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Food insecurity is a human issue and solving it will take all of us. The $15,000 Gift from Sentara Healthcare will help support FEAST’s five- and twelve-week health and wellness programs for food insecure adults and their families, according to Bev Sell, FEAST Executive Director. 

“Helping underserved community members navigate our broken food system and have a better understanding about how food choices affect their health are the goals of our programs,” says Sell. “Sentara Healthcare’s mission of improving community health and commitment to innovative community programs through this Gift to FEAST greatly enhances FEAST’s ability to address food insecurity in the community.” 

Belinda Wyche, a 12-week program graduate of the program, wrote “I am so thankful to the Lord for the FEAST Program being there for me and my family. Thank you so much for reaching out to us in our community. Thanks for making a difference.”

FEAST stands for Food, Education, Access, Support, Together. FEAST programs provide tasty food demonstrations using healthy ingredients and easy to prepare recipes.  Participants receive information on how to shop on a budget as well as learn how to read food labels. Each person receives a grocery gift card to purchase the items needed to try the recipe at home. Sessions end with a sharing circle where participants have the opportunity to share their food experiences in a safe and supportive environment. Together with underserved community members, FEAST works to provide a path to a healthier lifestyle, reduce the need for medications and increase self-esteem. Hope is a common thread.

About Sentara Cares

Sentara Healthcare celebrates more than 130 years in pursuit of its mission – “we improve health every day.” Sentara is an integrated, not-for-profit health care delivery system with approximately 30,000 employees (including 1,375 physicians and advanced practice providers), 12 hospitals in Virginia and Northeastern North Carolina and the Sentara Health Plans division which serves over 950,000 members. Sentara is recognized nationally for clinical quality and safety, and is strategically focused on innovation and creating an extraordinary health care experience for our patients and members. Sentara was named to IBM Watson Health’s “Top 15 Health Systems” in 2021 and 2018, and was recognized by Forbes as a “Best Employer for New Grads” and “Best Employer for Veterans” in 2022, “Best Employer for Women” in 2020, and one of “America’s Best Employers” in 2018.

 

For More Information Contact:
Bev Sell at feastva@gmail.com