Healthy ‘grab and go’ Comes to Convenience Stores and Gas Stations In Detroit
DETROIT — Community health will meet people on the go with fresh healthy food where processed food products are sold, through a new program sponsored by Authority Health. Known as “Health and Resilient Communities,” (HaRC) the initiative will feature, coolers in convenience stores stocked with healthy food a food truck offering healthy food samples products, and neighborhood-based community health workers providing education and about the relationship between food, health and having a primary care home.
Developed by Authority Health, the three-year initiative will enhance our current activities that support Food as Medicine including our Fresh Prescription program. It is funded through $5 million state appropriation which grew out of the Michigan Coronavirus Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities Task Force.
A selection of wraps, salads, and fruits will be provided in partnership with Papa Joe’s Gourmet Market, a purveyor of fine food in Metropolitan Detroit. “This opportunity to bring fresh, healthy food to local communities in Metro Detroit has become such an important purpose today,” said Anthony Curtis, managing member of Papa Joe’s. “We’ve been working alongside hospitals for over 15 years and now we get to expand our mission of food to local communities. We hope to continue to pair health and food together with Authority Health.”
Authority Health selected seven zip codes in Detroit that are particularly deprived of affordable fresh food options – the eastside area adjacent to Popoff Family Health Center and the Nardin Park community adjacent to the Hope Family Health Center on the westside. These areas will be addressed over the next three years with intensive street-based nutritional outreach deploying a healthy food truck for neighborhood and church-based programming; community health workers to engage and educate community groups; and the installation of coolers stocked with fresh food products in retail stores and other high traffic venues.