'Preventive Food Pantry'
From The New England Council
Catholic Medical Center recently launched a Preventive Food Pantry for its patients. While programs like this one are growing in nationwide popularity, CMC is the first hospital in New Hampshire to launch such an initiative.
The program is intended to serve patients identified by social workers and nutritionists as having chronic medical conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and obesity by providing them with wholesome foods and nutrition counseling. It will also bridge the gap between physicians, nutritionists, and patients. Upon receiving their prescription, patients will visit the Parish of the Transfiguration Food Pantry to check in with volunteer nurses and then collect their boxes of healthy food. Instrumental contributors to the program include the Bishop’s Charitable Assistance Fund, who provided an initial donation to assist with startup costs, as well as the New Hampshire Food Bank, who will supply the food.