Emhoff urban farm visit in DC spotlights food aid

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff put the spotlight on food insecurity and the importance of food assistance during the pandemic with a visit to an urban farm in the nation's capital Thursday. Emfoff toured the Farm at Kelly Miller, an urban farm and food hub that's located on city land and run by Dreaming out Loud, a local non-profit.

The Farm is located in a predominantly African-American neighborhood east of Washington's Anacostia River. Its mission is to serve the city by increasing access to healthy food, improving community health and offering community-based programs to students and residents. "This is just so amazing to see the passion and the way these folks are approaching this, and how they're serving the community," Emhoff said at the end of his tour.

Chris Bradshaw, the executive director of Dreaming Out Loud took Emhoff on the tour. He grew up in Tennessee and studied at Howard University.

Bradshaw says there are only three grocery stores for more than 150,000 people east of the Anacostia River. He says with the pandemic, the Farm is working with non-profit groups to deliver food assistance to vulnerable residents.

It also operates community gardens and partners with Kelly Miller Middle School, which has about 400 students, most of whom qualify for the federally-assisted meal program.

Image: AP