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HELPING OTHERS

HARVTheERiSchTest

Giving isn’t just for the holidays. This summer, Healthy Communities, Navicent Health worked
with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and community partners to meet a year-round
need heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic.

WHEN KERISIA WASZTYL, LMFT, Program insecurity there is in our community, and “Together, we can move the dial on food
Manager at Healthy Communities, Navicent we have to do something about it.” insecurity,” Wasztyl says. “We can be an
Health, learned about the USDA’s Farmers to example to others of how to address this
Families Food Box Program, she recognized COMING TOGETHER FOR A GOOD CAUSE problem.”
an opportunity to help solve a problem she
and Navicent Health are passionate about: Healthy Communities, Navicent Health THERE ARE MANY WAYS YOU CAN
food insecurity. An estimated 140,000 was one of 21 local organizations that got HELP THOSE IN NEED DURING THE
people in central Georgia don’t have enough involved with the Farmers to Families Food HOLIDAY SEASON AND THROUGHOUT
to eat, according to the Middle Georgia Box Program through the Rescue Mission THE YEAR, SUCH AS BY RUNNING
Community Food Bank (MGCFB). COVID-19 of Middle Georgia. Wasztyl arranged to use ERRANDS FOR HOMEBOUND OLDER
added to the problem when wages were a truck belonging to Steward Chapel AME ADULTS, VOLUNTEERING AT A FOOD
lost or reduced due to pandemic-related Church to deliver food boxes to the Tindall BANK OR DONATING TO A FAVORITE
unemployment issues and children were Fields housing units in Macon. Healthy CHARITY LIKE NAVICENT HEALTH
eating at home more because of canceled Communities, Navicent Health also helped FOUNDATION. LEARN MORE AT WWW.
summer programs. secure food boxes for older adults at Macon’s NAVICENTHEALTH.ORG/FOUNDATION.
St. Paul Apartments.
Through the Farmers to Families THE FARMERS TO FAMILIES FOOD
Food Box Program, the USDA purchased “We helped arrange for medical residents BOX PROGRAM DISTRIBUTED
produce, meat and dairy products at Family Health Center, Navicent Health 100 MILLION FOOD BOXES
from farmers—many of whom had to screen patients for food insecurity and TO FAMILIES THROUGHOUT
lost significant business when schools distribute food boxes to them, as needed,” THE COUNTRY FROM MAY TO
and restaurants closed in the spring— Wasztyl says. “It was an opportunity for our SEPTEMBER, ACCORDING TO
to provide to families through local residents to show patients that they cared THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
distributors. not just about their health, but also whether AGRICULTURE.
they had nutritious food.”
“I’ve worked in community mental
health and serve on the board of the For Wasztyl, one of the most gratifying parts
MGCFB, and I’ve seen nearly empty of participating in the Farmers to Families Food
refrigerators in families’ homes and people Box Program was seeing colleagues at Navicent
waiting in the hot sun for food,” Wasztyl Health step up to resolve challenges.The
says. “I understand how much food experience reinforced the power of teamwork.
She hopes to keep the momentum going.

6 navicenthealth.org | WINTER 2020