[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6303812,"mediaKeyId","2470453-668aca1511c21b0ed0f5ba5a2a3d191c","parentId",2470453,"title","Food Bank of Delaware outlines rising demand, workforce and training programs and Hispanic outreach","audioSeconds",1100,"startMs",2580000,"endMs",3680000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2470453-668aca1511c21b0ed0f5ba5a2a3d191c&start=2580&end=3680","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2470453-668aca1511c21b0ed0f5ba5a2a3d191c/thumbnail_2580000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6303812/Wilmington-City/New-Castle-County/Delaware/Food-Bank-of-Delaware-outlines-rising-demand-workforce-and-training-programs-and-Hispanic-outreach","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6303812-1fe5647c0e3db623f8365f1138cfc165/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171670&Signature=AspShdUaZ949xd9JEqGj-yMnwRi8gVflegJEmdE2k7xEK1x1sApPcH4eCu4n8~cvSHfbWMO5~DockkMW3Rl~Ct4b~BnvPQOEZQtXFxQvI3b5nvEH2sLTyNbzRVH3ASNOCqz22b2rOL7wCW3D5ao~4CDg5sEeZz0Wx7EuIo6JtF6Y26nYGQah4OvYdqDFg9vnoAhViTKYreiBwlUeaD6dhI3Az6BIbHBd9eA-KwKFHsjiOKbrnQtDU8ont0CnS8ds7lDo654xjXiboymi4zW~NHM5ty4RNUbtv-Xs6YRsCE923-VTr4j2FwejTL0ghfcvqsVuwu94KIzOIhJQvUQ0VQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Wilmington, DE","date","2025-02-26T00:00:00Z","article","The Food Bank of Delaware presented program and distribution data to Wilmington City Council’s Health, Environmental, Aging and Disabilities Committee and asked the council to consider partnership and advocacy to sustain food assistance across the city.

Kathy Kaniewski, president and CEO, said hunger remains a persistent problem in the state: “1 in 8 Delawareans is food insecure,” a figure the Food Bank presented as a statewide estimate. She said 1 in 5 children in Delaware are food insecure and noted the organization had prepared a packet for council showing services within city limits.

Chad Robinson, vice president of external affairs, described the Food Bank’s dual focus on “food for today and food for tomorrow” — immediate food distribution and workforce, training and benefits-enrollment programs that aim to reduce long‑term need. Robinson and Kaniewski highlighted culinary training, warehouse logistics programs and a specialized culinary training program for people with intellectual disabilities. The Food Bank said it also conducts benefits outreach and “Stand By Me” financial coaching.

Melissa Lopez, community outreach lead for Hispanic communities, said the Food Bank conducts outreach, translations and phone‑based SNAP application assistance to reduce language and transportation barriers. She and Kaniewski noted a recent decrease in some Hispanic community participation at local distributions and attributed it in part to fear among immigrant communities; the Food Bank said it is increasing targeted outreach, including Spanish‑language radio, and mobile pantry work.

Kaniewski said food distribution increased sharply during the COVID pandemic and has not returned to pre‑pandemic levels, while donations have not recovered; the Food Bank now purchases more food than at nearly any prior time in its history. She described a shift to a 50% cost‑sharing model for some partner agencies (partners pay half the purchase cost for selected items) and said the organization is working with municipalities and funders to sustain mobile pantries and partner operations. A mobile pantry serving roughly 100 people was cited as costing about $2,500.

Council members thanked the Food Bank for its programs and for workforce development offerings. Kaniewski provided packet materials and asked council members to contact the Food Bank for volunteer opportunities, partnership and advocacy to maintain assistance levels and partner capacity.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Wilmington Health, Environmental, Aging & Disabilities Committee Meeting | 2/26/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Representatives from the Food Bank of Delaware told the committee demand for food assistance has remained high since the pandemic, outlined training and employment programs, and described targeted Hispanic outreach and a cost‑sharing approach with partner agencies.","taxTitle","Wilmington City, New Castle County, Delaware","taxId",12638,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6303816,"Network Connect presents 2024 impact report highlighting youth programs, Narcan trainings and street‑team work",1435,970000,2405000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2470453-668aca1511c21b0ed0f5ba5a2a3d191c&start=970&end=2405","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2470453-668aca1511c21b0ed0f5ba5a2a3d191c/thumbnail_970000.jpg","/articles/6303816/Wilmington-City/New-Castle-County/Delaware/Network-Connect-presents-2024-impact-report-highlighting-youth-programs-Narcan-trainings-and-streetteam-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6303816-fa2b1bb4883fea94eb1b65cdc061504b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171670&Signature=inuK2svsTIW96I8qpR61dYRoJDpZF7le6ByMGdp1xjAjHd86YlTKe8Who~uUftSHdggmOYbi7ZLynozoiVVpmd3rUh50r3TuMpUYVR5O5Dn-Nxng21LjqWwi30wBBtwnLYMjFmZuEokejCVkkg3yNMovYzZwwtOwp4vldPKPVwHga0iD7lDv8cfUAaJHeoKiZOp86MFQHB6H89CQ8jd~hFF34crJV9ncmvU3onC3z56Tf-hS1GUnE0QGR4ZOMJlys8N46xw5RtrG0itaAl2u13u7lhveetK8ivTYu3C0~99UT0WuduCNwojVFH~B8eF7YuiNbc8z-DiTcBDskes~BQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Network Connect, a nonprofit focused on community connection and resource navigation, presented its 2024 impact report to the Health, Environmental, Aging and Disabilities Committee and highlighted outreach in New Castle County and Wilmington.

