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10 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • July 2016 When the Rappahannock Area Health District was given a gracious grant to use in creative ways to help encour- age healthy eating and reduce the obesity epidemic, team members knew they had a wonderful opportunity on their hands. In the past, the District's WIC (Women, Infant and Children) program has worked closely with Elizabeth Borst, program director of the local farmers m arket, and together the two organizations conceptualized the Produce Packs pilot in an effort to get fresh produce directly into the hands of families in need enrolled in the WIC program. The team also saw potential in collabo- rating with The Doctor Yum Project and The Table, the market-style food pantry housed at St. George's Episcopal Church. Together, the four establishments joined forces to maximize efforts to bring the Produce Packs to fruition. Though the organizations have had great success collabo- rating in the past, the limits of federal programs provide a challenge in providing incentives for families to access fresh local produce. With news of the grant money, team members were eager to address this concern. Our mission is to help families connect the dots between good food and good health, says Dr. Nimali Fernando, founder of the Doctor Yum Project. "With many successful moving parts already in play, it seemed like a great opportunity to launch the Produce Packs for WIC families." The Reverend Deacon Carey Dougherty Chirico, who heads The Table, is equally excited about the project. "Our work at The Table has taught us how eager our com- munity is for access to fresh food and help in understand- ing how to use it," she says. The Produce Packs, which will be assembled at The Table using fresh local produce and distrib- uted during WIC clinics, will contain a variety of items based on what is available from the farmers. Also included will be information on participating farmers markets, a description of the produce and how to store, wash and eat the items, and recipes provided by The Doctor Yum Project. Families can return to their local farmers market up to three times for free produce refills until September 10. WRITTEN BY DEBRA CAFFREY Providing Fresh Produce to Local Families They will also receive small edible plants and education on gardening. "By providing the WIC families with a bag of dirt, pots and plants, we hope to empower families to feel confident about growing their own food," says Christy Redmond, RAHD WIC Coordinator. The organizations involved are enthusiastic about how the Produce Packs will expand access to fresh local pro- duce to the community, and how it will help encourage overall healthy eating habits to families in need. "Many do not have reliable health care and so are very aware that eating better food might be the one place they can improve their health but they struggle to afford it," says Chirico. "This project will overcome many of these hurdles." The team hopes to inspire other Planning Districts to try similar approaches. "This project is a great example of an emerging food cul- ture in Fredericksburg," says Fernando. "It is expanding access to fresh local produce to a population we normally would not be able to reach." To learn more about the WIC program or to check eligibil- ity requirements, visit www.usda.gov and search "WIC." To check out family-tested recipes by The Doctor Yum Project, visit recipes.doctoryum.org. " " The Produce Packs, which will fresh local produce and distrib- farmers markets, a description of the Produce Packs