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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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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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/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 18, 2026

 

CONTACT:   Lazarus Gehring, BCHD Medical Director

607-778-3917 Lazarus.Gehring@broomecountyny.gov  

                      

Shigellosis Transmission and Prevention

 

(BINGHAMTON, NY) Broome County Health Department (BCHD) has observed an increase in shigellosis cases, a gastrointestinal illness that is caused by the bacteria Shigella. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, stomach pain, and feeling the need to pass stool even when bowels are empty. Symptoms usually start 1-2 days after infection and last about 7 days.

 

Shigella germs are in stool, so anything that gets contaminated with the stool can potentially spread the germs. Shigella can spread from one person to another or through contaminated water, food surfaces, or objects. Shigella can also be spread during sexual activity with a sick person.

 

“We have seen an uptick of shigellosis cases in Broome County.  Since August 2025, we have reported 22 cases to New York State.” says Dr. Lazarus Gehring, Broome County Health Department’s Medical Director. “Broome County typically sees about 6 cases each year on average”.

 

Some groups of people are more likely to get sick with shigellosis than others. These groups include young children, international travelers, gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, and people who are experiencing homelessness. People who are in poor health or whose immune systems are weakened from diseases (such as HIV) or medical treatments (such as chemotherapy for cancer) are more likely to get sick for a longer period of time.

 

There are some precautions Broome County residents can take to avoid getting or spreading shigellosis.

• Make sure to wash your hands with soap and water often, especially after using the bathroom
• Take care when changing diapers
• Avoid swallowing water while swimming
• When traveling internationally, follow safe food and water habits and clean your hands often
• If you or your partner has been diagnosed with shigellosis, do not have sex for at least two weeks after the diarrhea ends.

 

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For more information on Shigellosis please visit the following New York State Department of Health website.  https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/shigellosis/

 

LOCAL FARMER ENCOURAGES WOMEN TO PRIORITIZE THEIR HEALTH

NYDOH | Wendy’s Human Interest Story

 

SHERBURNE, N.Y. – Wendy Gillette’s daily routine is full – if she’s not tending to the family farm with her husband, she’s soaking in quality time with her children and grandchildren. With her busy schedule, Gillette’s health wasn’t a top priority.

 

“I am a person who’s not always been good about taking care of myself and putting myself first,” Gillette shared.

 

As her family grew, Gillette realized that taking care of her health made it possible for her to take care of the people she loved.

 

“As I’m aging, I’m realizing I am important… I need to take the time to have screenings, prioritize my own health,” Gillette said.

 

Without health insurance, accessing preventative care was a challenge. Then Gillette reached out to the New York State Cancer Services Program, and knew she was in good hands.

 

“This program is available for the person who doesn’t have insurance… you can have the peace of mind to know that you can get things checked out,” Gillette said.

 

The program provides free cancer services–including cervical, breast and colorectal cancer

screenings–to eligible women throughout New York state. These services help women like Gillette make their health a priority through preventative care.

 

“New York State Cancer Services Program has been such a blessing to me and my family,” Gillette said.

Now that she’s found confidence in her health, Gillette hopes to encourage other women–especially her daughters–to take charge of their own well-being.

Find out if you’re eligible for free cervical cancer screening services through the Southern Tier Cancer Services Program! Visit health.ny.gov/CancerServicesProgram, or call toll-free at

607-778-3900  to learn more.

 

CCAM Press Release-Wendy_Human_Interest_Story.docx

 

Same day tests may also be available through Walgreens, CVS or Walmart. Enter your insurance information on the linked sites to see if this is an option.

Tests may also be available online through Express Scripts. 

All options are subject to coverage from health insurance. 

 

For more information about COVID-19 testing, visit https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-testing. 

Six new bike racks are installed at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County (CCE) courtesy of a partnership between CCE, Broome-Tioga BOCES, and the Broome County Health Department. Students from BOCES’ welding program created the new equipment with the support of the Health Department’s Creating Healthy Schools and Communities (CHSC) grant.

The bike racks depict farmers market style produce, representative of the fruits and vegetables that are offered at the market and each one was designed, welded, and painted by BOCES students. With recent changes to nearby infrastructure to make area more bike- and pedestrian-friendly, along with a renewed emphasis on alternate modes of transportation, CCE was a perfect location for the installation of the new bike racks.

