Legacy Foundation brought together more than 100 people in Lake County for an important health-related conversation on Friday, March 21. The organization hosted its “Let’s Talk Food” event, featuring three panelists from different organizations discussing the biggest issues in the food system today with the attendees.
President and CEO of Families Anchored in Total Harmony Curtis Whittaker represented Faith Farms as a panelist at the event. Whittaker considers this conversation to be a necessity in addressing issues within the food system.
“This is an important discussion that we need to have with our community,” Whittaker said. “We want to make sure people know that food scarcity exists.”
The event created a space for many local businesses and nonprofit leaders to come together with the desire to build a resilient food system in Lake County. The conversation covered topics such as inflation, supply chain, and labor shortages. Each issue impacts local food access and the strategies to make healthy food more accessible in local communities.
Whittaker has been looking forward to this conversation for the opportunity to discuss one part of the food system that gets overlooked by some.
“One of the most underrated aspects of the food system is the farming that happens in Northwest Indiana, especially urban farming,“ Whittaker said. “There are a lot of people who are growing their own food or growing for others. We want to continue that trend.”
Another part of the issue important to Whittaker from a health perspective is the access to fresh food.
President and CEO of Strack & Van Til Jeff Strack recognized the concerns that are most frequently brought up in this discussion. He believes it’s imperative to make an effort to combat the cost of food.
“We continue to work every day to provide our customers with value when they shop in our stores,” Strack said. “It’s challenging right now, and you can feel when consumers are really trying to stretch their dollars. The cost of food is still expensive, and that’s the biggest thing for us right now.”
While some of the issues stem from the federal level, Strack believes that there are things residents of Northwest Indiana can do to positively impact the food system.
“The struggles that we face in today’s economy cause a great need for many individuals here that we have to help out,” Strack said. “There’s a lot of changes that are happening on the federal level, some on the state level, and a few within our communities. We have to be as focused as ever to help our fellow neighbors and Northwest Indiana residents find good food that is affordable for them.”
Many people believe the ability to make this impact felt is feasible. Victor Garcia, president and CEO of the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana, envisions a healthy future for the Region.
“There are entities here in Northwest Indiana that are committed to supporting our communities,” Garcia said. “We have so many people who are innovative in their solutions and adaptable to change. It’s all about how we work together with one another.”
Garcia, who joined Whittaker and Strack on the panel for the event, appreciates the Legacy Foundation for bringing these three together to initiate the conversation with the attendees.
“It’s exciting to be included in this conversation with our friends at Strack & Van Til and Faith Farms,” Garcia said. “We’re honored that the Legacy Foundation brought us together to share our experiences in the Region. We have such a diverse group of attendees. We’re hopeful that, by answering their questions and concerns, it will lead to new programmatic endeavors.”
While there is room for growth in Northwest Indiana, the panelists have confidence that improvements in the food system will continue to come. However, it’s only possible if the community puts forth the effort.
“Superman isn’t coming to the area anytime soon,” Whittaker said. “There are some things that we need to do ourselves to make a change, and I think we’re more than capable of doing it.”
For more information on the Legacy Foundation, you can visit its website.