Food Bank of Western MA Named Where Health Matters Grant Recipient
Posted on December 17, 2020
Health New England has awarded The Food Bank of Western MA a grant of $150,000 for their Food Insecurity and Referral Initiative Program. Based in Hadley, MA and serving all four counties in Western Massachusetts, the goal of this 3-year grant, running from 2020 through 2023, is to increase food access among food insecure individuals and families in western Massachusetts.
At Health New England, the people who live and work in our community come first. While many programs exist to aid food insecure people, others may remain ineligible to receive services, resulting not only in food insecurity, but as a result, an increased risk of developing chronic health conditions. The goal of this program is to identify and serve this at-risk population, increasing their access to services that address food insecurity.
What is Food Insecurity?
Food insecurity occurs when an individual or family lacks consistent and reliable access to enough food to live a healthy, active life. According to Feeding America, in 2020, food insecurity has affected one in seven people living in Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden Counties. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, one of every four children are food insecure. Since March, The Food Bank witnessed a 20% increase in demand for emergency food and a 130% increase in SNAP application assistance.
Food insecurity has a direct impact on the health and wellness of individuals and families. According to a recent study published by the USDA, food insecurity can lead to increased risk of ten diseases, including hypertension, coronary heart disease (CHD), hepatitis, stroke, cancer, asthma, diabetes, arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and kidney disease. Furthermore, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities determined that people in food insecure households spend roughly 45% more on medical care per year than people in food secure households.
How The Food Bank of Western MA Helps
The Food Bank of Western MA works with local health centers, including Holyoke Health Center, Chicopee Health Center and Holyoke Pediatrics, to screen patients for food insecurity and refer them to The Food Bank’s Food Access Referral Coordinator. From there, at-risk individuals are matched with food assistance programs and social services designed to address underlying causes, such as housing, education, childcare and fuel assistance, to reduce long-term health risks and chronic health conditions.
Thank you to the Food Bank of Western MA for your dedication and commitment to ensuring everyone has the right to healthy food that live in our community!
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