Palm Beach County Food Bank - 2020-2021 Mini-Grant Awardee!
Palm Beach County Food Bank has received a 2020-2021 Healthier Jupiter Mini-Grant to fund “Marjorie S. Fisher Nutrition Driven Gets Cooking 2.0”.
This project will increase availability and affordability of fresh, healthy foods by….
The Palm Beach County Food Bank has collaborated with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) since 2014, providing the Marjorie S. Fisher Nutrition Driven (ND) program. ND is a mobile food pantry that provides nutrition education and groceries to food insecure areas of Palm Beach County. Trained multilingual UF/IFAS EFNEP nutrition educators apply EFNEP principles to teach core nutritional values, food safety, exercise and preparation of simple recipes through an 8-week evidence-based curriculum. For this project, PBCFB proposes building off the success of ND in a program called the Marjorie S. Fisher Nutrition Driven Gets Cooking 2.0 (ND Gets Cooking 2.0). ND Gets Cooking 2.0 will include additional incentives: a crock-pot and cookbook that will allow participants the means to cook the food they receive in a healthy manner. This project will increase access to healthy food by providing fresh produce and whole grains. The class would take place during spring 2021. El Sol will host the classes as we have many successful ND series at this location.
How will this project create lasting and transformative change in the health, wellness and success of the greater Jupiter community…
Obesity among limited-resource families is higher because they face unique challenges in adopting healthful behaviors. These included limited access to affordable healthy foods, fewer opportunities for physical activity, and high levels of stress due to the financial and emotional pressures. To address this, the EFNEP education will help participants improve: food resource management skills, food safety practices, nutrition intake and physical activity levels. EFNEP education historically has a positive influence on food security rates. We also plan to increase efficacy in cooking skills by introducing crock-pots as an alternative way to create nutritious meals.
The Palm Beach County Food Bank continues to strengthen the local hunger relief system and remain a strong partner to other stakeholders and organizations that join us in addressing the issues of hunger and food insecurity in our community. The Palm Beach County Food Bank is working toward a healthy and food-secure Palm Beach County. Learn more by visiting www.pbcfoodbank.org.
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Interested in learning more about this grant, reach out to Leigh@pbcfoodbank.org.
More about Healthier Jupiter’s Mini-Grant Program
For the fifth year in a row, Healthier Jupiter will offer $2,500 Mini-Grants to impact the health of our community. The goal of the Mini-Grant program is to fund projects that address healthy eating, active living and mental health in new, innovative and community-centered ways. These projects will create lasting and transformative change in the health, wellness and success of the greater Jupiter community. Not-for-profits, government agencies, civic organizations, public schools, school-based groups, houses of worship, businesses and individuals are encouraged to submit applications. Funds available will pilot ideas to improve our collective community health in one or more focus areas:
Increase availability and affordability of fresh, healthy foods;
Help individuals become more physically active on a regular basis;
Encourage people to engage mentally to practice healthy behaviors; and/or
Change the built environment and policies that promote equitable health opportunities.
Healthier Jupiter, in partnership with Jupiter Medical Center is dedicated to bringing the greater Jupiter community together to encourage each person to live their healthiest life. Healthier Jupiter is part of the Palm Health Foundation’s Healthier Together Initiative, a long-term, community-driven approach to solving a community’s complex healthcare issues.