By C. Perera, JadeTimes News
In northeast Denver, there is a non profit organization called Tepeyac Community Health Center that is working together with The GrowHaus, another local non-profit to distribute fresh food boxes to over 300 families in east Denver neighborhoods. According to the statement by Tepeyac in a press release, this initiative aims at improving food access and health outcomes.
Distribution will be done from Tepeyac Community Health Center located at 48th Avenue and Vine Street. This means that 50 boxes of fresh produce weekly will be provided to patients with chronic conditions as identified by their Registered Dietitian, at the Tepeyac Community Health Centre.
After commencing on Friday it currently serves 100 families in Globeville, Elyria and Swansea neighborhoods with plans for expansion to cover more than three hundred households in future."We are excited about partnering with The GrowHaus on this important project," said Jim Garcia founder of Tepeyac and CEO as well. "Accessing fresh nutritious food is crucial for maintaining good health especially for those living with chronic diseases”. We expect this program to have substantive impact on our patients as well as the wider community."
The director of The GrowHaus Giselle Diaz Campagna stressed that these efforts are consistent with its mission. "Our purpose is facilitating community led food”
"We can reach many people through it while supporting health and wellness since we have a good relationship with the GrowHaus," she said. The GrowHaus focuses on food access and education for communities in Denver that do not have enough to eat and this requires GES community members to lead programs as well as develop their careers.
Specifically, this collaboration between Tepeyac and The GrowHaus is part of a bigger commitment by the former towards addressing social determinants of health within its catchment areas. In another partnership venture, Tepeyac will also be working with DaVita, a healthcare firm. They will offer volunteer opportunities to their employees who would later help distribute the food boxes.
At Tepeyac, together we can improve many lives granting them better living standards and promoting healthier lifestyles such as healthy eating," noted Tepeyac development director Rob Bingham.The scheme therefore involves a comprehensive approach to health care including various services that promote the wellbeing of the entire society.