FOREST PARK — In May, Forest Park Middle School students had the opportunity to explore issues about food insecurity in their community with the help of Amazon employee volunteers and STE(A)M Truck.
The STE(A)M Truck is a a local non-profit organization that provides students with access to innovative, hands-on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics)-problem-based learning experiences.
Powered by Amazon, the STE(A)M Truck launched the Good, Clean, Fair Food program to engage sixth and seventh graders on how they can design, sustain, and scale viable solutions to food deserts in their communities.
Food deserts are defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as low-income communities located more than one mile from a reliable source of fresh produce and other healthy whole foods.
“It is estimated that 1 in 8 children in Georgia face hunger,” said Terreta Rodgers, Amazon’s head of Community Affairs for the Atlanta Region. “Amazon is committed to fighting food insecurity in the communities it calls home, and by launching programs like Good, Clean, Fair Food we are empowering youth to leverage local resources to provide their families and neighbors with access to healthy foods.”
Amazon Access is a food program with the goal of providing residents living in healthy food priority areas more access to affordable, quality, diverse, and convenient groceries.
The company’s partnership with non-profit Goodr, for example, provides communities access to a 26-foot mobile grocery store truck, equipped with fresh produce, milk, eggs, and shelf-stable items — all for free.
Through this partnership, Amazon is empowering local students to conduct research that drives their thoughts for food desert solutions, using high and low-tech tools.
“Food deserts are a prevalent issue in our community, so…
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