New Food Access Group aims to help address hunger in Cook County
About one in ten Cook County residents experience food insecurity, according to Grace Grinager, a public health supervisor with Cook County Public Health and Human Services. In an effort to address this need, Cook County has established the Food Access Group, which aims to fill resource gaps for residents how are experiencing hunger.
Grinager and Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) Coordinator Kristina Campbell Mattson told WTIP that the new group is a way to bring together other local organizations who address food insecurity, and help streamline communication with residents about what resources are available to them. Grinager described the problem as one often considered a “hidden issue,” explaining that the stigma associated with hunger prevents many people from seeking help or speaking openly about their experiences.
With roughly 10%, or about 560, of the county’s residents reporting food insecurity, Grinager explained that there are some federal programs that support access, like Supplemental Nutrition Access Program (SNAP), or the Women Infant Children (WIC) program. She added, however, that over a third of those identified as food insecure do not qualify for the federal programs. She said, “Those programs have income guidelines, and there can be people out there who experience hunger, but they make just a little bit too much to qualify for those programs.”
Grinager said that anyone who thinks that they might qualify for the federally funded programs should contact PHHS to determine eligibility. But she added, “We also recognize that those resources aren’t going to fix this for every single person who experiences food insecurity in our community, and we want to make sure that we’re mindful of where those gaps continue to exist, even with the resources available to us.”
Filling those gaps will be a mission of the Food Access Group. Campbell Mattson said that evaluating the accessibility of current resources is one of the first steps for the organization. She said that one of their goals will be, “Seeing if there’s ways that we can amplify and strengthen or grow those programs if they’re needed.” She pointed to several local organization working on food security questions, applauding the energy and passion that exists within the community.
Moving forward, Campbell Mattson said that the group is working on some administrative tasks, like establishing a mission and doing strategic planning, but that they are hoping that more members of the public will also take an interest in the group’s work. Both she and Grinager said that residents can contact either of them if they are looking to get involved in the group, or if they are seeking resources to address their own food insecurity.
Grinager recommended contacting her through PHHS at 218-387-3605, or contacting Campbell Mattson at kristina.mattson@co.cook.mn.us. There is also a list of resources, including food-related assistance, on the PHHS website.
WTIP’s Kirsten Wisniewski spoke with PHHS Public Health Supervisor Grace Grinager and SHIP Coordinator Kristina Campbell Mattson about the Cook County’s new Food Access Group. Audio of that interview is below.
Kirsten Wisniewski January 28, 2025
