To help keep those who need it hungry, two CNN Heroes have increased their efforts over the past few months.
As the pandemic broke out, it turned out that people with underlying medical conditions were at higher risk.
“The Covid pandemic has significantly increased demand for our services,” CNN Hero Couch 2016 said. Said. “It is really important that this population stay at home and stay safe.”
To meet the demand, Couch says he has more than doubled the number of people his organization supports. For buyers facing food insecurity, the group more than tripled the number of weekly meals.
“The clients we serve are medically fragile, vulnerable, many live alone. Many have lost their caregivers due to the pandemic.” Said. “This population has the greatest potential for complications and death if they get sick,” he added.
The non-profit organization now provides food to Covid-19’s. And the group coordinates with local counties and health centers to serve patients who need extra nutritional support at Medicaid.
Couch said that the meals prepared by the group were specifically adjusted to the nutritional needs of the client’s illness.
“Everything is made from scratch. We are committed to supplying 100% organic and as much locally as possible.”
Due to the epidemic, Houser temporarily closed the restaurant and turned the area into an emergency food distribution center with the help of program participants.
“By listening to the community, we really rejected the mission,” Houser said. “We received a large number of calls from the public who asked for help in specially feeding food insecure students who were dependent on school meals for their basic nutritional needs.”
Since March, Houser’s program participants have been collecting food-filled boxes. They donate boxes to a local school district that distributes them to students in need.
These efforts also ensure that Houser and his team continue to assist young men and women in their programs.
“There is so much we focus on as an organization … (a) to provide a stable and consistent support ecosystem,” Houser said. “He continued to generate income for them. Millions of people are less likely to deal with when we apply for unemployment.”
The project also gives these young adults a way to return to their communities.
“They’re doing a tremendous job on the plate during this crisis,” Houser said. Said. “Many of them went to the schools where the food will go. They live in the neighborhoods where the food will go. And a full apartment opportunity for them.”
An opportunity that ultimately advances the task.
“Even with a global outbreak, struggling with everything starts at the community level.” Said. “It starts with a community gathering around each other. It starts with a community that puts themselves and themselves accountable to each other.”
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