2023-07-29 00:13:00
The uncertainty of not knowing if the money is enough to buy food, or the worry of making more food last for the next few days, is the sad reality that many families face in the Bay Area.
For this reason, Second Harvest Silicon Valley launched an initiative called “Food as Medicine” that will allow residents to access food when visiting their doctor.
“When patients go to see their doctor, the doctor is going to ask them some questions, like, for example, if they have felt food insecurity in the last year,” explained Blanca Garza, a spokeswoman for Second Harvest Silicon Valley.
If the person answers yes to this question
“They will immediately connect with any of our distribution centers, so that they will be provided with the food they need,” Garza said.
By winning a $425,000 Second Harvest grant, she will connect doctors to test up to 1,000 people over the next three years.
According to Dr. Katherine Bianco, a poor diet can cause chronic diseases.
“It can bring obesity, but this is also linked to high blood pressure, it is linked to diabetes,” Bianco said.
This initiative aims to connect more than 609 food insecure people in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties
Anthem Blue Cross Foundation patients of all ages will be able to access this resource, which is available now.
“The pandemic ended and many families were left without that extra economic benefit of approximately $100 a month, we know that many people may need food,” Garza said.
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