Food Security as a Public Health Priority
The county council of Whatcom County is currently reviewing a significant funding request from county food banks. In response, the council is considering affirming food security as a public health priority. A resolution is expected to be voted on in November, urging Executive Satpal Sidhu to address food insecurity, support food access efforts, and inform legislators about the severity of the crisis.
The resolution was drafted by council members after the Whatcom County Food Bank Network requested $2 million in annual funding from the county. However, given the county’s budget challenges, it is unlikely that they can afford this amount.
The food bank network made the funding request in July, citing a significant increase in demand over the past few years. Currently, food banks across the county serve 9,000 households per week.
Council member Kaylee Galloway, who worked on the resolution, expressed the importance of addressing food insecurity and leveraging available resources to tackle the issue.
Executive Satpal Sidhu responded to the resolution, stating that while he supports its motives, the county has limited local resources to address the substantial gap in basic food necessities for Whatcom County residents. He suggested that the resolution should emphasize the urgent need for immediate intervention by federal and state authorities to provide funding to food banks.
Council member Ben Elenbaas proposed including a review of bureaucracy and red tape in county departments that may hinder local producers from supplying their food to partners, particularly in the health department.
Before bringing the resolution to a vote, council members are seeking feedback from community members.
Food Bank Funding Requests
The Bellingham Food Bank Executive Director, Mike Cohen, stated that the county has not yet committed to a specific level of funding for the food bank network. However, he emphasized the need for increased funding in the food system.
Previously, the network received $138,000 annually, but it received $1.5 million in federal ARPA funds over the past two years. Any decrease in funding would result in less food available for each food bank.
The Bellingham Food Bank also requested $1 million from the City of Bellingham. Mayor Kim Lund has committed $250,000 in the city’s proposed 2025 budget. Lund acknowledged that the city’s support is not proportional to the need and expressed the intention to seek more attention and resources from federal partners to address food insecurity.
Mike Cohen appreciated the mayor’s effort to listen and find a solution in a challenging budget year. He highlighted the increasing number of people visiting food banks and the rising cost of food purchases.
Charlotte Alden is CDN’s general assignment/enterprise reporter; reach her at charlottealden@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 123.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. SDGs Addressed or Connected to the Issues Highlighted in the Article
- SDG 2: Zero Hunger
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
2. Specific Targets Based on the Article’s Content
- Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food all year round.
- Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services, and access to safe, effective, quality, and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.
- Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.
3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article
- Indicator 2.1.1: Prevalence of undernourishment
- Indicator 2.2.2: Prevalence of malnutrition (weight for height >+2 standard deviation from the median)
- Indicator 3.8.1: Coverage of essential health services (defined as the average coverage of essential services based on tracer interventions that include reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health, infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, and service capacity and access, among the general and the most disadvantaged population)
- Indicator 17.17.1: Amount of United States dollars committed to public-private and civil society partnerships
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 2: Zero Hunger | Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food all year round. | Indicator 2.1.1: Prevalence of undernourishment Indicator 2.2.2: Prevalence of malnutrition (weight for height >+2 standard deviation from the median) |
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services, and access to safe, effective, quality, and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all. | Indicator 3.8.1: Coverage of essential health services (defined as the average coverage of essential services based on tracer interventions that include reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health, infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, and service capacity and access, among the general and the most disadvantaged population) |
| SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships. | Indicator 17.17.1: Amount of United States dollars committed to public-private and civil society partnerships |
Source: cascadiadaily.com
