Yael Lehmann. Photo courtesy of The Food Trust.

The Food Trust, an organization that helps promote access to affordable, healthy food, will use federal stimulus money to encourage Philadelphia corner food stores to stock more fruits and vegetables, according to this Philly.com article.

Social worker Yael Lehmann, MSW, is executive director of the Food Trust. Officials hope federal funds for healthier foods and the Food Trust’s work will help stave off a health care crisis in the city by preventing heart attacks, strokes, cancer, and diabetes, and by lowering health-care costs.

“We’ve been able to show store operators that there is customer demand for fresh foods,” Lehmann said. “There’s a misconception that people (in poor neighborhoods) don’t want fresh food. And we’re showing store owners that fruits and vegetables are actually profitable to sell.”

Childhood obesity is a major problem in the United States and First Lady Michelle Obama is spearheading a campaign to combat it. The National Association of Social Workers supports these efforts. In fact, the association monitored a Senate hearing on the issue. To learn more click here. Social workers also help consumers live healthier lives. To find out more click here to visit the NASW’s “Help Starts Here” Healthy Lifestyles Web page by clicking here.