The American Heart Association, Greater Washington Region (AHA GWR) is proud to support six local food assistance providers expand their services and better elevate the total wellbeing of the communities they serve. With generous support from Coforma, we’re helping ensure that families not only receive nutritious meals, but also gain access to resources that support long-term healthy living.
Through this initiative, participating sites will implement healthy pantry policies and receive tools to promote additional healthy food access. In addition, we’re helping equip assistance providers with programs on smoking cessation, blood pressure management and cardiac emergency response plans.
“Coforma is thrilled to support the American Heart Association’s efforts to advance community health and increase the availability of healthy offerings at local food pantries,” said Eduardo Ortiz, CEO of Coforma. “When individuals in our communities have the resources they need to improve their total wellbeing, we all benefit.”
These are the areas of support we can provide for food assistance organizations:
- Healthy pantry policies are guidelines for food assistance providers to ensure patrons receive nutritious, culturally relevant foods that accommodate dietary needs. The guidelines encourage food banks and supporters to provide healthier options whenever possible and help ensure community members aren’t just fed but are receiving foods that improve their total health.
- Blood pressure screenings: we provide blood pressure monitors and train staff at community organizations including faith-based institutions to accurately measure blood pressure, educate community members on their hypertension risks and connect members to affordable medical care.
- Smoking cessation: an evidence-based screening tool to identify individuals using tobacco products and provide them with resources to quit.
- Cardiac emergency response plans are written documents outlining specific steps to respond in the case of a cardiac arrest through CPR, an AED and prompt engagement with emergency responders to reduce deaths from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
Here’s more about each organization and how we work together.
Ebenezer Church of God, located in Hyattsville MD, has a food pantry and distribution program for neighbors in need. AHA GWR supported the church in implementing a healthy pantry policy and blood pressure screening resources.
The Kingdom Fellowship A.M.E. Church in Calverton, MD has a center dedicated to food security, health and wellness, education, employment and housing. AHA GWR worked with them to establish a healthy pantry policy and blood pressure screenings.
Lomax A.M.E. Zion Church, located in Arlington, VA, provides food assistance to community members. Through this collaboration, the church has added a healthy pantry policy and a cardiac emergency response plan.
Martha’s Table, located in Washington, DC, aims to improve community access to education, nutritious food and family support. AHA GWR worked with them to add a healthy pantry policy.
The Project Bright Future Mentoring Program, located in Temple Hills, MD, aims to improve lives in the community through education, health and economic advancement. We’re collaborating with the program to provide a healthy pantry policy, blood pressure screenings, smoking cessation resources and cardiac emergency response plans.
Shepherd’s Table, located in Silver Spring, MD, provides nutritious meals and case management to neighbors experiencing food insecurity, homelessness and poverty. The organization adopted AHA’s healthy pantry policy.
Companies and food pantries interested in collaborating with the AHA GWR to advance nutrition security efforts in the Greater Washington Region can contact Emily Cooper and Lucía Zegarra to learn more.