Imagine taking a step towards freedom after serving time behind bars, only to find yourself wrestling with a different kind of prison—food insecurity. For individuals returning home from prison, the struggle for reintegration is often compounded by the hidden challenge of not having consistent access to nutritious food.
What is Food Insecurity?
Food insecurity refers to the lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life. Food insecurity is a multifaceted issue driven by economic, social, and systemic factors. As these individuals strive to reintegrate into society, the lack of reliable nutrition becomes a barrier, hindering physical health, mental well-being, and successful re-entry.
MLK Fresh Produce Distribution Center
Miles of Freedom is helping reduce the impact of food insecurity through the MLK Fresh Produce Distribution Center, operated by members and graduates of Miles of Freedom.
Since our inception we have distributed:
- 8282 bags of food to 1300+ unduplicated households
- 5 million+ pounds of food
Miles of Freedom Makes an Impact
Miles of Freedom provides fresh fruits and vegetables to families in a food desert. The area around the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center is considered a food desert, meaning that there is limited access to affordable, healthy food. Miles of Freedom’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Food Pantry helps to fill this gap by providing fresh fruits and vegetables to families in need throughout South Dallas.
Miles of Freedom offers a variety of other helpful services to help families and individuals become more self-sufficient. In addition to providing food, Miles of Freedom also offers a variety of other services to help families become more self-sufficient, such as job training, financial literacy classes, and family support groups, and formerly incarcerated individuals transition back into the “free world.” These services help families and individuals to overcome the challenges of food insecurity and build a brighter future for themselves. Through our re-entry program, we have provided over 700 clients access to services to brighten their future.
Miles of Freedom works to build community and empower families. Miles of Freedom is committed to building community and empowering families. We do this by hosting events and activities that bring people together, such as community dinners, job fairs, and educational workshops. During this quarter, we conducted workforce training presentations for 70 individuals across two distinct partner locations outside our premises. These events help to create a sense of belonging and support for families and persons in need.
For more information about the food pantry or Miles of Freedom, please give us a call at 214-290-2337.
References:
- https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-u-s/definitions-of-food-security/
- https://dallasmlkcenter.com/mlk-fresh-produce-distribution-center/
- https://milesoffreedom.org/services/
- https://milesoffreedom.org/programs/
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My name is Christopher Moorer II; Owner of Make The Healthy Choice. I am an experienced content writer, web designer, graphic designer, and digital marketer that has spent time incarcerated. I hold a degree from the University of North Texas at Dallas in Public Health. I know firsthand the difficulties of trying to rebuild your life after facing such adversity. Find your “Why” and refuse to let your past define you. Instead, use it as motivation to pursue your passions and make a better life for yourself.
