#30 Food as Medicine: How Food Banks Are Connecting Health and Food Access

In our latest episode of CommonHealth, guest host Adrienne Harden, VCHA's Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, discusses the important topic of food insecurity in Virginia with Meaghan Butler, from the Federation of Virginia Food Banks and Maria Bowman, with Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. Together, they unearth the differences between food banks and food pantries, explore how food banking in Virginia has evolved over the years, discuss the importance of Virginians having access to whole, healthful foods and how it lowers chronic disease rates, and dissect how different localities require different solutions to food insecurity. You absolutely will not want to miss this episode! Download and listen today!

With special guests:

Meaghan Butler MPH, RD, Senior Director of Health Equity, Federation of Virginia Food Banks and Maria Bowman, MPH, Director of Health Initiatives, Blue Ridge Area Food Bank

Guest host: 

Adrienne Harden, RDN, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Virginia Community Healthcare Association

SNAP and Food Assistance Resources:

• SNAP application assistor request form 
• Food Bank and Food Pantry locator
• Free or Reduced Cost resource locator (including food, housing etc.)
• Emergency Food Hotline and services 
• Call 211 to find agencies to assist with finding food in an emergency
• Call USDA National Hunger Hotline at 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479) or 1-877-8-HAMBRE (1-877-842-6273)