In an experimental program to improve nutrition, the Baltimore health department has turned two public libraries into virtual supermarkets where patrons can order groceries along with their bestsellers.
We have always been card-carrying fans of public libraries. The stack in the photo above is a modest example of how many books we may have checked out at any given moment. To us, libraries are one of the most noble inventions of civilization. So when we read about the public libraries in Baltimore taking part in a pilot program to help people in underserved communities have better access to healthy food, we were delighted, but not overly surprised.
I’ve written here in the past about food deserts—communities with little access to supermarkets or other sources of healthy food options. Living in one takes a real toll on people’s health, putting them at risk for obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and other preventable conditions. To combat these problems, Baltimore’s health department has teamed up with two public library branches and Baltimore grocer Santoni’s supermarket. Patrons can order groceries online at the library one day and pick them up the next. And they can and pay for them with cash, credit or food stamps.
Launched just last month, the program is already proving popular with residents of the two neighborhoods, giving them better access to fresh fruits, vegetables and meats. And it’s making a difference in areas where death from diet-related causes like diabetes, stroke and heart disease are among the highest in the city. As First Lady Michelle Obama takes up the battle against childhood obesity and the nation becomes ever more aware of the role of diet in public health, programs like Virtual Supermarket are providing smart, workable solutions. And a hopeful glimpse of the future.
We first learned about the Virtual Supermarket Program from the blog Curious Feet, whose author Claire is no stranger to food deserts. Be sure to read her story—she writes eloquently about the experience of living in one and the coping skills it takes to eat healthy. She had heard about the program on NPR. To read and hear their complete story, check out Check It Out: Get Your Groceries At The Library.
This is fabulous. I did a ton of research into food deserts and the havoc they wreak on child development. The health risks associated with living in such areas are significant, poor nutrition during childhood can set a kid up for dietary failure throughout the rest of their life. This seems like a great solution not only to provide fresh produce to people who don’t have access, but perhaps also for libraries to remain viable resources in the age of the Kindle?
Thanks, sweetbird! It really is a shame that grocery stores and supermarket chains are allowed to or feel compelled to abandon large swaths of cities. And not only might this help libraries take on Kindle, it could help them take on the iPad, which Kindle is wondering how to contend with.
In this economy, more and more grocery stores have closed all over the metropolitan Phoenix area, and our libraries have had to cut their hours drastically. I think that they should be made aware of this program. Safeway delivers groceries here, but you have to order at least $50 worth of groceries, they charge a $12.50 delivery fee, and you have to use a debit or credit card. I love that this program allows people using food stamps to order online, too. I thought it was wonderful when the food stamp program changed to “debit cards” from the old paper coupons removing the stigma and embarrassment felt by many. My mother received food stamps, weekly food boxes and Meals-on-Wheels lunches for years, all of which enabled her to eat healthy foods. Even though it runs in our family, she never did develop diabetes. Thanks to the efforts of Michelle Obama, Jamie Oliver, Alice Waters, Mark Bittman, farmers’ markets, CSA’s and food bloggers like you, I’m hopeful that the country is starting to wake up to the advantages of eating “healthy.” Another great post, Terry. Thank you.
Thanks for the wonderful, thoughtful comment, Dani. I do think we are all waking up to how we eat and the effects it has—or anyway, many are. And beyond all of the forces you mentioned at work on this awakening, there is enough momentum that it has become a market force. More and more, even mainstream food producers are seeing the financial benefits to adapting to healthier ways to produce foods. Stay tuned.