1 in 3 Knox Countians lacks access to good food. Bold action can remedy that.

In Knoxville, your ZIP code can determine your dinner – and your diagnosis.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than 150,000 Knox County residents live in low-income neighborhoods with limited access to nutritious, affordable food – that’s nearly one in three people. Instead of grocery stores stocked with fresh produce and healthy options, their neighborhoods are full of fast food, dollar stores, and gas stations. Residents are forced to rely on unhealthy, processed convenience foods – fueling rates of chronic illness.

Nowhere is this crisis more evident than in East Knoxville, where the recent closure of the Save a Lot on Holston Drive has deepened an already urgent food access crisis. We’ve traded the health of the poor for profit. How long will we allow Knoxville’s most vulnerable communities to pay the price?

As a nurse, I’ve cared for countless patients with obesity-related conditions. Many do everything right – take their medications, follow up, and try to change their lifestyle. But they’re set up to fail. Without access to healthy food, they are trapped in a cycle of illness and readmission.

This isn’t the time for small initiatives. We need bold policy change that prioritizes health equity over profit. Healthy Food Financing Initiatives (HFFIs) are proven, economical solutions that offer funding to support healthy food retail in underserved communities. In Pennsylvania, targeted HFFI grants have supported 88 projects, improving access to nutritious food for more than 400,000 residents.

While some lawmakers continue to dismiss HFFIs as wasteful, the evidence shows otherwise. Not only do HFFIs expand food access – they help reduce rates of chronic illness, create local jobs, boost property values, and strengthen communities from the ground up.

So, what can you do? Contact your state representatives and demand for implementation of HFFIs across Tennessee. In the meantime, support local organizations fighting food insecurity – like United Way of Greater Knoxville and Second Harvest Food Bank.

In Knoxville, poverty fuels disease. It’s time to take action.

Mary Kate Bosson, RN, BSN, is a nurse educator committed to improving community health through advocacy.