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I am trying to form a food Co-Op in the South Bronx Posted by: My name is David Miller. I work with Health People, A non-profit organization confronting disparities in public health and economic disparities I am a community activist

January 9, 2006

I have lived a nd worked in the South Bronx in New York all my adult life. The poverity here is tremendous and hunger is a real and constant event in this community. The price and quality of food in this community is horrendous and the rates of heart disease and diabities is staggering. Very successful models exist for community based food cooperatives throughout the world and there are at least two food co-ops here in nyc (in Brooklyn and Manhattan) but these arelocated in affluent communities where people buy high end, organically grown, gourmet food. Much of this communityrelies on food stamps. People here are not lasy, just very poor, disabled and unskilled. We want our purcahsing power to go further and in doing so change the course of the social direction of the community. We are envisioning a store front operation and a community garden and we envision this being a membership driven program. there are about 10 of us commited to making this happen as it would be a milestone event in a community that has more in common with people in th edeveloping world then Manattan I am open to all suggestions, help, guidence and prayers to help accomplish this effort. My thanks and hopes for peace go with you...