[Media release shared by Simply Healthcare Plans]
Miami, FL – Simply Health Plans (Simply) and Feeding South Florida today hosted an event with volunteer support from Florida Senator Ileana Garcia, where local families shopped at Feeding South Florida’s Mobile Farmacy for convenient and healthy foods to feed their families. The event was made possible by a partnership between Simply and Feeding South Florida to improve health outcomes for at-risk populations in vulnerable areas of Florida that are underserved and food insecure.
“Families in food insecure areas often experience hunger and many turn to food options that are convenient, but expensive and unhealthy, often to the detriment of their overall health and well-being,” said Holly Prince, President of Simply. “Through our work with Feeding South Florida, we’re bringing nutritious foods to the neighborhoods that need it the most.”
“We have seen first-hand the barriers that people face when it comes to accessing food. We decided that if they can’t go to the grocery store, we will bring the grocery store to them,” said Sari Vatske, Executive Vice President of Feeding South Florida. “We are grateful for partners like Simply who can help make these concepts a reality.”
Mobile Farmacy is a mobile grocery store for Floridians in need. Shoppers can find a hybrid of donated items and farmers’ market for-sale items in the food “farmacy,” a concept based on the idea that food is medicine, providing prescription produce and other healthy food options.
“Simply and Feeding South Florida are stepping up to the plate for our communities in need,” said Senator Garcia. “They’re leveraging data to determine how to improve the lives of Floridians. Increasing access to nutritious, wholesome food will have lasting impacts on these communities.”
Through the Mobile Farmacy, Simply and Feeding South Florida are increasing access to healthy food by reducing geographical and affordability barriers, embracing cultural diversity with appropriate food selections and addressing social isolation by providing a convening place that can go anywhere. The Mobile Farmacy was located today at Village of Allapattah YMCA Family Center in Miami.
“With Feeding South Florida’s Mobile Farmacy, this community has access and choice. It’s not just a box of non-perishables. This was a real shopping experience for the families assisted today,” said Speaker Pro Tempore Bryan Avila. “Thank you to Simply for this meaningful investment in our communities and our future.”
Feeding South Florida staff helps curate and guide the shopping experience, focusing on healthy meal planning and good dietary choices. This was one of six distributions supported by Simply and planned in the South Florida region.
This distribution event is part of a larger partnership between Simply and Feeding Florida, which was announced last month. Simply donated $100,000 to Feeding Florida, Florida’s only statewide food bank network. The funds are allocated to three of the network’s food bank-led “Food is Medicine” programs, with a focus on several of Florida’s Medicaid regions, including Bay County, Polk County and Miami-Dade County. Simply is working closely with three of Feeding Florida’s food banks – Feeding South Florida, Feeding Tampa Bay and Feeding the Gulf Coast.
About Feeding South Florida®
Feeding South Florida is a member of the Feeding America network of food banks and the leading domestic hunger-relief organization serving Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe Counties. Providing support for 25 percent of the state’s food insecure population, its mission is to end hunger in South Florida by providing immediate access to nutritious food, leading hunger and poverty advocacy efforts, and transforming lives through innovative programming and education. Feeding South Florida distributed over 176 million pounds of food (147.5 million meals) in 2020, to over one million individuals through direct-service programs and a local network of more than 300 nonprofit community partners. Visit www.feedingsouthflorida.org or call 954.518.1818.
About Simply Healthcare
Simply Healthcare is a Managed Care Plan that offers plans in Florida for residents eligible for Medicaid, Medicare and Florida Healthy Kids benefits. To learn more, visit www.SimplyHealthcarePlans.com.
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