Natick Service Council continues to serve the community through their Healthy Eating Healthy Aging program (HEHA). This program strives to help improve the health of our senior citizens and address chronic illness through healthy eating, exercise and walking club, and nutrition programs.
Through this program we offer special monthly farmers markets for our 60+ clients. These farmers markets serve as an extra food pantry appointment each month for this group, and clients can choose from them fresh produce, fish, chicken, eggs, milk, yogurt, and healthy snacks. At this past farmers market, participants received information on a walking group and a gardening class which they are encouraged to attend. We continue to receive positive feedback from attendees that they enjoy coming to the farmers market, bringing home healthier food and get information and tips on ways to stay active and healthy.
At our most recent farmers market, held in our food pantry, we were fortunate to have 12 volunteers from MathWorks to help set up the food, assist clients in moving through the market, and clean up.
On June 6th, the Natick Service Council hosted a gardening class for clients participating in the Healthy Eating, Healthy Aging (HEHA) program. Linda Long, a long time Natick resident and avid gardener, led the class. She talked about the best and most economical way to grow different types of plants and vegetables. The clients were able to comment on their own gardening experience and ask questions. At the end of the class, clients were able to take home seeds or plants that Linda brought. Although participants all had different levels of gardening experience and knowledge, they all seemed to take away new information from the class.
Issue Date:
July, 2017
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