The Worcester Housing Authority (WHA) and Renaissance Medical Group (RMG) are thrilled to announce the kickoff of the Food Matters program on Tuesday,
November 1, 2022, at 1:30 pm at 1050 Main Street (rear).
The Food Matters program is a
new free meal delivery program that will address food insecurity among elderly and disabled WHA residents.
A rustic stew. Meals delivered to Worcester’s neediest will help folks stay healthy as the price of groceries continues to sky rocket! CECELIA/InCity Times file photos.
The kickoff event will feature a number of speakers, including Congressman James McGovern.
Other speakers include:
• Joseph Petty, Mayor, City of Worcester
• Eric Batista, Acting City Manager, City of Worcester
• Alex Corrales, CEO, Worcester Housing Authority
• Jesus Suarez, CEO, Renaissance Medical Group
• Eric Dickson, CEO, UMASS Memorial Health System
• Gina Plata-Nino, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute
Through the Food Matters program, the WHA will deliver 12 shelf stable meals per month to more than
1,000 residents.
These meals will be culturally diverse and can be heated and eaten by residents as
needed.
Fresh vegetables and fruit can be $$ expensive!
The pilot program will initially be offered at 6 WHA properties:
• Webster Square Towers (1050 & 1060 Main Street)
• Elm Park Tower (425 Pleasant Street)
• Pleasant Tower (275 Pleasant Street)
• Murray Apartments (50 Murray Avenue)
• Wellington Apartments (30 Wellington Street)
The pilot program will focus on the WHA’s elderly and disabled community. These populations with limited mobility will especially benefit from non-perishable meals delivered to their door— as groceries are hard to access and nutritious meals may be hard to make.
As the program grows, delivery service will expand to other WHA properties.
The kickoff event will provide guests an opportunity to sample food, listen to live music and learn about other food insecurity resources offered in the community.
Fresh ingredients make all the difference!
Guest speakers will touch upon, not only the need for food access but also the impact food insecurity has on an individual’s mental and
physical health.
The Food Matters program aims to help residents gain access to healthy meals, consistently. As the
price of groceries has steeply risen over the past few years, there is a greater need than ever to ensure those in need are able to access to food that is filling and nutritious. As food is an essential
part of overall health, the WHA has made it a priority to combat food insecurity and to ensure
residents have the food they need throughout the year. The program also intends to reduce the
mental stress that food insecurity can bring on, by providing residents with shelf-stable food they can eat when needed and can safely store when not.
The WHA chose to partner with Renaissance Medical Group (RMG). RMG will provide the premade
meals that will be distributed to WHA residents. RMG is a medical group focusing on holistic
healthcare for diverse populations, with services such as home care, behavioral health care, and
primary care services, in addition to their food program. RMG currently has a health clinic at 1060 Main Street.
The WHA is confident and hopeful that the kickoff event and Food Matters program will bring to light
the needs of the low income residents it serves. Residents will be able to participate in focus groups and take surveys that will measure if the food is assisting them, along with feedback and suggestions to improve the program.