The summer months are a hot, three-month time for outdoor merriment and outside dining, but for some low-income families in the District of Columbia, the season can also bring uncertainty about nutrition and food security.
According to a recent study from DC Hunger Solutions, 41% of low-income students in D.C. ate free or reduced-price breakfast at school, and 59% ate free or reduced-price lunch at school. This means many families can’t afford to provide adequate meals to their children during the summer months while kids are home all day– and that’s when programs like Building Bridges Across the River’s Food and Farm Fridays become particularly key to addressing hunger.
Residents trek to Food and Farm Fridays at THEARC in Southeast, D.C. (operated by Building Bridges Across the River) — from now until Nov. 15 — to fill their bags with vegetables like cabbage, onions, squash, and corn. On a particularly hot Friday recently, meals were also ready on site for anyone battling the scorching temperatures.
A local nonprofit, Building Bridges Across the River has spent almost 30 years working to address necessities for District residents, including food, arts and culture, economic opportunities, education, recreation, and health and well-being.
At Food and Farm Fridays people can pick up free, locally grown vegetables, fruits and herbs, attend cooking demonstrations, and receive prepared meals.
“Most places just give you a bag with a random assortment of produce. Here you can pick, it’s not random,” said Scott Kratz, senior vice president of Building Bridges Across the River.
Wards 7 and 8 in the District are officially declared “Food Deserts,” an urban area where it’s difficult to buy affordable or good-quality fresh food.
This makes it difficult for people and families with limited transportation to get groceries efficiently. Food and Farm Fridays offers residents a site to purchase fresh, healthy foods.
“This is important for locals because there’s only one grocery store in the entire Ward 8,” said Kratz.
Senior Farming Manager J.J. Boone has spent 11 years serving District residents through Building Bridges Across the River.
“It takes a lot,” said Boone. “Harvesting, weeding, infrastructure, flipping compost, but I love it because it’s vital to have a close connection to what you’re doing.”
The farming manager emphasized the importance of the work.
“It means a lot to give back, it feels good to be [involved] in something that is not the norm,” said Boone.
Laticia Taylor, communications manager of Building Bridges Across the River’s 11th Street Bridge Park, emphasized that the food selections are available for people of all ages.
“It’s for everyone, kids all the way up to seniors too,” said Taylor. “This is all about building a community. The community has spoken and [hunger] is a big issue, so we want to address it.”