Connecting Food Resources to Communities in Delaware

IPA had been working with Delaware SeaGrant and Greater Lewes Community Village, now doing business as Village Volunteers, with regard to an Aging in Place project and the growing senior population in Eastern Sussex County. In March of 2020, a grassroots group was formed called Cape Community Coordination for COVID-19 (CCC4COVID), which is now named Cape Community Coalition (CCC). CCC is a coalition of civic and community organizations in the Cape Henlopen region of Sussex County united to coordinate the local response to the pandemic. They contacted IPA to map the food distribution locations in the Cape Region. The map on the right shows the estimated percentage of all children 18 years old and under in poverty. (Source: U.S. Census, Policy Map, American Community Survey 2019-2023)

As part of the coalition, IPA developed an interactive GIS emergency food resource mapping application to provide a rapid response to the rising food insecurity needs of vulnerable populations in the Cape Henlopen region. It was designed to be used by CCC partners to enable nonprofit, faith, civic, business, and social service entities to identify gaps and coordinate emergency food distribution services.

Then beginning in June 2020, IPA expanded the interactive food resources map for the Cape Henlopen region to include all of Sussex County. This was a COVID-19 response effort aimed at identifying current food resources and gaps in specific communities in Delaware. This work expanded the COVID-19 response efforts to the entire state providing a baseline tool for data analyses and decision making related to food access which is shown on the following slide.

Between May and June 30, 2021, funding support from Healthy Communities Delaware (HCD) allowed for providing updates to the existing statewide food resource data and maps, while setting the stage for more extensive mapping and analyses of food resource data and information. During this time, IPA met with various agencies to gather information and update statewide food resource data and maps. These maps supported HCD-affiliated stakeholders, including the Delaware Council on Farm and Food Policy, in identifying statewide food resources and distribution efforts targeted at the needs of Delawareans age18 years and younger. Additionally, point locations have been added to the map which show Delaware public school demographics and enrollment by school.  (Source: Policy Map, National Center for Education Statistics 2022-2023) 

Click the Begin button to navigate the mapping application. Next, click the Legend, turn Layers off and on, change the Basemap using the Basemap gallery, Share and/or Print a map.

Use the Delaware Food Resources Locations Nearby mapping application to search the food resources within a given address. To expand the map into a new window click the "Open live content into a new window" icon on the right.

Delaware Grown locations offer fresh food from local farms for you and your family. View the mapping application to the right to see where the Delaware Grown locations are as well as other food resources.

The Delaware Department of Education Nutrition Programs administers several programs that provide healthy food to children including the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, the Summer Food Service Program, the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, and the Special Milk Program. Each of these programs helps fight hunger and obesity by reimbursing organizations such as schools, child care centers, after-school programs, and non-profit organizations for providing healthy meals to children.

Types of data that are collected:

• School Nutrition Sites
• After-School Snack Program
• Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program
• National School Lunch Program
• School Breakfast Program
• Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)
• Child Nutrition Program
• Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

Student Nutrition Map and searchable  Student Nutrition Sites Database  are also available on the Delaware Department of Education website.

Through a network of community partners, the Food Bank of Delaware distributes food to more than 114,000 food-insecure Delawareanse. Identifying where emergency food is easily accessible and where gaps in service are located helps the organization better serve those in need. Thanks to the support of our community partners, volunteers, donors and other committed stakeholders, the Food Bank of Delaware has distributed more than 26 million pounds of food since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020. In addition to our much-needed food distribution services, we are also committed to identifying long-term solutions to poverty through workforce development programs and community outreach and education.

The types of data that are collected:

• Backpack Program
• Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)
• Mobile Pantry
• Hunger Relief Partner

As the pandemic exacerbated food insecurity, CCC found that Sussex County emergency food resources were not well-represented in existing statewide tools. Through research, site canvassing, and telephone work, we identified emergency food resources across the County.

While concentrations of social vulnerability and food security challenges exist statewide, Kent County’s high social vulnerability ranking is underscored by the area’s poverty levels and percentage of no-vehicle households, particularly around the City of Dover.

The SVI is based on 16 census-driven factors that are broken into four themes; Socioeconomic Status, Household Composition & Disability, Minority Status & Language, and Housing Type & Transportation.

