What's Helping? These are the positive forces are work in our community and beyond that influence this issue in our community.

• Grant funding to Haywood County HHSA administered by NC State University provides free Diabetes Prevention Program classes with incentives.  
• Double Up Food Bucks provides bonus to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients at Haywood's Historic Farmer's Market.  
• The Canton Library cultivates a 'Giving Garden.'
• Participating Farmer's Market vendors donate extra produce to a local organization and food is shared with those in need.  Vendors are compensated for these donations.  

What's Hurting? These are the negative forces are work in our community and beyond that influence this issue in our community.

• Challenges accessing affordable foods: ‘Foods found at convenience stores and ‘dollar’’ stores in less populated geographic areas tend to be highly processed high in sodium & sugar, etc.’    -Community Leader (Online Key Informant Survey- WNC Health Network, 2021)
• Over 21% of adults report that their typical day is extremely or very stressful (2024 WNC Healthy Impact Community Health Survey, WNC Health Network, Inc. [Item 61])
• Thirty percent of adults reported running out of food at least once in the past year or were worried about running out of food in the past year.  (2024 WNC Healthy Impact Community Health Survey, WNC Health Network, Inc. [Item 77])
• Transportation is a barrier for many residents.  While public transportation exists and is making great strides, it is still a gap for some individuals.

We are keeping an eye on fruit and vegetable consumption as a way of telling how we are doing as a community in addressing obesity and build a community where 'Haywood residents live well and live long by promoting physical activity, healthy eating, and quality healthcare.' We have also identified other data that is not currently available, but that we would like to develop to help us monitor progress on this result:

• Proximity of restaurants to grocery stores (more current)
• Access to and utilization of fast food restaurants (more current)