Sei Paulson, the Grow Jamestown Market coordinator is set to help launch St. Luke’s newest nutritional program, entitled Faithful Eating. The church located at 410 N. Main St. will partner with local area churches to bring them fresh fruit and vegetables.
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St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and The Grow Jamestown’s Market program is set to partner with four churches in Jamestown.

“We’re partnering with Blackwell Chapel, the Islamic Society of Jamestown, Main St. Church of God, and Emmanuel Temple Church,” said the Rev. Luke Fodor, rector of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. “Recently, Blue Cross/ Blue Shield awarded us a grant to start a new program called ‘Faithful Eating,’a program that adopts the Veggie RX model for the faith-based communities.”

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, Veggie RX is based upon the ideology that healthy food can be used as medicine. Veggie Rx is a product prescription program used as a medical treatment or preventative service for patients. The prescriptions are fulfilled through food retail and enable patients to access healthy produce with no added fats, sugars, or salt, at low or no cost to the patient; When appropriately dosed, Veggie Rx programs are designed to improve healthcare outcomes, optimize medical spend, and increase patient engagement and satisfaction.

“The Grow Jamestown’s Market program is partnering with four congregations that have a history of serving racially, ethically, and culturally diverse populations to provide fresh local produce on a side of town it has rarely ventured because it is not technically a ‘food desert,’” Fodor said. The ‘Food is Medicine’ movement reaffirms this connection, recognizing that access to high-quality nourishment is essential for well-being.”

Heading up this new program for St. Luke’s is Sei Paulson, Grow Jamestown Market coordinator.

“In my world, ideally, I wouldn’t have this job because everyone is food secure and eating healthy,” she said. “However, if this program takes off, I’d like to expand it to other churches in the area.”

“People tend to bond, and communities form around passing a plate over a meal,” Fodor said. “On top of trying to help establish healthy lifestyles, we want to help create community.”

For more information visit stlukesjamestown.org or call 716-483-6405.