Our North Carolina Advocacy Coordinating Committee Chair has a letter for all of our North Carolina You’re the Cure advocates encouraging everyone to take a few moments and let the Governor and Lt. Governor know how important access to healthy foods is important for all areas of North Carolina. Take a moment to read Yolanda’s encouraging letter below, and then take some time to let Governor McCrory and Lt. Governor Forest know that healthy foods are important in all parts of North Carolina.
Fellow You’re the Cure Member,
This year, as the Chair of the NC AHA Advocacy Coordinating Committee, I am writing to challenge you to become an active advocate in You're the Cure NC's campaign to ensure we can shop for healthy foods, regardless of where we live.
A nearby, well-stocked grocery store is something many of us take for granted. But for 1.5 million North Carolinians living in food deserts, areas where it is difficult to buy fresh food, just getting to the grocery store can be a constant struggle. As a result, children and families rely on neighborhood corner or convenience stores for food purchases, which often may not offer fresh produce, low-fat dairy, lean meats, and other healthy foods.
But what if those same neighborhood corner stores sold healthy, affordable food? A healthy corner store initiative for North Carolina would help make better food options more accessible in our communities.
How can you help? Take two steps today!
1. Right now, click here to email Governor McCrory and Lt. Governor Forest and ask them to make a healthy corner store initiative a priority in 2015.
2. Then, forward this request to 5 of your friends, family, or neighbors and ask them to send an email, too.
Among children today - one in three of whom are either overweight or obese - we're seeing a range of preventable health problems that previously weren't seen until adulthood, such as high blood pressure, elevated blood cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes. Together we can start to change this tide by helping to make sure healthy foods are available just around the corner. Healthy corner stores can make the difference.
Are you up to the challenge? Join me and let's bring healthy corner stores to our communities!
Sincerely,
Yolanda Dickerson
Chair, NC American Heart Association Advocacy Coordinating Committee
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