Examining the Local Food Desert

By: Khushali Dalal, Thu Nguyen, Jhanvi Punjabi

INTRODUCTION
Food deserts - areas where residents’ access to affordable, healthy food options is
restricted or nonexistent due to the absence of grocery stores within convenient
travelling distance.
THE INTERVIEW
● Rachel Roseman: Graduate Assistant
involved with the running of the Bearcats
Pantry
● ROOT CAUSE
○ Cultural & Social issue
○ Difficulty in transportation
○ Economic issues
● CONDITIONS OVER TIME
○ Improving
■ Superstore Emergence
■ Transportation
■ More awareness
THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE
● Many people in need of food are
embarrassed to go to food pantries
● Transportation is one of the biggest
problems concerning food deserts
● Many people are ignorant to the idea of
food deserts and haven’t been made aware
of this social issue
○ More awareness
THE SOLUTION
● Education on food deserts
● Raising awareness in the local community
● Volunteering at local food pantry
○ Bearcats’ Pantry
○ St. Vincent DePaul
○ Freestore Food Bank
● Creating modes of transportations
○ UC Nightride
○ UC Shuttle System
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
● Food deserts impact not just the individual, but the community as a whole
● Community interaction plays a crucial role in solving the issue
● For us, it provides a stronger sense of self by understanding one of the issue
the community faces
● Individuals of all ages can contribute to the solution and creating a better
environment