Empowering Flint Through Health, Youth Sports, and Food Access

Meet Aaron Neely, Double Up Food Bucks Ambassador in Flint

Flint is home to countless community leaders who are creating healthier, more hopeful futures for their neighbors. Among them is Aaron Neely, a Double Up Food Bucks ambassador, youth basketball coach, and dedicated advocate for health and wellness. From his work on the court with kids to his outreach around food access, Aaron’s life is deeply rooted in serving his community and helping others thrive.

For Aaron, community work is personal. Born and raised in Flint, he has spent nearly his entire life in the city. “Flint is home. I was born and raised here. I’ve spent 29 of my 32 years here,” he explains. His passion for giving back was instilled early on by his parents, who modeled generosity and a strong sense of responsibility to others.

That spirit came to the forefront during the Flint water crisis, when Aaron began volunteering at water stations. Later, during the COVID pandemic, he found himself once again at the center of community relief efforts. Those experiences renewed his commitment to serving something greater than himself. “The more I got involved, the more I understood the need in the community,” he reflects.

Over the past few years, Aaron’s discovered another avenue to serve: improving access to healthy food. His path into food advocacy started with a connection to an AmeriCorps liaison working at a local urban garden. That relationship sparked his interest in Flint’s food system and the role locally grown food could play in creating healthier futures for the city’s residents.

That research and exploration ultimately led Aaron to become an ambassador for Fair Food Network’s Double Up Food Bucks, a program that helps families match their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps) dollars when buying fresh fruits and vegetables. The nutrition incentive program is offered at 230+ participating farmers markets and grocery stores in Michigan, including Hutchison’s Farmer’s Market in Flint. Double Up matches SNAP purchases of fresh fruits and vegetables up to $20 a day, making healthy food more affordable for families in Flint. “Becoming a Double Up Food Bucks ambassador was a great way to make an impact,” Aaron says.

Beyond food access, Aaron has dedicated himself to mentoring youth through sports, recognizing basketball as both a training ground and a teaching tool. His coaching career began at the local Boys and Girls Club, where he once found belonging as a child, and later expanded to Flint Affiliation (FA), where he now serves as the 11th Grade Head Coach.
He coaches older athletes—and plays a role in shaping Flint’s youngest players through Bitty Ball, a basketball program designed for little ones just getting started in the game. By helping children as young as four and five build confidence on the court, Aaron and fellow coaches at Flint Affiliation set the stage for lifelong engagement with sports and healthy habits. He also collaborates with initiatives like the CRIM and other local coaches to make sure Flint’s youth have safe, supportive spaces to learn and grow.

Aaron sees basketball as a bridge between physical activity and nutrition. Through his role as a Double Up ambassador, he shares resources with children and families, showing them how to stretch their food dollars while choosing fresh fruits and vegetables. By introducing kids to nutrition education early, Aaron helps them understand that pursuing sports means fueling their bodies the right way. From explaining the importance of balanced meals to offering healthy snacks during practice, he emphasizes that good nutrition supports growth, performance, and long-term well-being.

Aaron’s approach to health is holistic. For him, wellness goes beyond exercise and balanced meals—it’s about giving people the knowledge and encouragement to make sustainable changes. He often urges others to take small, intentional steps like reading nutrition labels, considering portion sizes, and paying closer attention to daily intake. “It’s about building a diet that helps people reach their goals,” he says.

Despite the challenges facing the Flint community, Aaron remains hopeful and inspired by his neighbors. His motivation comes from witnessing progress—whether it’s a family finding new ways to access fresh food or a player making healthier choices on and off the court.

“My outlook on food systems and food access is what keeps me motivated to do the work I do,” he reflects. “What I’ve seen, heard, and experienced firsthand has allowed me to understand the food system in Flint and its challenges. That unique perspective is what drives me to continue my efforts and continue to be an advocate.”

Whether Aaron’s coaching kids or adults, connecting families with fresh produce, or being a steady presence in the community, his dedication is making a tangible difference in his community. Through his work with Double Up and youth sports, Aaron shows how one person’s commitment can spark a ripple effect of change—growing healthier, stronger communities in Flint and beyond.

If you’d like to learn more about Double Up Food Bucks or support the program in Michigan, visit DoubleUpFoodBucks.org.