Morris Heights Health Center Expands Access To Affordable Healthy Food Options For Bronx Community

BRONX, NEW YORK, December 22, 2021-- Morris Heights Health Center (MHHC) partnered with GrowNYC to bring fresh food and produce to families in the West Bronx community. Through GrowNYC’s Fresh Food Box program, patients, staff, and community members will have access to pre-assembled boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables at a reduced rate. From December 2021-June 2022, MHHC will host a GrowNYC Fresh Food Box site every Wednesday outside of our 85 West Burnside Avenue location. Participants can sign up and pay a week in advance to receive a fresh box the following week.

"We are grateful to partner with the Morris Heights Health Center to bring a Fresh Food Box site to the West Bronx," said Ida Yu, GrowNYC Fresh Food Box Coordinator. "As the fruits and vegetables in the Fresh Food Boxes are grown primarily by farmers here in the Northeast, the program not only provides fresh food to the community, but also supports regional agriculture. An equitable pricing system and GrowNYC’s ability to accept various payment options that include cash, credit or debit, SNAP (half-priced boxes are available for SNAP customers!), Healthfirst OTC cards for LIP and CC members, Health Bucks, Greenmarket Bucks, and Fresh Connect Coupons, makes Fresh Food Boxes affordable for all New Yorkers."

For more than a decade the Bronx has ranked #62 as New York States unhealthiest county in an annual report published by County Health Rankings. The lack of access to affordable nutritious food can lead to an unhealthy diet which can result in diet-like diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure. According to the 2018 NYC Department of Health Community Health Profiles, thirty six percent of adults in the Bronx have high blood pressure, or hypertension. “We are proud to partner with GrowNYC. This new joint venture is part of our ongoing efforts to alleviate food insecurity and foster a healthier lifestyle for community members who may not otherwise have the means or access to healthier food options,” expressed MHHC’s President & CEO, Mari G. Millet.

GrowNYC’s Fresh Food Box program is a food access initiative that enables underserved communities to purchase fresh, healthy produce at well below retail prices. The program operates year-round with a total of 3 million participants. If you’re interested in signing up for the Fresh Food Box program at MHHC, stop by our 85 West Burnside Avenue location every Wednesday from 3pm-6pm.

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