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Brooks College of Health
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Center for Nutrition and Food Security

Food insecurity is a local reality. In the United States, 1 in 6 Americans lack access to adequate healthy food. Florida and Duval County face even higher rates.

1 in 6
Americans
26.7%
Florida children
20.1%
Duval adults

The Center for Nutrition and Food Security strengthens community health by recovering wholesome food, expanding nutrition education and supporting neighbors through community-engaged programs.

Support the Kitchen Expansion

Community-Engaged Center Programs

Meals on Wings logo

Meals on Wings

Recovering surplus food from local hospitals and transforming it into ready-to-eat meals for homebound seniors across Northeast Florida.

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Nourish to Flourish logo

Nourish to Flourish

Improving childhood health through nutrition education, food access and hands-on activities that build lifelong healthy habits.

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Fueling community health starts in the kitchen

Meals on Wings volunteers smiling in front of recovered food trays

Help UNF expand the CNFS Kitchen Lab to meet rising food security needs across Northeast Florida. As our community-engaged programs grow, we need more space to safely prepare meals, support hands-on student learning and serve more neighbors.

Increase meal production capacity

Expand experiential learning for UNF students

Strengthen community partnerships

Support the Kitchen Expansion

What Guides Our Work

Click an image to learn more about what guides CNFS.

UNF Students hosting a nutrition education class to kids

At the Center for Nutrition and Food Security, we are dedicated to advancing food access and nutritional health through collaborative efforts that inspire transformational learning and foster community engagement. By providing impactful educational opportunities and supporting innovative research, we aim to empower students and professionals to make a positive, lasting impact on nutritional health and quality of life. Our commitment to nutrition enriches lives and contributes to the overall well-being and prosperity of Northeast Florida and beyond.

UNF nutrition student smiling standing in front of food bins

The Center for Nutrition and Food Security aspires to be a leading force in advancing food access and nutritional health to those in need.

Meals on Wings Team group picture

At the Center for Nutrition and Food Security, our values guide our commitment to enhancing food access and nutritional health. We are dedicated to: 

  • Accountability: We uphold a responsibility to our community and stakeholders, ensuring transparency in all our initiatives and collaborations. 
  • Integrity: We conduct our work with honesty and ethical principles, fostering trust and respect in every interaction. 
  • Excellence: We strive for the highest standards in our educational programs, research, and partnerships, aiming to achieve impactful and innovative solutions. 
  • Civility: We engage with others respectfully and inclusively, valuing diverse perspectives and fostering a supportive and collaborative environment. 
  • Culture of Care: We are dedicated to promoting well-being through compassionate and empathetic approaches, addressing the needs of individuals and communities. 
  • Innovation: We embrace creativity and forward-thinking strategies to overcome challenges and drive progress.  
  • Collaboration: We build strong partnerships and connections among students, faculty, professionals, and organizations, working together to create sustainable solutions and advance our shared goals. 

These values reflect who we are as an institution and as individuals, guiding our efforts to make a meaningful impact on food security and nutritional health. 

Goals with a bullseye target

The goals of the CNFS are:

  1. provide transformational learning opportunities for students on food security and health;
  2. foster internal and external linkages among faculty and professionals engaged in addressing food access, food security, and nutritional health;
  3. assist in developing applied teaching and research on food security and nutritional health;
  4. acquire support for food access and nutritional health education and research;
  5. and serve as a liaison to external organizations on food security and nutritional health.

Connect With CNFS

Whether you are a community partner, student, donor or neighbor, we welcome the opportunity to connect with you.

cnfs@unf.edu

Meet Our Team

Support the Mission

Your gift provides critical funding for CNFS community-engaged programs beyond what state allocations alone can support.

Donate to the Center for Nutrition and Food Security