Through the Nutritional Options for Wellness Program (NOW), Access provides 300 people weekly with healthy food and health education.
The NOW Program aims to empower economically disadvantaged individuals with a long term illness by providing healthy living classes and food system connections to increase healthy food options. These resources help individuals to successfully manage their disease, with the goal of reducing disease risk factors through education and instilling healthy habits through nutrition, cooking and exercise classes.
Through the NOW Program, Access is able to connect conscious farmers to pantries and equip partnering NOW pantries with the resources to purchase fresh produce through CSA‘s (Community Supported Agriculture). In addition NOW participants have the option to get their required health education by taking gardening classes. This equips them with the tools to grow some of their own healthy foods within their own space. Access works to fight the environmental and public health battle simultaneously by helping individuals and pantries make mindful decisions on how to source their food.
CRITERIA
In order to qualify for the NOW Program, the participant much be:
Age 18+
Low-income
Diagnosed with a chronic disease: cardiovascular disease, diabetes, renal disease, COPD, or celiac disease
HOW IT WORKS