Executive Director Sierra Hall summarized the organization’s work: “Network Connect is a nonprofit that takes community connection, resource building, and information awareness approach to youth and family services, with community at its center.” Hall described eight core programs including the Community Well‑Being Ambassador program, the Wilmington Street Team, safe passage for schoolchildren, a messaging center, workforce programs for teens, a Race to Wellness initiative addressing adverse childhood experiences, and a recovery cafe.

For January through November in New Castle County, Network Connect reported it engaged more than 608 county community members and said it served a total of 665 community members with just over 2,000 recorded interactions. The group reported training 2,576 individuals in Narcan use and distributing 3,571 Narcan kits during that period. Network Connect said those outreach efforts prioritized ZIP codes 19801 and 19805 among others, and listed high‑need issues including substance use, mental health, healthcare access, employment and housing.

Hall described the Wilmington Street Team as a collective‑impact effort focused on resource connection, violence‑reduction activities and community roundtables. She said hub houses provide services such as meals, showers and case management for people returning from correctional facilities and that the organization’s teen-focused programs have provided meals and safe activities.

Network Connect requested that council keep the organization in mind for referrals and funding and said the agency is hiring well‑being ambassadors. Hall provided the organization’s contact details and website, www.networkconnect.org, and invited committee members to use Network Connect as a partner for engaging hard‑to‑reach populations. Several council members praised the program and offered continued support during a brief question period.

","Network Connect reported local outreach results for New Castle County in 2024, describing behavioral health skill building, workforce programs, Narcan distribution, a Wilmington street team and recovery‑cafe services.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6303821,"Committee records support resolutions for four state bills; items to be placed on full council agenda",306,518000,824000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2470453-668aca1511c21b0ed0f5ba5a2a3d191c&start=518&end=824","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2470453-668aca1511c21b0ed0f5ba5a2a3d191c/thumbnail_518000.jpg","/articles/6303821/Wilmington-City/New-Castle-County/Delaware/Committee-records-support-resolutions-for-four-state-bills-items-to-be-placed-on-full-council-agenda","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6303821-90a69857f7130c31ddb171889794fc00/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171670&Signature=IWIRxr6XC-p0QTUG8We6U3E9E30E8kTxkPYapkZxB7L5T1mlV~IH157czKp13HW~g5o2~kI9oukuWWDwv4pOXxA5bzgt2JW2LNtHcoC~L2YkX1cWAonEW9HTjMDjbYDa6F0QgZJxbJZhoRcfiiIqKRfExe8tgsnge5RSw5Kr-B7G7WRuR6sh6maMgT4fc2eNpnBbw5YhFizQbMi~M6RB4cNuEYKJl~EWB4jGJDoo34QQB9ikNDPyYqXvXeE7scO2vwS4FRRPiy0g9ulFUEaW8jpp-ZURI9i2ZmSsA4h4pCtZA3mf-be41IBaGzkpo88Kgban~0vOQQECR-BsgDz9YQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Wilmington City’s Health, Environmental, Aging and Disabilities Committee reviewed a group of resolutions expressing the city’s support for state bills on breastfeeding in corrections, early childhood education, the death penalty, and reproductive freedom. Because these are resolutions of support, the committee noted they do not require a committee vote and will be placed on the city council agenda for consideration.

Council Chair Kobe Owens presented the items and summarized each measure. He said HB3 would “create a breastfeeding and lactation program within the DOC, Department of Corrections, to provide lactation support to women in DOC custody” and would permit collection and transfer of breast milk by an approved person for infants or toddlers. Owens identified Representative Deshauna Neal as the sponsor and said Senator Marie Pickney co-sponsored the bill in Dover.

