Emhoff urban farm visit in DC spotlights food aid

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff put spotlight on food insecurity and importance of food assistance during pandemic with a visit to an urban farm in nation's capital Thursday. Emfoff toured 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.

Farm is located in a predominantly African-American neighborhood east of Washington's Anacostia River. Its mission is to serve 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 passion and way se folks are approaching this, and how y're serving community," Emhoff said at end of his tour.

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

Brshaw says re are only three grocery stores for more than 150,000 people east of Anacostia River. He says with pandemic, 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 federally-assisted meal program.

Image: AP