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Statement

MomsRising Praises NC General Assembly for Funding Healthy Corner Store Initiative for Families and the Economy

July 20, 2016
Youth & Family Justice

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

1.5 million North Carolinians living in food deserts to get some relief
Last week, the North Carolina General Assembly passed a budget that included funding for the Healthy Corner Store Initiative (HB 250) that tackles some of the state’s leading causes for death by providing money to corner stores and small retailers that would make them better able to sell fresh fruits, vegetables, and other healthy foods. Nutrition-related health problems cost North Carolinians $54 billion each year.
 
In reaction to the news, Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, CEO and executive director of MomsRising.org issued the following statement:
 
“Making sure our families have healthy food to eat is critically important for growing healthy kids, families, and communities. That’s why, MomsRising members in North Carolina and across the country are celebrating the General Assembly’s passage of a budget that funds the Healthy Corner Store Initiative to help the more than 1.5 million people living in food deserts across the State gain access to affordable, healthy foods.
 
“Limited access to healthy food impacts diet and health and is one of the leading causes of North Carolina’s high rate of life threatening nutrition related illnesses like heart disease and type 2 diabetes, two of the top causes of death in North Carolina. This legislation will help connect communities, store owners, and small farmers to ensure that underserved communities have access to healthy fruits, vegetables, and whole grains every day. By helping lay the foundation for a network of local retailers, small farmers and community members - the General Assembly is boosting the health of North Carolina residents as well as local economies across the State. 
 
“We look forward to working with the General Assembly next session to expand funding of the Healthy Corner Store Initiative and ensure that all North Carolinians have affordable, healthy food on their plates each day.”
 
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More than 500 MomsRising members in North Carolina signed onto a petition to the General Assembly urging lawmakers to pass the Healthy Corner Store Initiative. In June, MomsRising members set up a small kid-run produce stand outside of the legislature and offered fresh NC produce free of charge in order to build support for the initiative. Last year, a poll of North Carolina registered voters found that more than 70 percent supported a state-funded Healthy Corner Store Initiative.
 

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.