Sectors: Education, Health/Social Services

Working for the Salvation Army, Elizabeth Lopez has a firsthand look at food security within the region. With direct connections to community members and organizations, she has an understanding of what barriers community members face in accessing healthy foods. One of the barriers she notes is transportation. She has found that many of her clients do not have the transportation means to access fresh and affordable foods. Additionally, she believes there could be an educational barrier preventing some from obtaining healthy foods. If individuals are unfamiliar with certain food choices, they may be less inclined to eat it. By providing educational and cultural contexts to certain food choices, Elizabeth believes that more people may be encouraged to eat healthier foods.