$200,000 grant to support healthy food options
Targeting pregnant women, new mothers
Helping Harvest, the nonprofit food distribution program serving Berks and Schuylkill counties, has received a $200,000 grant from the Jewish Healthcare Foundation Grant to support pregnant and postpartum women.
The foundation distributes federal Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery
Funds provided through the state Department of Human Services to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity and support Pennsylvania families.
Helping Harvest received the grant to initiate a Food Rx program model that will offer healthy food options to pregnant or postpartum women in Berks and Schuylkill.
“This grant substantially enhances our ability to pursue one of our most important goals — meeting the nutritional needs of children during their peak brain- and body-development years,” said Jay Worrall, Helping Harvest president.
“We know that the early years are the most important in a child’s development, so being able to focus on meeting those needs in-utero may be the most impactful way we can help them grow and thrive,” he said. “We are so grateful to the Jewish Healthcare Foundation for their support of this significant intervention in the health outcomes of children.”
“Supporting pregnant people and their families with access to nutritional food is critical to the longterm health of our communities,” said Dr. Karen Wolk Feinstein, president and CEO of the Jewish Healthcare Foundation.
“Several risk factors of maternal mortality, such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes rely on a healthy diet, and innovative preventative health services like Helping Harvest’s Food Rx program are a great complement to other federal nutrition assistance programs and will help to ensure low-income pregnant individuals have access to the nutritional food they need to thrive,” Wolk Feinstein said.
The grant funding will also aid in assisting pregnant and postpartum people apply for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which provides low-income neighbors with a monthly allotment that can be used to buy nutritious food at a grocery store or supermarket.
Helping Harvest delivers food to over 350 partner organizations in Berks and Schuylkill, and last year provided over $16 million in food to 110,000 residents. It is a member of Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization.
“This grant substantially enhances our ability to pursue one of our most important goals — meeting the nutritional needs of children during their peak brain- and bodydevelopment years.” — Jay Worrall, Helping Harvest president.