FARMINGTON — MaineHealth is offering a free one-year Food as Medicine program to support individuals with one or more chronic health conditions who have limited access to healthy food.

Eligibility requirements include: person has limited access to affordable healthy food, is at least 18 years  old, has a chronic health condition, wants to make healthy lifestyle changes and has a MaineHealth primary care provider, which includes Franklin Health providers.

The program is facilitated by trained health educators from the Healthy Community Coalition of Greater Franklin County. The next session begins Sept. 13 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. and includes one-on-one and virtual classes.

The program will provide access to free healthy food  — 10 meals weekly for up to a family of 4 — peer support, goal-setting, healthy cooking classes, recipes and menu planning with a health educator. Additionally, participants will get helpful resources and information related to their chronic conditions.

“This new and exciting program is designed to meet people where they are at with their health, provide the right tools, skills and support to make small changes over time to feel better,” LeeAnna Lavoie, Healthy Community Coalition director said. “Change can be hard, especially if people don’t have access to the right type of food to help keep them healthy. This program will provide the right food and teach skills to cook healthy, affordable, and most importantly, delicious food. All while being supported by others who are working on similar goals.”

For more information, contact Kathy Doyon at 207-779-2928 or David Scammon 207-779-2435 or email: Kathy.Doyon@mainehealth.org or David.Scammon@mainehealth.org.

The program is supported by Hannaford, MaineHealth and Good Shepherd Food Bank.

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