Abbott House 2021 Annual Report - Other - Page 22
HEALTH AND WELLNESS HELP KIDS GROW
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Alex loves playing sports and being active with his friends, but in recent years this
bright, enthusiastic 4th grader has become self-conscious about his body and is feeling
discouraged from pursuing athletics. For Alex’s mom, a single, working mother of three,
putting a filling and nutritious meal on the table is often a difficult task. The varying diet
needs of her children, the rising cost of healthy food, and her own struggle in managing
diabetes makes this especially challenging.
According to the USDA,
more than 38 million people,
including 12 million children,
in the United States are food
insecure. These staggering
numbers hit close to home for
hundreds of children who receive
care through Abbott House’s
Community Schools Resource
Program in the Bronx. Sadly,
COVID-19 has increased food
insecurity among families with
children and communities of
color, who already faced hunger
at much higher rates before the
pandemic.
Malnutrition has long lasting
impacts on a child, including the
capacity to grow and develop,
which in turn can affect mental
health and cause educational
milestones to be missed or
delayed.
With this in mind, our Community
School Resource Programs
recently partnered with NY
Common Pantry to offer our families a three-prong approach to tackle a variety of issues
related to food insecurity.
Even though rates of food insecurity have slightly decreased from the height of
the COVID-19 Pandemic, many families in care at Abbott House, continue to face
significant challenges with food insecurity. continues to pose significant challenges.
Through strategic partnerships and donations, we ease the burden of hunger on many
families so that no child goes to bed hungry.
Nutrition education begins in the classroom as an extension of the curriculum for 4th
graders at PS 294 and PS 311 in the Bronx. Children attend weekly classes that teach the
basics of healthy eating and turn the classroom into an exciting test kitchen. Kids like Alex
look forward to rolling up their sleeves to make things like yogurt parfaits and cucumber
sushi rolls – easy recipes that foster creativity and provide well-balanced nourishment.
Parents are not left out! Workshops for families that cover a range of topics and
challenges, including how to interpret food labels, what to cook for kids with allergies and
how to shop for healthy ingredients that will create an abundance of food on a budget, are
also offered. For Alex’s mom, these have proven to be a life-changing experience for her
entire family.
Hundreds of families in care also receive monthly pantry bags full of pre-packaged meals,
pantry staples, and recipe cards that reflect what the kids and families have been learning to
cook.
“We are proud of our partnership with the NY Common Pantry,” said Rebecca Venezuela,
Director of the Community School Resource Program. “Together, we go beyond stabilizing
families who suffer from food insecurity and poor nutrition; we offer the knowledge to grow
in health and wellness along with the resources to help sustain that growth into the future
for generations to come.”
By putting healthy-eating toolkits into the hands of children and families, we are
raising their capacity to grow, thrive and live their best lives. Alex tells his teachers
that his energy level has increased, and he feels “stronger” and more confident since the
workshops started. Mealtime is no longer a stressful time for Alex’s mom. She knows what to
buy and how to make the most of the ingredients, but more importantly, she feels a sense of
pride in knowing she can provide her children with healthy meals that will sustain them. This
is another example of how community partnerships help Abbott House unlock potential for