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Alfreda can manage her diabetes better because of you
When Alfreda Chandler saw a listing in her church calendar for Food Rx, she thought it sounded fun.
With funding from donations, the Food Prescription (Food Rx) Program was created to increase the accessibility and affordability of fresh foods and assist with diabetes management. The goal of this Bon Secours program is to help community members living with diabetes achieve better health outcomes. Food Rx offers education about diabetes management, providing access to healthy foods and performing cooking demonstrations.
For Alfreda, who is diabetic, the results of the program were immediate.
“My A1C was 7 when I started the program,” she said. “When I took it last week, it was 5.8. That was a great drop.”
Alfreda has always loved to cook. Now she loves it even more because she’s learned how it can make herself healthier.
“I know how to read food labels better now,” she said. “If you know how to watch the carbs and calories, you can still eat great food.”
"It’s changed my health for the better. I’m so excited about making these meals, I share pictures of my healthy plates with people in the class. Everyone who attends gives each other encouragement and shares tasty recipes."
Alfreda enjoyed the 12-week Food Rx summer session at the Sarah Garland Jones Community Center so much, she signed up for the fall session and is planning to attend the winter session as well.
“It’s changed my health for the better,” she said. “I’m so excited about making these meals, I share pictures of my healthy plates with people in the class. Everyone who attends gives each other encouragement and shares tasty recipes.”
“I can’t believe more people aren’t taking advantage of this program, because it does get you healthy."