Food for Health distributes free take-home meals in Milwaukee's Halyard Park neighborhood

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Food for Health dished up a barbecue in Milwaukee's Halyard Park neighborhood Tuesday. 

The nonprofit gave away 1,000 healthy take-home meals along with food hot off the grill outside the nonprofit near Brown Street and Vel R. Phillips Avenue.

Their leaders say the closure of eight grocery stores has created food deserts across the city, forcing people to travel further to get fresh food. 

"It can mean up to a 45-minute bus ride to the nearest grocery store, and three different trips," said founder and CEO of Food for Health Kathy Koshgarian. "And can you imagine having to carry your groceries in this heat like today through three bus rides and 45 minutes?"

This was the second of three summer "Nutrition in the Neighborhood" events planned by the nonprofit. They say one more will be held in August.