St. Luke’s got a sweet visit on Tuesday, Feb. 26, when the famous PEEPSmobile rolled up to Priscilla Payne Hurd Pavilion at St. Luke’s University Hospital-Bethlehem. It was brought there for a special occasion, as representatives from Bethlehem’s Just Born Quality Confections presented a check for $5,000 to support the Mobile Market Voucher Pilot Program, a new St. Luke’s Healthy Living Initiative developed in partnership with the Kellyn Foundation.
From left to right: Shannon Veneziano, St. Luke’s Clinical Coordinator; Samantha Bouton, St. Luke’s Community Health Intern; Dr. Kathy Paulik Ramson, RN, CCRN, St. Luke’s Network Director of Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Initiatives; Carol Saegar, Just Born Quality Confections Corporate Affairs Manager; Eric Ruth, Kellyn Foundation Co-Founder and CEO; and Carla Arbushites, St. Luke’s Assistant Vice President for Development. The check that was presented will support St. Luke’s Hospital’s Healthy Living Initiative’s Mobile Market Voucher Pilot Program.
The grant enables St. Luke’s and the Kellyn Foundation to provide a select group of diabetic patients at the Fowler Community Wellness Center/Hispanic Center of the Lehigh Valley with access to fresh produce throughout the 2019 growing season (June through October). Patients can also participate in plant-based cooking classes to encourage clean eating habits at home, and the center’s kitchen staff will be trained on the preparation of healthy senior meals.
“Through this program, we can help remove the barriers that our patients face when evaluating their meal options,” said Dr. Kathy Paulik Ramson, RN, CCRN, St. Luke’s Network Director of Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Initiatives. “Empowering our patients to make healthier choices has a significant impact on the state of their overall well-being–both physically and mentally.”
The pilot program kicks off this summer. It will end in the fall with a celebration for participants which will also serve as an opportunity to measure patient outcomes from this period of cleaner eating.
The goal is to expand the program to a wider network of patients and move the needle on improving diet and chronic disease prevention to promote healthier living throughout the community.
Note: This local healthy living news is brought to you in partnership with St. Luke’s University Health Network.