Submitted by City of Carmel
The City of Carmel is taking a proactive step to strengthen community well-being with the development of a new Mayor’s Advisory Commission on Food Access. The group will bring experts together to find where residents are struggling to get healthy food, helping the city better coordinate local resources to fill those gaps.
Finkam
“Food access is a complex issue that touches health, learning and family stability,” Mayor Sue Finkam said. “While organizations exist in Carmel that work to address food needs, the food assistance space is often fragmented. I formed this commission to convene experts and community partners to better understand where gaps exist and how we can coordinate more effectively to support our residents.”
Mayor Finkam appointed City Councilor Jeff Worrell to lead the commission. Guided by a commitment to community welfare and dignity, Worrell noted the need for the group’s mission based on his advocacy for local food security.
Worrell
“There are people and families right here in our community who are working hard and still struggling to put food on the table,” Worrell said. “This commission is about listening, learning and bringing the right people together so we can better coordinate existing resources and meet real needs.”
The advisory commission will focus on:
- Assessing the current landscape of food access and related services in Carmel
- Convening experts and community partners to identify gaps, overlaps, and unmet needs
- Strengthening coordination across existing programs and organizations
- Providing data-informed recommendations to city leadership
- Increasing awareness of food access challenges and available resources
Details regarding commission membership, meeting schedules and opportunities for community involvement will be shared in the coming weeks.