These four themes make up the Overall SVI. The index ranges from 0 (lowest vulnerability) to 1 (highest vulnerability). Kent County’s overall score is 1. The areas around Dover rank the highest in the county, represented as darker blue on the map to the right meaning these are the areas of highest vulnerability. Zoom in and click on the map to learn more.

Elevated levels of vulnerability and poverty increase a population’s risk of food insecurity. This risk increases when there are limited funds to purchase food and where transportation options are limited or there is a lack of access to personal vehicles.

Additional information on poverty and no-vehicle households helps to highlight this high vulnerability score. Individuals are at a higher risk for food insecurity in neighborhoods where transportation options are limited or there is a lack of access to personal vehicles. The estimated percentage of housing units without a vehicle map on the right shows in dark green the areas with higher percentages of housing units without access to a vehicle. Click on the map to learn more.

Food insecurity is of major concern since 6 out of 10 Delawareans live in an area with no grocery store nearby, while 1 in 4 live in an area with only one grocery store within walking distance or a short commute.

Several different elements come into play when determining whether a community is vulnerable. Below is the At-Risk Population Profile for Kent County, Delaware.

Feeding America (2022) reported that the estimated child food insecurity rate of 23% in Kent County is the highest among the three counties. According to the American Community Survey (ACS) 2018–2022 Census data, areas around the Town of Cheswold and the City of Dover experienced high concentrations of poverty among school-aged children—those 18 years old and under, shown as the dark purple areas on the map to the right. The disparity in poverty percentages is further exemplified when examining the specific school districts that comprise Kent County—Caesar Rodney, Capital, Lake Forest, Milford, Smyrna, and Woodbridge. The map on the left shows that many community food resources are located within relative proximity to areas recognized for having higher concentrations of poverty. This provides an example of how resource providers can pinpoint areas where food resources are available to populations and areas where more capacity is needed. For instance, several census tracts (one in the Capital School District and one in the Lake Forest School District) are shown to have relatively higher percentages of poverty (45% or over) among school-aged children but fewer community food resources within proximity.

The map on the right shows the estimated percent of people living in poverty with a disability. Compare the two maps to learn more about these communities.

State policymakers, working with small businesses, nonprofits, school districts, higher education institutions, and other organizations, recognize the need to address social vulnerability and food security challenges through a multi-sector approach. Collaborations and ongoing opportunities to exchange information help build awareness and inform policy, program, and budget decisions. Community food resources such as pantries and closets are outlets that make food available to families at no cost, often offering the only opportunity to access a variety of foods. In Delaware, food pantries may be part of the Food Bank of Delaware (FBD) network, or operate outside of that network. Pantries within the network partner with FBD to access provisions offered through Feeding America and the USDA Commodity Foods Program. Pantries and closets throughout the state often offer community members perishable and nonperishable food products and other household needs like baby supplies and clothing. The Delaware Food System Map is updated regularly to keep track of programs and resources throughout the state.

The darker purple areas on the map to the right show where the estimated percentage of children 18 years old and under in poverty is greater than 30%. The highest concentration of children 18 years old and under in poverty is as high as 56%. Feeding America reports that the Percent of Child Food Insecurity Rate in 2022 in Kent County is 22.9%. Food insecurity risk increases when there are limited funds to purchase food. Compare the maps to see where the higher poverty areas are to Delaware's Food Resources. The disparity in poverty percentages is further exemplified when examining census tracts in specific school districts:

• Smyrna School District - 29%, 31%, 25%, 19%
• Capital School District - 56%, 32%, 48%, 44%, 29%
• Caesar Rodney School District - 44%, 33%, 38%, 29%, 45%
• Lake Forest School District - 45%, 29%, 14%
• Milford School District - 42%, 29%, 19%

Source: Policy Map, Census ACS 2018-2022 and Feeding America

Pantries are an important asset to support the county’s vulnerable communities. The Capital Community Center is a partnership between the Solid Rock Baptist Church and the Capital School District. The center is accessible to all Capital School District families in need of food, clothes, school supplies, laundry facilities, Internet access, and more. On-site supports include a clothing closet with over 500 pairs of new shoes, a food pantry with refrigerated and frozen food, and two industrial-size washers and dryers. The food pantry gives families access to fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and meats, along with nonperishables donated by the community. This partnership connects Capital School District families and others in the surrounding area with the Food Bank of Delaware and other resources.

