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The New Love Center and River Valley Health held a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the launch of their Food Pharmacy, a partnership with the goal of delivering nutritious foods to clients using the facility.
The project had been in the works for roughly six months when River Valley Health reached out to The New Love Center, said center Executive Director Holly Beaver.
"We have a really good mobile operation, and they saw that, and asked us if we'd be interested in this partnership," Beaver told the Sun-Gazette.
River Valley Health will cover all costs associated with the program, including the food ordered through the pantry, as well as the gas to operate the mobile unit, Beaver said, adding that "River Valley Health has just been a blessing to work with."
Participation in the program will be limited to patients receiving primary care through River Valley Health and requires a referral based on a clinical need assessment, and program capacity.
Distributions will take place twice each month and will serve up to 100 patients at each distribution.
"Today represents an exciting step forward in our mission to build health and bridge gaps in care," Max Houseknecht Jr., president and CEO of River Valley Health told the assembled crowd.
"We know that healthcare stands far beyond the walls of a clinic, and access to nutritious food plays a critical role in helping individuals and families achieve better health outcomes," he continued.
"Together, we are creating a program that not only addresses food insecurity but also supports patients in managing chronic conditions and living healthier lives," Houseknecht said.
"Today is more than a program launch; it is the beginning of a partnership that will help patients access the food, education, and support they need to thrive," he said.
River Valley Health Chief Quality Officer Emily Drick stressed the importance of food security to the overall health of their patients.
"For many individuals, especially those living with chronic conditions like diabetes, access to healthy, nutritious food can be as important as the care they receive in the exam room," she said.
"Patients often know what they should be eating to improve their health, but many face barriers to accessing those foods consistently. As a result, conditions may become difficult to manage, increasing risk of complications and impacting quality of life. That's what makes the food pharmacy such an important addition to the services offered at River Valley Health," Drick said.
"Our goal is not only to provide food, but to empower people with the knowledge and resources they need to make changes to benefit their health," she said.
"Today represents so much more than another local food distribution site. It represents what can happen when an organization looks beyond the services it traditionally provides, recognizes another need in the lives of the people it serves, and says, 'we want to be part of the solution." That is exactly what River Valley Health has done from the beginning," said Beaver.
"Food insecurity and health are deeply connected. When someone is struggling to put nutritious food on the table, it impacts so many other areas of their life. By bringing food access and healthcare together in this way, we have an opportunity to care for our neighbors more completely and with dignity," Beaver said.
On hand for the occasion were state representatives Jamie Flick, R-South Williamsport, and Joe Hamm, R-Hepburn Township.
"As a diabetic myself, this is extremely nutritious food. This isn't just cookies and soda. This is unbelievable, nutritious food. It'll fuel these recipients, it'll bring their A1C down, and the goal is to get everybody healthy," Flick told the Sun-Gazette.
"We know there's an incredible need in our community, so when two organizations that serve our community and our residents come together, it's always a day to celebrate," Hamm said.
"For those who are facing medical concerns, whether it's diabetes or heart disease, nutritious food means a lot to them, so this partnership will allow them an opportunity to get better health outcomes," he said.
"Our vision with our mobile is to meet people where they are at," Beaver remarked to the Sun-Gazette.
"People have all different stories, all different journeys. Some of them don't drive. A lot of folks are homeless, and here at River Valley Health, these are their clients, so they're coming in, they're picking up their prescriptions, and they're coming out and getting food," she said, calling the partnership a "blessing."
"Life is hard. Inflation has gone up, which has caused everything to go up, gas, rent, medications. So to be able to come alongside partners like this, it's just wonderful," Beaver said.
"Partnership and collaboration make a community," Brittany Fischer, director of marketing & community engagement told the Sun-Gazette.
"Knowing that we are providing incredible food to our neighbors, to our patients, to help teach them how they can utilize that food to better their health, just targets so much of what we stand for," she said.
Because The New Love Center and River Valley Health both operate in Lycoming and Clinton counties, the partnership allows for an opportunity to expand the program in the future, Fischer said.
As a federally qualified health center, River Valley Health offers a sliding fee scale to ensure all receive the care they need.
"We're able to never turn someone away based on their ability to pay, what insurance they carry, or their lack thereof, and make sure that patients have quality access, and not just to health and dental are. That's just the start of making sure that we're with you through your journey to be your best self, and our sliding fee scale makes sure we can remind everybody that their access is there no matter what their circumstances are," Fischer said.
"If someone is looking to become a patient of ours, or something changed in their household dynamics, and now they need assistance in taking care of a bill, they can show up here at River Valley Health and speak to one of our billing representatives at any given point. Any time that we're open, we have staff available to talk them through what their options are," she said.