ALBANY, December 12, 2024 — The American Heart Association, celebrating 100 years of lifesaving service, is proud to sponsor a new Linn County, Oregon nutrition security program. The Food for Health initiative, developed by the Linn County Health Education and Maternal and Child Health teams, is an innovative project that aims to provide food to families in need while also investing in the local economy.

What we eat and drink matters to our heart and brain health. Unfortunately, many households in Oregon struggle to put healthy food on the table. One in 8 people in the state are not getting enough food or nutrients they need, which can prevent them from leading active, healthy lives . Additionally, food insecurity disproportionately affects specific communities across the state, regardless of geography. Historic inequities and systemic exclusions mean that Black, Indigenous and Communities of Color, immigrants and refugees, single moms and caregivers, and trans and gender expansive communities are two to three times more likely to face hunger and poverty in our region. (Oregon Food Bank, 2024)

Through this pilot, Linn County staff delivered free, fresh, and local food straight to 50 families’ doors, twice a month for more than five months. Participating families, from Albany to Sweet Home to Brownsville, were overjoyed to receive boxes of colorful fresh produce and protein every two weeks.

Linn County’s Maternal and Child Health team, composed of nurses who do home visits to new low-income parents, helped identify  and enroll patients and families from their client pools who had indicated a need for food assistance. After a 5-minute phone call, they were signed up and eligible to receive food boxes all season long.

With rising food costs at grocery stores and farmstands alike, participants reported they simply would not have had access to these in-season fruits and veggies, let alone ones from local farms, if not for this pilot program.

In a survey conducted after the program’s completion, one participant said, “My kids are thrilled. They can be picky eaters, but they look forward to these boxes because they are filled with exciting new foods.”

Funded in part by a grant  from the American Heart Association, Food for Health staff contracted directly with farmers from Linn County and the surrounding area to purchase food for families. Every two weeks, fresh produce and meat from these farms would be aggregated at a central location, packed into boxes and loaded up into county and farm vans to deliver to families across Linn County.

For Linn County Food Systems Coordinator Diego Nieto, who developed the pilot along with other Linn County staff, this pilot represents an opportunity to meet families’ needs directly while also supporting and building connections with local farmers.

“A community that can feed and take care of itself is a resilient one,” Nieto said. “We hope the Food for Health pilot can demonstrate to our partners and healthcare providers that if we step in to help connect the dots and invest in nutritious local foods, everyone in our community ends up better off.”

As for what comes next, Linn County hopes to administer and expand the program for next year. While this year’s pilot focused on new parents, the county is exploring other strategies and target populations. Local healthcare clinics could help distribute food boxes to their clients and patients, for example.

“The home delivery model worked so well, we will definitely do that again next year,” Nieto said, “but we would like to develop additional distribution methods to reach other community members. Either way, our goal is to at least triple the volume of food  we’re providing to the community next year.”

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About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for a century. During 2024 - our Centennial year - we celebrate our rich 100-year history and accomplishments. As we forge ahead into our second century of bold discovery and impact our vision is to advance health and hope for everyone, everywhere. Connect with us in Orgon at heart.orgFacebook, InstagramX or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.

For media inquiries, contact:  

Jay Wintermeyer: jay.wintermeyer@heart.org