It’s one of the most important things we can do for our families.

But for too many North Carolinians, providing healthy food is a hard thing to do. With many families needing to rely on their neighborhood corner or convenience stores for food purchases, access to healthy food can be limited. More than 1.5 million North Carolina children and families live in food deserts—areas where it is difficult to buy affordable, good-quality, fresh food—and need better access to healthy foods.

We need your voice! Tell lawmakers to include HB 250, the Healthy Food Small Retailer/Corner Store Act in the state budget:

http://action.momsrising.org/sign/NC-corner-store/?source=blog

House Bill 250 would provide funding to corner stores and small retailers to make them better able to sell fresh fruits, vegetables, and other healthier foods—making them more readily available to families in North Carolina who don’t live near a large grocery store.

Currently, these stores may not offer fresh produce, low-fat dairy, lean meats, and other healthy foods that are important for healthy eating. The healthy corner store initiative would increase the availability of healthy foods in communities with limited access, so that people who do want to purchase healthier foods can do so.

Urge lawmakers to include HB 250, fully funded, in the final budget to ensure all NC families have access to healthy foods. http://action.momsrising.org/sign/NC-corner-store/?source=blog

Healthier eating is associated with healthier weight and can lower the risk for obesity. Unfortunately, one in three children are either overweight or obese which is linked to a range of preventable health problems that previously weren't seen until adulthood, such as high blood pressure, elevated blood cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes. Obesity-related health problems cost North Carolinians $54 billion each year.

As a state, we need to work to make sure everyone has access to healthy and affordable foods. And it’s no surprise that there is strong public support for this policy! A recent poll found that more than 70 percent of registered voters support a state-funded Healthy Corner Store Initiative. We just need to get our lawmakers on board!

Send a message to lawmakers asking them to include HB 250, the Healthy Food Small Retailer/Corner Store Act, in the budget!

Your voice is important! State lawmakers depend on hearing from constituents to know what our priorities are—and they need to know that access to healthy food is important to the voters in their district.