Jae Gerhart, is manager of Food Programs at The Farm at Trinity Health.  In today’s presentation titled, Food is Medicine, A Hospital Based Approach, Jae presented how The Farm is addressing food insecurity and diet-related chronic illness by partnering with local farmers to provide weekly produce boxes to its patients and community.
The Farm at Trinity Health came about in 2010 initially with the goal of providing healthy, locally grown food to patients in the hospital.  It soon became apparent that produce raised at the farm could not meet the needs of a 537-bed hospital.  The Farm program pivoted to create a prevention-based model, in response to changes in health care brought about by the Affordable Care Act.  The Farm partners with 23 farmers in the area to bring weekly share boxes to families who face food insecurity and also those wishing to participate as paying customers.  In 2024, 718 families were members of the program with 63% of them receiving the support at no cost.  At each week’s food pick-up day staff provide samplings of dishes made with the produce.  Members also have the opportunity to take classes offered at The Farm.  Jae shared a powerful story of one member of the Share Program who, due to liver failure, had been placed on a liver transplant list.  You can learn more about her story by seeing Jae’s slideshow.  Her presentation can also be viewed on the Club’s private YouTube channel by clicking here.