HARRIS – Garnet Health Medical Center – Catskills has received a first-time grant of $500,000 grant aimed at helping residents of Sullivan and Orange counties lead healthier lives.
The Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program, funded through the US Department of Agriculture, provides grants on a competitive basis to projects that help low-income consumers access and purchase fresh fruits and vegetables through “cash” incentives that increase their purchasing power at locations like farmers markets.
Garnet Health Medical Center – Catskills, in partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension and various community partners, will receive close to $500,000 over the next three years. The money will help incentivize various community programs, such as Garnet Health’s Diabetes Prevention Program, designed to increase produce consumption and educate community members on how to make impactful lifestyle changes that will lead to improved health.
In Sullivan County, 11.5 percent of the population lives with food insecurity. In Orange County, that number is 9.8 percent.
Also, 34 percent of Sullivan County’s adults are obese, with 28 percent self-reporting they do not participate in physical activity.
“We know that access to food plays an essential role in living a healthy lifestyle. But those who face food insecurity are often forced to choose between food and other essentials,” said Moira Mencher, manager of community health for Garnet Health. “What this grant does is help us reach those in the community facing these challenges, who can benefit not only from educational nutrition programs but also from access to fresh fruits and vegetables.”
To receive the produce vouchers, eligible participants must:
- Participate in or be eligible for SNAP and Medicaid
- Live in Sullivan or Orange County
- Participate in the Diabetes Prevention Program or one of the approved nutrition or physical activity classes