The Delaware Farm to Community Program connects producers with community outlets that offer food distribution at no cost to end users. Community outlets procure a variety of produce and animal protein from local farmers, products are picked up or delivered, and offered to individuals and families in need directly through their local pantries or food closets, delivered to their homes as part of the Delaware Food Farmacy Program, or made available through distributions at their local faith-based institution. The program is piloted through community outlets in New Castle County and Sussex County, with recent expansions to incorporate Salvation Army and Modern Maturity Center locations in Kent County. In Kent County, multiple farmers have participated in this pilot during the 2023–2024 growing seasons. As a pilot program, the lessons learned, and assessment process is critical to understanding how to sustain and tailor the program for optimal outcomes. Cold storage capacity has been identified as an increasing need to provide fresh foods to the community. Increased capacity and resources to equip their spaces would allow community organizations and health providers like independent pharmacies, neighborhood food retailers, pantries, and others to offer community members fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy products grown in Delaware.

The Delaware Farm to School Program is one of the longest running direct to consumer programs in Delaware. Schools purchase agriculture products, often fruits and vegetables, from farmers throughout the state. Beyond food procurement, the program incorporates student engagement like farmer visits to schools to teach students about where their food comes from and education materials and recipes. Local foods are served in cafeterias as part of breakfast, lunch, or snacks.

 The Delaware Farm to School Program Committee , a group of farmers, educators, nutritionists, and others, provides the strategic planning and direction for the program. This includes priorities to engage with early childcare and other childcare facilities beyond schools. The Program has a dual focus to promote access to fresh, healthy foods for children in Delaware and expand market outlets for the state’s farmers. The Farm to School Program model fostered the development of other “farm to” programs that connect farmers with schools, institutions, and outlets in the state.

Organizations like Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids (HFHK) support educators to facilitate Education Cultivation programming for students through on-site school gardens. With recent expansions into Kent County and Sussex County, HFHK has partnered with 52 schools in Delaware to foster healthy eating and nutrition education for more than 22,000 students across the state. Some schools have also established their own gardening and greenhouse initiatives, often relying on 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA) student support and interest. Through these programs, students participate in hands-on learning by growing food to feed themselves and classmates and developing skills they can take home.

Delaware Grown is a program and tool that allows consumers to identify where local, fresh food is being sold. There are 24 locations in Kent County alone.

It is an opportunity to connect with Delaware family farmers and understand where the food comes from. These community resources—Delaware Grown, Farm to Community, Farm to School, etc.— are important to addressing poverty throughout Kent County as they provide low-income residents with nutritious, healthy foods.

Kent County is also home to the Delaware Community Healthy Food Retail Initiative or  Farm-to-Store Program . The Dover and Harrington areas are the current focus of the pilot work.

Expansion Framework With Partners

Through its  Backpack Program , the Food Bank of Delaware relies on a robust network of dedicated volunteers, connections to schools from the Delaware Department of Education, and direct coordination with individual schools to offer food year-round to children in need for weekends and holidays when school is not in session and when federal school-meal programs are not available.

The Dover Youth Committee, formed in August 2020, brings youth and adults together to improve community health. Its three subcommittees focus on youth education, mental health, and food access. The Food Access & Physical Health Subcommittee works to build awareness of healthy food options, connect families to resources, and address gaps in food and activity access through collaboration with other youth serving organizations in the Dover area.

Behind the Scenes of Delaware's Family Farms - Dittmar Family Farms

Dittmar Family Farms is one example of a relatively new agricultural producer in Kent County that leveraged federal, state, and local resources available for producers to help maintain and grow its production.

Federal resources range from crop and livestock insurance grants to conservation innovation grants. Delaware has specific programs like the Delaware Resilient Food System Infrastructure Grant Program, the Delaware State University Farm School, and the multitude of programs described in this brief. Local resources consist of farmers’ markets and the “Farm to” Programs. To learn more about how the Dittmar Family Farm has evolved, view its story  Case Study: The Legacy of Agriculture in Kent County