A local nonprofit that has promoted healthy food and increased food access in low-income neighborhoods is closing its door after 18 years.
Local Matters said an unstable funding environment has caused a significant financial strain on the south side-based group.
Local Matters' Executive Director Yolanda Owens said the organization has not received the charitable funding from groups that it once did.
"Some were letting us know that work that we do they're no longer able to fund, that they needed to fund things that were maybe differently focused," Owens said.
Owens said foundations and other organizations only have so much money to give to groups such as hers.
"Some of the foundations and funds, because they've been overwhelmed, they have the same amount of money to be able to disburse to the community that have been overwhelmed with applicants, and sometimes they're trying to help out more, and so what they do is give less money to more organizations," Owens said.
One of the most visible Local Matters' programs was the Veggie Van, a mobile market that sold fruits and vegetables at low prices.
The van traveled to neighborhoods that lacked grocery stores.
Local Matters has also run educational programs promoting good nutrition and worked to expand access to healthy food while diverting food waste from landfills toward local agencies.
Owens said the the organization's staff has dropped from 21 to six in the past year.
Owens also said Local Matters is asking other organizations to pick up its work.
