Last spring, Christy McGill, director of Healthy Communities Coalition of Lyon and Storey, was among 21 Nevadans from throughout the state selected to serve on the Governors Council on Food Security. The Council links to and leverages regional and local community-based efforts to increase access to sufficient nutritious food. Establishing a Council on Food Security is a major step in implementing Nevada’s strategic Plan for Action, which aims to decrease hunger and increase access to good nutrition and local foods. The council will oversee a roll-out of the action plan, serve as a clearinghouse for review and approval of any events or projects initiated under the strategic plan, serve as a hearing venue for issues related to food security in Nevada, review and comment on proposed legislation and regulations that would affect the food policy of the state, review grant proposals and alternative funding sources related to food security, and generally advise and inform the Director of the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) on food policy. Early in his administration, Governor Sandoval identified food security, or access to sufficient nutritious food, as a core function of government. During a meeting with USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, he saw the opportunity to connect increased food security with economic development, by increasing spending of federal benefits such as SNAP (food stamps) in Nevada grocery stores, and through increasing production of healthy Nevada-grown foods that can then enter local food systems. Meanwhile, results of a statewide community needs assessment showed food security as the top priority for the Fund for a Healthy Nevada.As a result of these priorities and goals, the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services worked for nearly a year with dozens of diverse groups and individuals from throughout Nevada to create the Nevada Plan for Action on food security. Among those contributing to that Plan for Action were a number of Lyon County residents, including Christy McGill, Freida Carbery, Healthy Communities director of Dayton and Silver Springs area food pantries, Steve Litsinger of Churchill Butte Organics farm in Stagecoach, etc. Creating the plan also included surveys with people using food pantries in Nevada (including those using the Silver Stage and Dayton Pantries).The Governors Council on Food Security includes First Lady Kathleen Sandoval; Christy McGill of Healthy Communities Coalition, Sarah Adler, director of USDA Rural Development in Nevada; Jim Barbee, director of Nevada Department of Agriculture; Steve Hill, director of the Nevada Governors Office of Economic Development; Wendy Baroli of Girlfarm; Richard Whitley of the Nevada DIvision of Behavioral Health; Dale Erquiaga, Superintendent of Nevada Department of Education; David Eaver of US Foods; Cherie Jamason, CEO of Food Bank of Northern Nevada; Jodi Tyson of Three Square; Kevin Hooks of Las Vegas Urban League; Donnell Barton of State of Nevada Child Nutrition Services; Mike McMahon of Nevada Division of Welfare; Mike Wurm, CEO of Boys and Girls Club of Truckee Meadows; Mary Liveratti, AARP Nevada State President; Mark Walker, UNR Dean of Cooperative Extension; Amy Hill of Walmart; Kenneth Osgood, MD of Southern Nevada Health District; Adam Kramer of Supernap; and Guy Hillyer of Cannery Casino Resorts. youtu.be/QGsd2aTbOTI
Posted on: Fri, 21 Nov 2014 05:16:07 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015