Feeding Community Health: Education + Solutions to Strengthen Community Resources in the Carolinas

Food allergies require understanding of food labeling laws and 15+ extra hours/week to shop for and prepare safe meals. Learning the best strategies for managing food allergies takes time and resources that many don’t have. Mooresville-based nonprofit, FOODiversity and national nonprofit, AllergyStrong, hope to change that. FOODiversity and AllergyStrong are bringing together community stakeholders to discuss ways to increase access to healthcare, resources, and to improve overall quality of life. Feeding Community Health is an informative, solutions-driven one-day event held in two half-day sessions. The Carolinas Feeding Community Health event – to occur on Tuesday, January 23, 2024 – will be held at the Charles Mack Citizen Center, Mooresville, N.C. for attendees from across the state of N.C. as well as from Upstate S.C. There is no cure for food allergies; people must strictly avoid their allergen to stay healthy and safe. “But avoiding a food isn’t as simple as it sounds,” says Erin Malawer, Executive Director of AllergyStrong. “Food labeling can be unclear. Plus, allergens aren’t confined to food and not limited to the family member who has them.” They are found in countless products including soaps, cleaning products, and medication. “I read the labels of the toothpaste we buy, the shampoo I use, and the lip balm I wear so I can safely kiss my son good night,” she adds. Finding allergen-friendly substitutions can be challenging. Not only are products limited in choice and supply, but they are also expensive. Allergen-friendly foods are often up to five times as expensive as their regular counterparts. And sourcing that food can be tremendously difficult, especially in times of need. As Wendy Gordon Pake, Founder of FOODiversity points out, “Whole communities bear the economic burden of food allergies. Studies show food allergy in children alone costs the U.S. $25 billion a year - a great portion of which is borne by families, not the healthcare system.” Studies show that the impact of food allergy – both economic and emotional – is felt well beyond an individual. Community groups such as schools, local government, food pantries and food banks, social services, therapists, and environmental and housing organizations play a critical role with tailored support for students and citizens with food allergies, and can contribute greatly in the well-being and health outcomes of an entire family. Feeding Community Health highlights the impact food allergies has on a whole community and addresses ways that these organizations, as well as healthcare providers, emergency workers, pharmacists, and others, can help their patients manage this life-threatening condition more effectively. The event will bring together these organizations to help them create efficient strategies to better support people with food allergies and related conditions. Topics will include nutritional security, social determinants of health, attitudes towards epinephrine, patient communication, prevention, and effective government initiatives. Those who live with food allergies know the burden of food allergies all too well. The challenges of living with a life-threatening food allergy go beyond the increased expense and the complicated logistics of managing them safely. They also take a heavy psychological and emotional toll, often leaving those affected by them feeling anxious, exhausted, singled out, excluded, and scared. Feeding Community Health offers programming for people managing food allergies to help simplify life, inform decision-making, and reduce the burden of this condition. The event will share the latest information about food allergy diagnosis, cover food allergy management and treatment options, and spell out effective nutrition and dietary strategies including how to access safe, affordable food. It will also offer sessions on managing food allergies at school, effective doctor/patient communication, and ways to reduce risk. Food allergies is a growing condition. The rate of peanut allergy alone has tripled over the past 30 years, so it’s no wonder it is often referred to as an epidemic. FOODiversity and AllergyStrong are leading efforts to help alleviate the burden of this condition and protect the growing number of people affected by these conditions where they live through Feeding Community Health. And in doing so, they hope to contribute to the building of strong, supportive communities. For additional information about the Feeding Community Health event, including the registration link, sponsorship opportunities, and agenda highlights, visit: https://bit.ly/FCHCarolinas or email [email protected].

Event Links

Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/2155662-0

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