2017-18 Best Community Supporters

Dietspotlight Picks - Top Community Supporters in the Nation

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The United States is experiencing an epidemic of chronic diseases at a level that most of the world has never witnessed. For decades, the statistics have been slowly rising, and more and more people are being diagnosed with chronic diseases and disorders every year. The issue of health in the United States is not to be taken lightly, and more needs to be done than doctors, nurses, and nutritionists can do alone.

In particular, heart disease is on the rise and is still the leading cause of death in the U.S. In 2015, over 630,000 people died of heart disease. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in America, killing nearly 600,000 people in 2015 alone. Respiratory diseases, strokes, and diabetes also claim hundreds of thousands of lives every year.

Here are our top community supporter picks:

A year earlier in 2014, cancer and heart disease accounted for nearly 50% of all documented deaths. Unfortunately, many of these fatalities are preventable, but it takes more than just doctors to bring about the necessary changes to keep people alive. [1]

These health issues are multifaceted, and not one factor or culprit is to blame. However, several things are contributing to the chronic diseases and health problems that so many Americans of all ages are experiencing. This includes poor dietary habits, a lack of physical activity, and unhealthy sleeping habits. These three things are simple to change, yet many people find eating healthier, exercising, and getting adequate sleep to be the most challenging changes to make. Community support specialists and workers help forge a bridge between what goes on in the doctor’s office and what the patient does at home. [2]

Poor dietary habits are among the most significant contributors to declining overall health. With the abundance of fast food and processed food in America, many people are failing to eat fresh fruits and vegetables and other whole foods that contain the nutritional value.

Fast food and junk food is enhanced with flavors and chemicals that make them tasty and even addictive, and this makes it hard for people to give them up. The education and knowledge that community support workers provide is a major step in helping people go from junk food to whole food in their diets.

The lack of physical activity and exercise is also a major issue in the United States. Many adults, adolescents, and children do not get the recommended physical exercise that their bodies need to sustain optimal health.

A lack of physical activity combined with poor dietary habits and inadequate sleep create a physical environment that is primed for obesity and other life-threatening diseases. Community support workers are essential players on the ground level in helping people make changes that are good for their bodies, and that keeps them from developing chronic diseases.

Because the people working as community support specialists play such an integral role in improving people’s lives, we have decided to recognize several individuals who performed outstandingly in community support.

Here are the community support departments we have selected to be recognized for their hard work and dedication to their cause.

Community Services Unlimited Inc.

Community Services Unlimited Inc.

Community Services Unlimited Inc. (CSU) is a non-profit community organization based in South Central Los Angeles. CSU is dedicated to developing community programs that help ensure justice and needed resources in vulnerable communities. CSU has programs that range from providing workshops on sustainable gardening to an environmental program that promotes the use of environmentally sustainable fuels to reduce automotive pollution. CSU is led by board of directors and managed by an executive director.

Los Angeles, CA
Alba Farmers

Alba Farmers

The Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association (ALBA) is an organization that helps aspiring farmers and farm workers grown and sell crops on two organic farms located in Monterey County, California. Their mission is to help ensure a more sustainable food system with a focus creating better opportunities for small farms from an economic perspective.

Feeding the 5000 Vancouver

Feeding the 5000 Vancouver

Feeding The 5000 Vancouver is a movement that originated in London back in 2009. The organization’s focus is on reducing food waste, and feeding others with the food that is wasted by places such as restaurants and grocery stores. It highlights the billions of dollars in wasted food each year in Canada, and has been able to provide

Fit Worth

Fit Worth

FitWorth is an organization based on Fort Worth, Texas that focuses on community health. FitWorth’s goal is to help improve the health of families through movement. Through education, FitWorth aims to help families identify unhealthy behaviors and empower role models of health. FitWorth is led by a board of directors who have a wide range of experience.

Fort Worth, TX
Green Bridge Growers

Green Bridge Growers

Green Bridge Growers is an Indianapolis based organization that uses sustainable methods to grow organic produce. It has a particular focus on helping create jobs for young adults with autism. Through using aquaponics to grow vegetables, Green Bridge Growers can grow vegetables year-round. As a result, the organization can employ young adults with autism year-round who would otherwise be a part of the 90% of adults with autism who are unemployed.

Martha's Table

Martha's Table

Martha’s Table is non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. that was established in 1968. Martha’s Table focuses on healthier communities, and its programs include the national Healthy Start program, and programs that stress healthy eating, and health community connections that help children develop as they grow. In addition, Martha’s Table provides emergency support services, has a daily mobile food truck, and a daily meal service.

Washington, DC
Montana Organic Association

Montana Organic Association

Montana Organic Association (MOA) is a non-profit organization established in 2002. Its mission is to serve as an advocate to promote the benefits of organic agriculture and educate the community on the benefits organic food provides to people, the environment, and Montana’s economy. MOA provides education through tours of certified organic farms and businesses. It also leverages its expertise in advocating for organic research and education in Montana’s educational systems among other advocacy work.

Office of Homeless Services

Office of Homeless Services

The Office of Homeless Services is a Philadelphia based organization that provides many support programs for the homeless in Philadelphia. The organization has programs that range from 24-hour emergency housing, transitional housing, to financial assistance to several hundred households to prevent homelessness. The organization works with a network of over 60 organizations to support the homeless.

Philadelphia, PA
Purple Asparagus

Purple Asparagus

Purple Asparagus is a Chicago based organization whose mission it is to educate families and communities on healthy food options that are good for the body and earth. The organization holds events at schools, community organizations, and farmer’s markets. Purple Asparagus takes a hands-on approach when educating children and others by providing cooking classes, and teaching the origin of certain foods. The organization has a dedicated board of directors and staff based in the Chicagoland area.

Chicago, IL
The Kitchen

The Kitchen

The Kitchen is a family of companies whose mission it is to ensure everyone has access to real food. Originating in Boulder, CO, The Kitchen has expanded to Memphis, Denver, Chicago, and Indianapolis. The Kitchen not only includes a non-profit that uses Learning Gardens to provide education on real food and access to children, it also supports entrepreneurs in developing sustainable and scalable farming methods and businesses.