As part of a way to help curb hunger and malnutrition in Kansas, Gov. Mark Parkinson has established a task force to look at access to healthy foods.
Last week, Parkinson established the Kansas Food Security Task Force, which will monitor and reduce food insecurity and hunger throughout the state.
“No Kansan should be faced with having to decide between making ends meet or putting food on the table,” said Parkinson. “Even though Kansas is the Breadbasket of the Nation, food security is a serious issue that reaches all ages, ethnicities and corners of our state. I am pleased to form this task force to help fight hunger, encourage healthy eating and help raise awareness about the dangers of food insecurity.”
Parkinson established the task force through Executive Order 10-11. Through that order, the Kansas Food Security Task Force is charged with identifying ways to eliminate the root causes of food insecurity and hunger in Kansas. Members of the task force will review the status of nutrition assistance programs and assess ways to improve participation among food-insecure families.
The task force will also monitor rates of food insecurity and submit annual reports to the governor that provide an overview of prior accomplishments and future recommendations for reducing household hunger.
Parkinson said that the number of households receiving help through the Kansas Food Assistance program is at “record-setting numbers.”
In fiscal year 2010, the Kansas Food Assistance program served an average of 117,000 families per month, and the three nonprofit Feeding America food banks in Kansas distributed more than 16 million pounds of food to the hungry. During the 2009-2010 school year, 47.5 percent of Kansas students participated in free or reduced price school meal programs.
In addition to establishing the task force, Parkinson also signed a proclamation declaring the month of September “Hunger Awareness Month” to highlight on the issue and help bring awareness to food assistance programs for low-income Kansans.
On the Web:
Kansas Governor:
http://www.governor.ks.gov
Matthew Clark can be reached at matthew.clark@morningsun.net or at 6250-231-2600, Ext. 140
