Filling the Nutritional Gaps in Baltimore Neighborhoods

By: Salina Greene, Outreach Coordinator, NHS of Baltimore

The many “food deserts” of East and West Baltimore have suffered for many years without access to basic food needs due to lack of adequate supermarkets in these areas. The City of Baltimore has decided to create the new “Virtual Supermarket Project”. It will be the latest attempt to help alleviate the fresh food shortage in these areas. The city has a long-standing history of having a lack of healthful foods for its residents. Many neighborhoods are plagued with nothing but corner stores and local carryouts that are filled with processed fast foods which are high in sugar and fats. Health officials have concluded that a neighborhood located around Orleans Street library has an unusually high rate of mortalities from food-related conditions such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes. They do not have access to a single supermarket within walking distance. With the recent closing of the 60,000 square foot Safeway in Mount Clare, a void was left in Southwest Baltimore and many jobs were lost. Some are lobbying for smaller grocery stores to come back into these communities to boost the area’s economy. However, it has been a slow process. Changing the nutritional landscape of an area requires cooperation from all avenues of the neighborhood. This cannot change overnight but it can assist in its promotion.

The Food Policy Task Force has received a $60,000 federal stimulus grant to support this program. The virtual grocery store can be accessed through the Project-sponsored laptops at the Orleans Street and Washington Village library branches. For now, the food is ordered from Santoni’s Super Market in Highlandtown (www.santonismarket.com). Orders placed at the Orleans Street location on Wednesdays between the hours of 11 a.m.-3 p.m., can be picked up the following day between 1 p.m.-2 p.m. The Washington Village location will be accepting orders on Mondays between 12 p.m.-3 p.m. Pickup is the next day between 1 p.m.-2 p.m. as well. Cash, credit cards, as well as food stamps are accepted for purchases. Although there is no home delivery and limited hours at the moment, the program hopes to include these services in the near future. For more information go to: http://www.baltimorehealth.org/virtualsupermarket.html