food deserts

When the longest government shutdown in history ended, food assistance for 42 million Americans was restored. But the temporary and unnecessary suspension of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program may have long-lasting impacts — and there are new restrictions to those benefits. We look at SNAP, how it started, why it’s needed, who it serves and more.

Charlotte's West Boulevard Neighborhood Coalition’s effort to bring a grocery co-op to a community that’s been without a full-service grocery store for more than 30 years has yet to materialize, with the project short on funds.

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Food Policy Council highlighted West Boulevard, Brookshire Boulevard between Interstate 85 and Interstate 485, and Albemarle Road as areas at high risk for food insecurity. These areas all lack full-service grocery stores and require long drives to stores that sell fresh produce — hurting residents' health and economic prospects.

A community festival in west Charlotte unites community organizations and highlights community-driven efforts to tackle food insecurity in low-income neighborhoods.

What's now a vacant warehouse in northwest Charlotte may soon become a bustling food distribution center where Charlotteans can purchase locally-sourced meat, dairy and produce and even learn how to prepare and cook the food.

Two big metal trailers are parked in a warehouse parking lot. Inside, shelves are lined with loaves of bread, boxes of pasta and rows of canned goods.…