News Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 27, 2013
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Bailey Nuckols Director of Media Relations 317-555-3454 (daytime), 312-555-6879 (evening) bnpubrel@gmail.com
Columbia College Student Organization, Weber Grills, and Peapod team up in efforts to eradicate Chicagoland food deserts. CHICAGO- Chicago’s Columbia College Student organization, Students for Healthy Eating, rallied Weber Grills and Peapod to collaborate with them as they hosted a neighborhood picnic highlighting healthy food choices. The gathering took place today at Mary Richardson Jones Park in Chicago’s Near South Side neighborhood. Bringing awareness to food deserts and hoping to inspire other local businesses, Students for Healthy Living decided to take action, asking for local support to join them. Peapod is an online grocery delivery service, founded in Skokie, Ill., providing individuals with the convenience of fresh groceries delivered to their doorstep. Peapod provided the fresh produce, meats, and fish served today. Weber Grills is a manufacturer of both charcoal and gas grills, and grilling accessories. Weber Grills provided all serving, preparing, and grilling needs for the picnic. The food today included grilled vegetables, an array of eco-friendly fish, chicken, and turkey burgers, as well as an assortment of fresh fruits. “The picnic today is only the beginning, our student organization is dedicated to putting this issue on Chicago’s radar,” says president, Henry Brubaker. “We also realize our limited potential without the support of more businesses like Weber Grills and Peapod, we critically -more-
Healthy Picnic page -‐ 2 need funding from additional local companies to step up and take action at our lead.” The student organization hopes to hold monthly picnics across the city, specifically in areas where healthy food choices are not accessible, referred to as food desserts. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, a food desert is a lowincome census tract where at least 33 percent of residents live more than a mile from the nearest supermarket. Fast food restaurants and convenience stores offering alcohol, canned foods, and high calorie snack foods are what these communities are forced to live off of, the lack of healthy options are fostering detrimental lifestyles. A study conducted at The American University of Washington D.C. studied the correlation between health and food deserts, and account for even more reason to take action. Obesity is on the rise in these communities, as is diabetes, hypertension, and other chronic diseases. According to a 2010 report by the D.C. Department of Health, 40 percent of adults living in a food desert are obese, nearly 42 percent of these adults also suffer from high blood pressure and almost 14 percent are diabetic. There is a definite link between fresh food availability and health. “I get it, college kids are not always portrayed as individuals concerned with the predicaments of the communities surrounding them, but Students for Healthy Eating are demonstrating that a defined direction and a creative passion can lead to actual change,” Brubaker commented. “ We are serious about eradicating the devastating circumstances many of our local residents are subjected to, and although we are a group of young kids, we know that we are capable with the support of our community, we hope this inaugural picnic inspires others to join the cause.” -more-
Healthy Picnic page -‐ 3 At Columbia College a service-based learning mentality stems from the fundamental belief that service to others is an essential component of personal development and growth. The student organizations are simply an even greater extension of that belief. They pride themselves on a tradition of service, and the efforts of Student Organizations realize that goal at exceptional standards with creative attitudes. ###