Community center in Holley adds voucher program to help people access nutritious food

Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) Scottie Osborne, a volunteer at the Eastern Orleans Community Center, organizes the free food which is offered the community on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. (Right) Jeanette Worsley, lead case manager/health coach at Community Action, chats with James Salvatore, who brings produce from Navarra’s Farm Market and Greenhouses in Eagle Harbor to the Eastern Orleans Community Center, which community members can purchase.

Site has expanded services to promote healthy lifestyles

HOLLEY – Community Action of Orleans and Genesee is excited to announce several new programs to serve people in need locally.

One of the most important things is a “Prevention Pays” campaign launched this spring through their Axis of Care.

Axis of Care was executive director Renee Hungerford’s much acclaimed pilot program she started after becoming director nearly two years ago.

The program was designed to help overcome barriers which prevent people from living a healthy, active life, said Katrina Chaffee, director of Community Services and Reporting.

From left, Katrina Chaffee, director of Community Services and Reporting, volunteer Rachel Escovar and Jeanette Worsley, lead case manager/health coach at Community Action enjoy camaraderie at the Eastern Orleans Community Center on Friday.

“Axis of Care focuses on helping people make changes that lead to good health and a better quality of life,” she said.

One person who can attest to the success of the program is volunteer Rachel Escovar.  She started with the nutrition program and lost weight.

“She is such an inspiration,” Chaffee said. “She had to have hip replacement in December, but first had to lose weight and quit smoking.”

Her goal is to lose another 40 pounds and to stay healthy, she said.

“This all falls in with Renee’s Axis of Care,” said Jeanette Worley, lead case manager/health coach for Community Action.

When Worsley began researching things Community Action could do to bring preventative medicine to Orleans County, she came up with several unique ideas, including offering food vouchers as an incentive for people to take part in health screenings.

The response to the food voucher incentive was overwhelming, but many recipients voiced concern that they were unable to get to farmers’ markets to use them.

“The big problem here is people don’t have transportation,” Worsley said.

Worsley happened to be at Navarra’s in Eagle Harbor, and knew they offered custom weekly produce boxes and accepted fresh food Rx vouchers. A conversation ensued and Navarra’s agreed to allow Community Action staff to accept orders from customers for produce boxes from Navarra’s.

Navarra’s has a list of 25 to 30 items customers can choose from, indicating whether they want a $10, $20 or $30 box. The list changes every week, Salvatore said.

On Friday’s Navarra’s delivers the weekly orders to the Eastern Orleans Community Center, where customers can pay in cash or with their vouchers.

James Salvatore, whose family owns Navarra’s, delivers the produce boxes to the Community Center. Demand has grown so much, he sets up a table with fresh produce, flowers, relishes, etc., which people can purchase.

“We wanted to help get produce to the community at a reasonable price,” Salvatore said. “We know prices in the stores are high. And we grow all of this produce.”

Debbie Rothmund is director of the Eastern Orleans Community Center in Holley.

Navarra’s also sells flowers from Wild Dahlia in Brockport and popcorn from Sweet Treats by Gertie in Albion.

Community Action is also exploring options to expand accessibility to fresh produce to those who lack transportation to traditional markets and stands. They are considering becoming a site where SNAP clients can purchase farm market tokens using their EBT benefits and SNAP Stretch, which doubles recipients’ SNAP value at farm markets.

Another program at the Community Center is the food giveaway on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, when volunteers pick up donated food from Wegmans and Walmart.

This past Friday’s free food included boxes and boxes of chicken thighs, vegetables, salad greens, lo mein meals, breads and baked goods.

Those who can get a ride come for the free food and stay for lunch. A typical day sees 40 to 50 individuals come in, said Debbie Rothmund, manager of the Eastern Orleans Community Center.

One who comes often is Billie Jo Van Hoy from Hamlin.

“An aide brings me three days a week,” Van Hoy said. “I come for the food and the friendliness. Food is so expensive in the stores, and I’m on a fixed income. Here, I can get fruits and vegetables, and sometimes hamburger or chicken. It really helps.”

Another lady who asked to just be called “Patti,” comes for lunch every day and for the friends she meets and the conversations.

“I get the free food on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, because I’m retired and I couldn’t spend the money on the things I get here.”

A gentleman named Rick also comes often, and sometimes brings his brother, who has special needs, for socialization. Rick sometimes plays guitar for the crowd. He appreciates the food distribution, but really enjoys having fun and making conversation with the others.

Community members fill the room at the Eastern Orleans Community Center in Holley most days. Here, they wait for lunch on Friday, after choosing from a large assortment of free food provided by Wegman’s and Walmart.