Page 6 - Mecklenburg_Medicine_April-2020

Feature

Two Mobile Food Pharmacies to Begin
Serving Charlotte’s Communities in Need

O NE Charlotte Health Alliance (OCHA) has partnered Health Alliance’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/oneclthealth, and
with Loaves & Fishes to bring two, first-of-its-kind follow @oneclthealth on Twitter.
mobile food pharmacies to Charlotte. These will
travel to communities identified as “food deserts,” About ONE Charlotte Health Alliance
where access to nutritious, fresh food is limited by the barriers of
availability, cost and transportation. The alliance, which is formed by The ONE Charlotte Health Alliance was launched by Atrium Health
Atrium Health and Novant Health, in partnership with Mecklenburg and Novant Health, in partnership with Mecklenburg County Health
County Public Health Department, aims to remove the barriers Department, to build upon the conversations around investments to
with the help of Loaves & Fishes, improving the overall health and address the community’s critical needs, specifically barriers to health
wellbeing of communities impacted by food insecurity. care. ONE Charlotte Health Alliance intends to foster partnerships
and create new opportunities to improve access to coordinated health
“At Loaves & Fishes, we know food is medicine. People’s access services and resources in the communities that need it most. Learn more
to nutritious food dramatically impacts their overall health, as well as about the ONE Charlotte Health Alliance by visiting www.oneclthealth.
their ability to function and thrive in the workplace or in school,” says org and follow ONE Charlotte Health Alliance on Twitter and Facebook
Tina Postel, executive director for Loaves & Fishes. “We are thrilled to at @oneclthealth.
partner with ONE Charlotte Health Alliance to mobilize our network
of emergency food pantry operations. These mobile food pharmacies About Loaves & Fishes
will provide the access to nutritionally balanced groceries directly in the
neighborhoods that need it the most.” Loaves & Fishes fights hunger in our community by providing
a week’s worth of nutritionally balanced groceries to neighbors
Anyone experiencing food insecurity is eligible to receive a referral in need through a network of food pantries located throughout
for food from the mobile food pharmacies using the Client Choice Mecklenburg County. In 2019, Loaves & Fishes provided groceries
model. This model enables individuals to choose a specified number to more than 80,000 individuals (half were children), enough to fill
of grains, proteins, vegetables, fruit and dairy based on the size of their Bank of America Stadium.
family. The allotment serves an estimated 21 meals per person, per
week. The selection of items to choose from are carefully considered Save the Date!
by a registered dietitian to include all five food groups. Join us for the

The mobile food pharmacies are equipped with built-in shelves Physicians’Impact Fund 6th Annual
lining the sides, coolers and a freezer. A cubicle at the far end of the Benefit BBQ and Concert
trailer is staffed by OCHA personnel, who are on hand to consult
with individuals about nutrition and the foods most helpful to featuring Country Music Hall of Fame inductee
improve a health condition they may have, including obesity, high Rivers Rutherford and friends.
blood pressure, high cholesterol and high blood sugar.
Hearthestories andsongsbehind
The OCHA and Loaves & Fishes mobile food pharmacies make their#1hits. Rivers has#1songsbyTim
routine visits to the locations below. Additional locations will be McGraw, Montgomery Gentry, Gretchen
added throughout the calendar year where it is determined they Wilson, Brad Paisley and Dolly Parton
are most needed. (for the Grammy “When I Get Where I’m
Going”), Kenny Chesney, Rodney Atkins,
• River Church, 512 W. 32nd St., Charlotte, NC 28206 TraceAdkins andBrooks&Dunn(the
• Clinton Chapel AME Zion Church, 1801 Rozzelles Ferry Road, duo’s mostsuccessfulsinglewas“Ain’t

Charlotte, NC 28208 Nothing ‘Bout You” which spent six
• Northeast Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 827 Tom Hunter Road, weeks at#1onthecharts).

Charlotte, NC 28213 Friday, April 24 n 6:30-9:30 p.m.

The mobile food pharmacies follow the roll out of two OCHA mobile Spirit Square, McGlohon Theater n 345 N. College Street
health units in February 2019. Together, the four mobile units bring Purchase tickets online at www.physiciansimpactfund.org/events.
medical, dental, behavioral health and food assistance services to areas
of Charlotte with the highest health disparities.

For more information on ONE Charlotte Health Alliance, visit
www.oneclthealth.org. For mobile food pharmacy and mobile health
unit services offered and schedule details, visit the ONE Charlotte

6 | April 2020 • Mecklenburg Medicine