Nutrition Works: MANNA partners with Mission Health Partners and the YMCA on Nutrition Initiatives

We are thrilled to announce a new partnership for health in WNC, through a grant given by the Mission Health Community Investment program. The $65,000 grant will support two initiatives at MANNA: nutrition and health education activities at pantry sites across our 16 counties, as well as a pilot project to test the use of  food insecurity screening and “food prescriptions” at Mission Health Partners clinics. The YMCA will be a key partner in this work. It’s all about connecting vulnerable populations to nutritious foods, as a way to more directly support good health.

This new partnership is an example of how we are implementing the ambitious goals for collaboration that we had set in MANNA’s 2015-2020 Strategic Plan. Client health was identified as an urgent priority. A large number of the MANNA network’s clients have chronic poor health and yet struggle to obtain adequate, nutritious food. Studies have documented the link between poverty, food insecurity, and high hospital admission rates.  MANNA’s project supports the goals of county and regional health plans by increasing access to nutritious food and nutrition education, both for the general population of low-income, food insecure individuals and—in particular— individuals with chronic health conditions.

“Nutrition Works” project activities are underway this month. We look forward to giving updates soon!