“This project meant a lot to me in regards to the combination of work and school; being able to show my co-workers and our community what I do means a lot to me!” said Kaili Young, a BOCES welding student who has also worked at CCE.

As BOCES Welding Instructor John Shear explains, “This project was a good fit for our students, including Kaili and Ruthanne who have learned some new skills like bending the pipe and use of our CNC plasma cutter. I also involved several other welding students that helped sand and prepare the bike racks for paint shop. Thanks to Chad Barriger Zajdel (Auto Body Instructor at BT BOCES) and his students for quickly painting the bike racks so near to the end of the busy school year. The racks will last for years, and we hope all involved are happy with the finished product.” 

Through the CHSC grant, the Broome County Health Department has partnered with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County for several years on a variety of health-promotion projects within area school districts. This year, with the goal of extending these projects beyond local school districts, the CCE campus was considered to be the ideal setting. Since CCE offers a variety of public places including the farmers market, retail store, and gardens, it serves as an excellent location for increasing opportunities for physical activity amongst community members.

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 Broome County Health Department announced today the first round of grant recipients for Opioid Settlement Funding. Seven Broome County-based organizations have been awarded, with grants ranging from $58,000 – $150,000. The Opioid Settlement Fund was created through the work of New York State Attorney General Letitia James and her historic lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies that contributed to the overdose epidemic.

Marissa Knapp, Opioid Overdose Prevention Coordinator for Broome County  said, “Fighting this public health epidemic takes a multi-faceted approach, and we are excited to offer our community partners the opportunity to explore new ways of saving lives, preventing substance use disorders (SUD) and reducing the stigma that often exists with SUD.”

The following agencies have been awarded funding: The Addiction Center of Broome County, The Hope Foundation of Binghamton, Mothers and Babies Perinatal Network of South Central New York, Our Lady of Lourdes Memorial Hospital, Inc., Rural Health Network of South Central New York, Truth Pharm and United Health Services. Projects being funded will address treatment, recovery, harm reduction, prevention, and education efforts in the community.

Broome County Executive Jason Garnar said, “As we continue to combat the overdose epidemic in Broome County, we are extremely thankful to the many community agencies who continue to work to save lives. These awarded funds will help our strong network of community agencies continue their important work by helping individuals with SUDs at every step along their journey to recovery.”

In March of 2019, the New York State Attorney General filed an extensive lawsuit against large pharmaceutical manufacturers which resulted in a settlement being awarded to New York State to address drug misuse, substance use disorders, both fatal and non-fatal overdoses and recreational substance use. Broome County was one of the first counties to sign on to the AG’s lawsuit.

New York Attorney General Letitia James said, “The opioid epidemic has ravaged communities throughout New York, including in Broome County. While no amount of money can make up for the lives lost and families torn apart by the opioid crisis, the funds we have secured from opioid manufacturers and peddlers will help our state recover from this crisis. I was proud to visit Broome County to help distribute funds in the past, and I am pleased to see local leaders take action to invest in prevention, treatment, and recovery programs that will help save lives. Together with my partners in government, I look forward to continuing our fight to turn the tide against this public health crisis.”

The Broome County Health Department also announced today the second round of Opioid Settlement Fund Request for Proposals (RFP). A total of three additional opportunities will be available with similar guidelines as the ones awarded today. The grant applications can be found at broomecountyny.gov/hd

Due to the current effects of numerous active wildfires in Quebec, Canada the Broome Bands Together concert scheduled for this evening at Otsiningo Park is postponed. Additionally, waterfronts at all Broome County Parks are closed until further notice; all parks are otherwise open.

The following advisory with additional information regarding air quality is from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation:

“In Effect for Tuesday, June 6, 2023

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos and State Department of Health (DOH) Commissioner Dr. James McDonald issued an Air Quality Health Advisory for the Long Island, New York City Metro, Lower Hudson Valley, Upper Hudson Valley, Adirondacks, Eastern Lake Ontario, and Central New York regions for Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

The pollutant of concern is: Fine Particulate Matter

The advisory will be in effect from 12:00 a.m. through 11:59 p.m.

