From Natasha R. Thompson,
President & CEO of the Food Bank of the Southern Tier
Health starts in our homes, our schools and work places, our neighborhoods and communities.
Conditions in the places where people live, learn and work affect a wide range of health risks and outcomes. These conditions are known as social determinants of health. Among them are access to food, transportation, adequate housing, living wage jobs, child care, medical care and education. We know that poverty limits access to these things and the differences in health are striking in communities with unstable housing, low income, unsafe neighborhoods, or substandard education.
Read our latest Harvester newsletter to learn how we’re improving health and nutrition in our communities.
As healthcare costs rise, so does community investment in Medicaid, Medicare and private health insurance premiums. The healthcare industry, as well as federal and state governments, are looking to lifestyle improvements and preventive care to decrease the need for long-term medical care.
Nutrition is a top component of that prevention. At the Food Bank, we have seen how access to enough healthy food can not just fill bellies but change lives, creating better health outcomes and improved lifestyles.
We are excited to enter this new territory with our healthcare partners. The Food Bank is committed to creating a future without hunger, where access to healthy food by all is recognized as fundamental to the well-being and success of individuals and the foundation of a strong vibrant society.
In partnership,
Natasha R. Thompson
President & CEO