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November 14, 2017
Combating Type 2 Diabetes and Food Insecurity in Dartmouth North
Dartmouth Family Centre Receives Second Grant from Medavie Health Foundation in Support of Community Food Centre.
Dartmouth Family Centre is receiving a $20,000 grant from Medavie Health Foundation to fund food skills programming at Dartmouth North Community Food Centre in helping reduce risk factors for type 2 diabetes.
Through a partnership with Community Food Centres Canada, Dartmouth North Community Food Centre offers programs to combat food insecurity and increase healthy eating. Cultivating Change: Combating Type 2 Diabetes by Developing Healthy Food Skills will help individuals develop healthy food behaviours, while providing education on chronic disease prevention and self-management, including type 2 diabetes. The Foundation also supported this program in 2016, bringing our funding support to $40,000.
Dartmouth Family Centre is one of 23 organizations receiving funding through Medavie Health Foundation’s 2017 Grants Program, which supports targeted programs aligned with child and youth mental health, post-traumatic stress disorder, and type 2 diabetes. Since late 2011, the Foundation has committed over $10.7 million to single and multi-year grant and partnership programs, some of which have yet to be announced.
The funding will be announced this evening as part of the Dartmouth North Diabetes Expo, taking place from 5-7pm, at the Dartmouth North Community Food Centre, 6 Primrose Street.
Quick Facts
- Evidence suggests that people who are food insecure consume fewer nutritionally adequate foods and experience higher rates of type 2 diabetes, depression, heart disease, hypertension, fibromyalgia and compromised physical health. They also have greater difficulty managing their disease than those with more resources.
- The Food Centre’s 2016 Annual Program Survey found that program participants consumed more fruits and vegetables, and ate fewer processed foods, less salt and sugar, in addition to reporting improved physical health. Also, those diagnosed with one or more chronic health conditions reported that coming to the centre helped them manage their chronic health conditions (e.g., high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease).
“Dartmouth North Community Food Centre has created a supportive environment in helping people develop positive food behaviours and reduce risk factors for type 2 diabetes and other chronic conditions. This aligns with our vision that all Canadians have access to the information, tools, and supports they need to live their best lives – both mentally and physically. ”
Patty Faith, Executive Director, Medavie Health Foundation
“If you want to improve health outcomes, you need to start with a supportive environment. Medavie’s grant makes it possible for people of all ages and abilities to come together in our garden, kitchen, and dining room to grow, prepare, and share good food and it’s working: 80% of program participants say they’ve made healthy changes to their diets because of our programs.”
Roxanne Manning, Executive Director, Dartmouth Family Centre/Dartmouth North Community Food Centre
“It makes me think more about where my food came from and what I put in my body. It’s helped a lot of people in the north end.”
Dartmouth North Community Food Centre Program Participant
Associated Links
Community video: Dartmouth North Community Food Centre
Dartmouth North Community Food Centre
Filed under Health Foundation
