TCHNetwork joined with our partners at the Telluride Foundation, Basin Clinic, West End Farmers’ Market, and FRESH Food HUB to help address food access in the West End region. We officially kickstarted a FoodRX Program on July 18 at the Basin Clinic in Naturita!
Cyndi, TCHNetwork’s Patient Health Navigator who is integrated at the Basin Clinic, is working with patients looking to improve their eating habits and health. She provides a “prescription” for the patients to cash in for vegetables, fruits, meats, and dairy products at either the West End Farmers’ Market or the Norwood FRESH Food Hub.
Participants enroll in the program for 6 weeks. They receive prescriptions for $15 per week, and a bonus voucher of $30 if they complete all 6 weeks! Participants check in with Cyndi regularly during the 6 week program to discuss successes and challenges with their health and eating habits and talk about the different foods they purchased with the prescription. Cyndi provides participants with weekly recipe cards and nutrition fact sheets to help them navigate their way through weekly shopping and cooking.
By offering the program, we hope to:
- Connect the West End community members to healthy and nutritious food options
- Improve health outcomes
- Raise awareness of local food resources
- Support the local food economy.
Our first group of participants are loving the program! Here is what they’ve had to say about it:
“This is the jump start I needed to add more fruits and vegetables to my diet.”
“I am experimenting with recipes – using local honey as a sweetener instead of processed sugar – which I wouldn’t have thought of until I was introduced to the Farmer’s Market with this food program.”
“I’ve been avoiding store bought veggies because of all the pesticides, but the Norwood Food Hub has organic options that I trust, and with the Rx Program, I can afford to try them out!”
If you’re interested in learning more about the program, contact TCHNetwork at info@tchnetwork.org.
Post by Maddie Breza
