Unfortunately, many poor and disadvantaged individuals are forced to consume foods that are bad for their overall health. They are simply unable to afford nutritious foods, like fresh fruits and vegetables, on a regular basis; some are not able to do so at all. This often forces them to purchase cheaper foods that are rich in salts, sugars, cholesterol, etc. that have very little nutritional value. These elements can be very harmful, particularly for people with high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes. All are adversely effected by excessive intake of the above elements.

• The HEP program was developed to address this problem by making fresh fruits and vegetables available to disadvantaged community members and their families on a weekly basis. In particular, It was designed to specifically target the nutritional needs of individuals with health problems such as those mentioned above (i.e. diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc.). These medical conditions are often made worse as a result of poor dietary intake. The HEP program was developed to aid this population by giving them the ability to construct healthy diets necessary to controlling their illnesses.

• The HEP program was also constructed to provide clients with information regarding how healthy eating is important to the maintenance of  overall good health and well being. Our hope was that of influencing community members to make these foods a regular part of their daily diets.  We are glad to say that, currently, the demand for fresh fruits and vegetables by clients is great and far exceeds interest in canned foods. With each passing week, it has grown larger. The elderly, parents, etc. place a strong emphasis on eating fresh fruits and vegetables. They are becoming increasingly aware of the role these items play in regards to health. Many already had this understanding but simply did not have the financial means to make use of it.

Senior Citizen Outreach Pantry Program