STERLING, Ill. — A new initiative is helping provide access to free, fresh and nutritious food across the Sauk Valley.
The Ogle County Health Department was awarded a $500,000 grant through the CDC to address social determinants of health, specifically food and nutrition security. The grant was used to build four mini food centers in Whiteside, Carroll, Lee and Ogle counties.
"We had a research company go and find out how many grocery stores or Dollar Generals were within each community, and when that came back, it was kind of like a light bulb went off that this really needs to be addressed," Joyce Lewis, the Ogle County grant coordinator, said. "They don't always have fresh, nutritious, healthy foods available, and that's what the community needs."
According to the health department's "Funding in Action" sheet, 25% of Ogle and Lee County residents and 26% of Whiteside County residents are considered obese.
"Levels of nutrition and physical activity are risk factors of becoming obese, yet these rural communities have very limited access to grocery stores and recreational fitness facilities when compared to the rates for Illinois and the United States," it wrote.
"By providing the fresh and nutritious foods and getting the community to learn to help and assist those who need it, it's about changing people's mindset and getting them to learn that shelf-stable foods are great in certain situations, but not an everyday thing," Lewis said.
A survey conducted with 364 respondents found that 28.2% believe they can't support the costs associated with buying nutritious foods.
The mini food centers are open 24/7 and are restocked once a week. The Sauk Valley Food Bank supplies produce, and Lewis has $150 per week, per center to spend on other items such as milk, bread and cheese. Lewis even buys four different kinds of milk, including nondairy, so everyone can find something they need.
"We want people to feel comfortable coming anytime, day or night," Lewis said. "We want to erase that stigma that people associate with those that need, need. 60% of people are in that situation at least for a year in their lifetime."
So far, the mini food centers have been well received. When Lewis returned after the holiday weekend to restock the Whiteside County location, there were only two cans of beans and a handful of vegetables left.
The mini food centers do accept donations. The health department asks that they be labeled with all ingredients, including allergens. Nonperishable food items must be unopened and fresh fruits and veggies must be whole, not cut.
Students at Oregon High School in Ogle County built the mini food centers as part of their ag construction class.
Whiteside County's mini food center is located in Sterling at the YWCA of Sauk Valley, 412 1st Ave. Carroll County's is at the Davis Community Center, 631 South East St. in Mt. Carroll. Lee County's is located in Amboy at Teen Turf, 235 West Main St. Ogle County's is at the Nash Recreation Center in Oregon, 304 South 5th St.
The Ogle County Health Department has compiled a list of other food resources by county. You can find that by clicking here.