NORTH PORT – Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital and All Faiths Food Bank have opened a new “Wellness Market” at the hospital’s North Port Outpatient Care Center, located off of Toledo Blade Boulevard at 2345 Bobcat Village Center, Suite 206, North Port.
The goal of the Wellness Market – the first of its type in Sarasota County – is to reduce readmissions and emergency room visits and improve health outcomes by addressing food insecurity as a critical health issue — especially in rural communities where resources are scarce and the need is greater.
The pantry, showcased in an opening Aug. 4, will offer both fresh food and a connection for families to seek additional support.
The food pantry has been fully integrated into the clinic’s operations and is open the same hours – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The launch marks a significant step in Johns Hopkins All Children’s efforts to address food insecurity as a critical health issue, as it joins All Faiths Food Bank’s nearly decade-long work in this space.
For All Faiths, the North Port Wellness Market is the second such partnership.
On July 28, All Faiths opened its first hospital-based Wellness Market at DeSoto Memorial Hospital in Arcadia.
That market is a 24/7 pantry providing patients with access to fresh, medically-tailored food as part of their discharge plan.
Johns Hopkins All Children’s employees had previously been asking patients if they were in need of food and handing out 10-pound bags of non-perishable items. The new pantry allows patients to pick up fresh vegetables, fruits, milk, meat and nutrient dense items like peanut butter. For more information visit https://www,hopkinsallchildrens.org.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Children’s clinic in North Port gains new ‘Wellness Market’ from All Faiths Food Bank
Reporting by Staff Report / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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