National Nutrition Month: Local Food Pantry Revamped
Broome County Health Department Grant Helps with Food Access
(BROOME COUNTY, NY) – The Broome County Health Department’s Creating Healthy Schools and Communities (CHSC) Grant is excited to announce the complete redesign and expansion of New Beginning Apostolic Church’s Food Pantry, which provides food to those in need at no cost.
New Beginning was awarded funds under the CHSC Grant’s Food Service Guidelines initiative, which aims to improve sites’ ability to offer healthy food to their clients. Before working with the CHSC Grant, the pantry operated on a smaller scale using only tables to display products. After a thorough needs assessment, New Beginning’s pantry was awarded with new shelving, new tables, cold storage, organizational tools, and informational signage. Now, offerings are displayed not only in an organized and appealing way but also more safely, ensuring users have a better experience. Additionally, these improvements work together to create a powerful behavioral client impact and guide them to choose from available options that are of more nutritional value.
“With March being National Nutrition Month, the completion of this redesign couldn’t have come at a better time,” says Devin Link, Public Health Educator at the Broome County Health Department. “The new signage directs clients to choose more nutritious options and teaches them how to do so.”
“I’m happy that with support from CHSC we were able to create a more dignified space where on-site food access is easy: our clients see products more easily, as well as access products and flow through the pantry more efficiently. Our clients enjoy the difference the updates make,” adds Ingrid Constable-Clarke, Manager of the Food Pantry at New Beginning Apostolic Church. “A huge shout-out to Devin for her leadership in this endeavor as we serve our most vulnerable community members!”
New Beginning’s food pantry is open on the second and fourth Saturday of each month from noon-2 P.M. Please note that “before and after” pictures are provided below.
Before:
After:
CHSC is a five-year initiative funded by the New York State Department of Health to establish and support healthy behaviors in high-needs communities. The New York State Department of Health Division of Chronic Disease Prevention implements evidence-based, evidenced-informed, and innovative public health strategies in order to support New Yorkers to live healthier lives and eliminate health disparities by reducing the incidence and burden of chronic diseases and conditions For more information, visit https://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/obesity/prevention_activities/chsc/
