these goals, including leaders in food assistance organizations, education, housing, and healthcare. These partners are committed to working with the City of Salem to increase access to healthy, affordable foods and opportunities for safe physical activity for all Salem community members.

Find out more about the White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/02/27/fact-sheet-the-biden-harris-administration-announces-nearly-1-7-billion-in-new-commitments-cultivated-through-the-white-house-challenge-to-end-hunger-and-build-healthy-communities/.