American Heart Association Holds Forum in Easton

(EASTON, Md) – The American Heart Association is on a new mission to help out communities across Maryland.

Their first stop is here on the Eastern Shore.

Members of the Talbot County community, ranging from pastors from local churches to those involved with non-profits came together Tuesday afternoon, as part of the American Heart Association holding forums across Maryland to tackle child hunger.

“When kids are hungry, they’re not doing well in school. When kids are hungry, it’s setting them up, to not be able to have, good nutrition. And that sets them up for poor health in the long term,” says the association’s Laura Hale.

This comes as the impacts of the recent government shutdowns heavily impacted those on SNAP, especially in Talbot County, where according to the Maryland Department of Education, around 60 percent of students are receiving some kind of food aid.

That’s what brought one Easton woman to the table to try and create solutions to bring back to Annapolis.

Katherine Poe, who runs the Talbot County Hunger Coalition tells WMDT, “This is probably even bigger than heart association. No, it’s it and it’s much more serious. And the depth is deeper than they thought. I think that this gives them the ammunition to say this is a health issue…”

That’s why the American Heart Association is looking to hear from every cross-section of each community in the state on how to tackle child hunger.

Laura says, “For us, we really see the need for healthy school meals for all is one piece of the larger puzzle as we look to address hunger and nutrition security. School meals are a healthy, space that we can start for kids…”

The American Heart Association is planning to hold discussions like this in each of Maryland’s 24 counties. And they’re hoping that there will be community solutions.

The next forum will take place in Hagerstown.