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99 Quentin Roosevelt Blvd. Suite 200, Garden City, NY 11530
+1 (516) 539 0150
+1 (516) 539 0160

Fresh from the Garden

Program Overview

Fresh from the Garden offers a three-step program to healthier living for seniors: nutrition education, cooking demonstrations, and produce distribution.

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Clients Served Last Year:

85

Program Contact:

Carol O’Neill, LMSW
Senior Director, Senior & Nutritional Services

Funding Generously Provided by:

Contact Information:

99 Quentin Roosevelt Blvd.
Hempstead, NY 11550
(516) 539-0150 x220
coneill@eac-network.org

Meet the EAC Network Team Carol ONeill
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Program Description

The Problem:

Seniors who live in communities with few or no grocery stores are at risk for malnutrition and are more likely to suffer from preventable chronic diseases and poor health conditions.

Our Solution:

Provide seniors who have little or no access to grocery stores with fresh produce, nutrition education, and cooking demonstrations to avoid preventable diseases and enhance their overall health.

How We Do it:

Based at Magnolia Gardens, a senior housing development in New Cassel operated by the North Hempstead Housing Authority, the Fresh from the Garden senior initiative focuses efforts on senior residents both within the development itself and the New Cassel community at large.

Seniors are first screened for nutritional risk as well as eligibility for SNAP benefits and additional services such as Meals on Wheels. Once enrolled, they are able to access our services including nutrition education given by a registered dietitian, hands-on cooking demonstrations, and fresh produce.  Additional resources to increase their knowledge of living a healthy lifestyle is provided by community partners including Long Island Cares, local farmer’s markets, Northwell Health Dietetic Internship Program, and Hofstra University’s Center for Civic Engagement.

How You Can Help:

Fresh from the Garden needs volunteers (bi-lingual in Spanish or French Creole a plus) to deliver produce to homebound seniors, assist with Saturday produce distribution, put on cooking demonstrations, and help seniors complete enrollment forms. If you’re interested in volunteering in any of these capacities, contact Carol O’Neill at (516) 539-0150 x220 or coneill@eac-network.org.  To support Fresh from the Garden with a gift, donate here or call (516) 539-0150 x117.

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The Outcomes of Fresh From the Garden

Our seniors, who are majority low-income and suffer from food insecurity and poor health outcomes, show an improvement in their ability to identify, obtain, and use fresh produce.  They learn healthy cooking techniques and understand how healthy foods can improve their health.

Special Thanks