DEC and DOH issue Air Quality Health Advisories when DEC meteorologists predict levels of pollution, either ozone or fine particulate matter are expected to exceed an Air Quality Index (AQI) value of 100. The AQI was created as an easy way to correlate levels of different pollutants to one scale, with a higher AQI value indicating a greater health concern.

Fine Particulate Matter

Fine particulate matter consists of tiny solid particles or liquid droplets in the air that are 2.5 microns or less in diameter. PM 2.5 can be made of many different types of particles and often come from processes that involve combustion (e.g. vehicle exhaust, power plants, and fires) and from chemical reactions in the atmosphere.

Exposure can cause short-term health effects such as irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat, coughing, sneezing, runny nose, and shortness of breath. Exposure to elevated levels of fine particulate matter can also worsen medical conditions such as asthma and heart disease. People with heart or breathing problems, and children and the elderly may be particularly sensitive to PM 2.5.

When outdoor levels are elevated, going indoors may reduce exposure. If there are significant indoor sources of PM 2.5 (tobacco, candle or incense smoke, or fumes from cooking) levels inside may not be lower than outside. Some ways to reduce exposure are to minimize outdoor and indoor sources and avoid strenuous activities in areas where fine particle concentrations are high.”

For more information about the Air Quality Index of your region: https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/cfmx/extapps/aqi/aqi_forecast.cfm

For more information about exposure to smoke from fires: https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/outdoors/air/smoke_from_fire.htm

The Broome County Health Department is accepting Requests for Proposals (RFP) for Opioid Settlement Funding. Up to $150,000 will be awarded to community-based organizations, non-for-profit agencies, municipalities, and businesses to help address overdoses and substance-use disorders in the community.

“Fighting this public health epidemic takes a multi-faceted approach, and we are excited to offer our community partners the opportunity to explore new ways of saving lives, preventing substance use disorders (SUD) and reducing the stigma that often exists with SUD”, stated Marissa Knapp, the Opioid Overdose Prevention Coordinator for Broome County.  

“These settlement funds present an opportunity for us to address substance-use disorders and overdoses in new ways,” said Broome County Executive Jason Garnar. “We want to approach this issue from every angle and are specifically focused on prevention, education, harm reduction, and recovery. I appreciate the dedication of our strong network of community partners and agencies that continue to fight this epidemic on the front lines every day.”

The County was one of the first to sign on to the New York State Attorney General’s 2019 lawsuit against large pharmaceutical manufacturers that contributed to the nation’s overdose epidemic. A settlement was reached and Broome County will receive more than $4 million paid out over several years. The goal of this funding is to be used for, but not limited to, treatment, recovery, harm reduction, prevention, and education efforts. Proposals are encouraged to look at population needs across the life span, prioritize underserved populations, and offer a prominent mental health component.

The RFP is now open and is due on 4/12/2023; the grant application can be found at broomecountyny.gov/hd. Applicants will be asked to target at least 1 of the approved uses from the “Schedule C Approved Uses” document that can be found in the RFP. Additionally, work for the award must be completed in Broome County. Successful applicants will be awarded a contract from July 1, 2023, and go through June 30, 2024 contingent upon successful program performance.

Broome County Health & Mental Health to partner with Lourdes & UHS on Pharmacy Initiative

(BROOME COUNTY, NY)- Two Broome County coalitions are partnering with the main hospital systems in Broome County to prioritize medication safety. The Broome Opioid Awareness Council (BOAC) and Prevention Coalition of Broome County (PCBC) have partnered with Lourdes and UHS pharmacies to distribute Deterra Drug Deactivation pouches.

The Deterra Drug Deactivation System is a pouch that allows for the disposal of unused, unwanted, or expired medications easily and effectively, right at-home. Typical methods of medication disposal include household trash or disposal via the toilet or drain, but these methods result in active drugs in landfills, water systems, and soil. Pouches will be distributed with each short-term opioid prescription at Lourdes & UHS pharmacies to help Broome County residents rid their homes of unused medications with the goal of preventing future substance misuse.

“Fighting this complex public health epidemic takes a multi-faceted approach, and we are pleased to help offer our community members another way to properly dispose of prescription opioids, ultimately saving a life and helping those with substance use disorders,” stated Marissa Knapp, Opioid Overdose Prevention Coordinator for Broome County.    