On HB115, Owens said the measure “permits early learning educators in public schools to use and encourage play based learning in preschool, kindergarten and grades 1 to 3,” and offered the meeting’s definition of play‑based learning as activities that are child‑directed, joyful and spontaneous.

Owens also introduced HB35, described as a proposed amendment to Article I of the Delaware Constitution to prohibit the death penalty, and SB5, an act proposing a state constitutional right to reproductive freedom. He noted the constitutional amendments require approval in two consecutive General Assembly sessions to take effect.

Several committee members asked to be added as cosponsors for individual resolutions; the chair recorded those requests as “duly noted.” During the public comment period, Cheyenne Miller, a Wilmington resident, thanked council members for taking up early resolutions in support of state bills and said early council support helps state legislators know they have backing from city officials.

Because these items are supportive resolutions and not final ordinances, the committee did not take recorded votes. Each resolution will be placed on the next full council meeting agenda for formal consideration and any co‑sponsorship designations.

","The committee reviewed city resolutions supporting four state legislative measures — HB3 (breastfeeding in corrections), HB115 (play-based learning), HB35 (constitutional amendment on death penalty), and SB5 (constitutional amendment on reproductive freedom) — and noted multiple council members asked to be added as cosponsors.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6303824,"Committee advances 90-day suspension on new marijuana retail licenses to allow zoning review",144,356000,500000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2470453-668aca1511c21b0ed0f5ba5a2a3d191c&start=356&end=500","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2470453-668aca1511c21b0ed0f5ba5a2a3d191c/thumbnail_356000.jpg","/articles/6303824/Wilmington-City/New-Castle-County/Delaware/Committee-advances-90-day-suspension-on-new-marijuana-retail-licenses-to-allow-zoning-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6303824-f59933f7327a8441e83707eab846af86/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171670&Signature=nb8loJVbn9Em1~vK3nriZTuXPtHvVL~cW~wrEtczHl77YS2WmApNx2XJKuj3f3xBnvH6hPx-MJgSWH9ehdGwI1sqyx8uQPqJVIHj-kSjjPpTTd2CfEwkjomDqgbl9EfGMxmp6ywPKThx5mjAHSvwmt1CDAKu3HABC5yQkOrTtWPHQbWFB2mtGLxYKlS73YAuczpBVAmk2-iNqdmdT6M~hX36Q1bNo838SEnExFz8bGxAsUkVI5DB0qwpTnrowvs-ut2pUNexzK5cEh4vEOS3ynJ8keS3fHO32Q-A5EJjZRpbwCWuPv~jvfMu~yz1IlWRBqD4G4MWJOZ4CEgvcEP6SQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Wilmington City Council’s Health, Environmental, Aging and Disabilities Committee voted to send an ordinance to the full council that would impose a 90-day suspension on issuing marijuana retail licenses to allow the city to complete zoning and planning work.

Councilman Alexander Hackett, who presented the ordinance, said the measure “will provide the city the opportunity to work through through our mandated zoning and planning process.” He told the committee the pause is intended to give the city time to regulate and zone retail marijuana locations so they fall “in the right areas” and do not “negatively affect” neighborhoods.

The committee chair, Councilman Kobe Owens, opened the item for questions and public comment; none were recorded. A motion to move the ordinance out of committee was made, seconded and approved during the meeting. Committee members voiced “aye” during the roll call and the chair declared the ordinance out of committee.

The ordinance was moved out of committee without a named mover or seconder recorded in the meeting transcript; the committee will place the ordinance on the full council agenda for further consideration and any subsequent formal votes.

Hackett said the administration has been engaged on the measure and described the ordinance as a cooperative, interim step while the city completes required zoning and planning reviews. No effective date, specific zoning changes, or enforcement details were included in the committee presentation.

Next steps: the ordinance will appear on the full council agenda for a subsequent meeting where council members can debate, amend or vote on the measure.

","The Health, Environmental, Aging and Disabilities Committee voted to move an ordinance that would impose a 90-day suspension on issuing marijuana retail licenses while the city completes zoning and planning work.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Food Bank of Delaware outlines rising demand, workforce and training programs and Hispanic outreach

Network Connect presents 2024 impact report highlighting youth programs, Narcan trainings and street‑team work

Committee records support resolutions for four state bills; items to be placed on full council agenda

Committee advances 90-day suspension on new marijuana retail licenses to allow zoning review