Part One of the State of Southwest Baltimore Series will focus on the first social driver of health – nutrition. Nutrition is the access to sufficient, safe, and beneficial food to maintain a healthy and active life. Inadequate nutrition can lead to a range of health issues, including obesity, malnutrition, heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic conditions. The leading cause of death in Baltimore is heart disease, which has been linked to poor nutrition.
Nearly 40% of Southwest Baltimore qualifies as a food desert, meaning many residents will find it difficult to purchase affordable, good-quality fresh food. Southwest Baltimore’s food deserts have a high fast-food and convenience store density, leading to limited healthy eating options.
Multiple organizations are working to provide these areas of Southwest Baltimore with fresh, nutritious food. Catholic Charities and My Brother’s Keeper operate food pantries and meal serving programs to provide nutritious meals and groceries to residents in need, with Catholic Charities providing 494,469 meals in 2023. Catholic Charities’ My Brother’s Keeper and Our Daily Bread Employment Center provides lunch, case management, behavioral health, benefits access support, and job training to those in need.
All Mount Saint Joseph High School Freshman are required to complete a day of service at Our Daily Bread, with Juniors and Seniors of Mount Saint Joseph High School providing a semester of community service at My Brother’s Keeper.
There is also a push to educate Southwest Baltimore communities on good eating habits and how to meet nutritional needs. Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital is involved in a variety of nutritional and food-focused programs that support local schools and organizations.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defines social drivers of health, also known as the social determinants of health, as the “conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks.”
The State of Southwest Baltimore Series aims to examine the presence of the six social drivers of health in Southwest Baltimore and how local community organizations are helping create healthier communities.