Opioid medications, which are prescribed to help alleviate pain, have the potential to be highly addictive when misused. Nearly 80% of heroin users reported using prescription opioids prior to heroin and 70% of post-surgical prescribed opioids can go unused, leaving thousands of potentially harmful medications in homes. It is critical to take opioids and all prescription medications exactly as directed, never share medications, and store prescriptions safely.

“Medication safety should be everyone’s priority” says Maria Fabrizi, Coordinator of the Prevention Coalition of Broome County. “We are thrilled that both Lourdes and UHS have partnered with us on this initiative. It’s a testament to their commitment to patient safety and the safety of our whole community. Offering these medication disposal bags has the potential to reduce a great deal of harm that medication misuse could cause.”

To find out more information visit broomecountyny.gov/boac and check out the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BroomeOpioidAwarenessCouncil/ .

The Broome County Health Department has seen an increase in overdoses to date in 2022 compared to numbers in the previous year.  

For the first quarter of 2022 there has been 21suspected fatal overdoses and 147 reported non-fatal overdoses. These numbers are up since the previous; in 2021 Broome County reported a total of 54 total suspected fatal overdoses and 516 reported non-fatal overdoses.  The Broome Opioid Awareness Council (BOAC) encourages those with a substance use disorder to practice harm reduction strategies, to not use alone, have a Narcan kit available, subscribe for the Spike Auto Text Program, use fentanyl test strips, and if you are on the site of an overdose call 911.

Marissa Knapp, Broome County’s Opioid Overdose Prevention Coordinator and Chair of BOAC, said, “The Health Department will continue to update the community on overdose numbers quarterly. A big part of my job is to decrease stigma surrounding substance use disorders and start conversations about Harm Reduction and help community members and families to understand that it’s never too soon or too late to get help. We need to meet people with a substance use disorder where they are.”

The Broome Opioid Awareness Council (BOAC) focuses on identifying barriers and developing solutions to help those with Substance Use Disorders (SUD) in our community. BOAC seeks to: target factors existing in our community that place community members including youth at risk for substance use; reduce risk factors and enhance protective factors; increase community collaboration and awareness; and create a healthier and safer community for all. Ultimately decreasing overdoses and saving lives.

Mary McFadden, Broome County Public Health Director said, “We recognize the significant impact that the overdose epidemic has on our community.  If you are a person with a substance use disorder, or care about someone with a substance use disorder, you don’t have to go through this alone. There are resources available to assist residents, and I urge you to reach out for help.”

One example of these intervention is the Spike Auto Text program, which alerts community members, professionals, and loved ones via text when there is an increase in overdoses.  Individuals can sign up for the anonymous pilot program by texting SPIKE to 1(855)963-5669 (855-9-OD-KNOW) and follow the prompts.

Both in person and virtual Narcan trainings are offered throughout the county. Having Narcan on site can save lives during an overdose. Community resources of free Narcan trainings are:

• The Addiction Center of Broome County: 30 State Street, Binghamton, NY, 13901. (607) 723- 7308.
• Helio Health: 249 Glenwood Road, Binghamton, NY, 13905. (607) 296-3072.
• Southern Tier AIDS Program (STAP): 277 Main Street, Johnson City, NY, 13790. (607) 237-0497
• Truth Pharm: 49 Pine Street, Suite 6, Binghamton, NY, 13901. (607) 296-3016.
• United Health Services (UHS): (607) 762-2200. For UHS Addiction Medicine, call (607) 762-2901.

You can simply call, text, reach out on Facebook or send an email and you will be connected with a staff member who will ask you a few questions and set up a training or train you on the spot. The Broome County Health Department would also like to remind those of the “Good Samaritan Law” which protects all involved when seeking assistance regarding a possible overdose.

BOAC also wants to remind those who use substances about the Never Use Alone hotline- simply call 1-800-997-2280 and speak to someone judgement free. Fentanyl test strips are also available in Broome County. Community members can reach out to 2-1-1 for more information on how to get the fentanyl test strips.

For more information and where to find phone numbers visit: broomecountyny.gov/boac.