If a new pilot program works as it’s supposed to, Holliston Pantry Shelf patrons will not only have help feeding themselves and their families, but they’ll also get a hand in choosing the most nutritious options among the food pantry fare. The Holliston Pantry Shelf, which serves nearly 400 people in town, is one of just five agencies taking part in The Greater Boston Food Bank’s (GBFB) Healthy Pantry pilot program. Designed to educate and empower partner agencies, the program will help promote and display a healthy selection of foods for clients.
“We are so grateful to Greater Boston Food Bank for including our Pantry as one of the early participants in the Healthy Pantry pilot program,” said Keely Krantz, Vice President of Holliston Pantry Shelf. “We are eager to incorporate several of the program concepts, including modifications to how we display and promote food choices – to better connect our clients with healthy food options.”
Krantz explains that the Holliston Pantry Shelf is “proud to offer beautiful free produce, fruits and vegetables on a daily basis, thanks largely to our collaboration with GBFB as well as the generosity of local farms that donate shares to us,” but she explains that since shoppers can only shop once a week at the pantry, they must choose shelf stable items, which can sometimes contain more sodium or preservatives. Similarly, she says, “Many of our shoppers are coping with difficulties, whether it be illness or lack of mobility, so sometimes it’s easier to select ‘prepared’ or partially prepared foods that again, tend to contain higher sodium, more calories per serving, or saturated fats.”
The pilot program is aimed at training food pantries to promote healthy food options.
The program consists of three learning modules, two to four lessons each, and covers:
• Nudges are small changes in the pantry environment that can shift people’s behavior in a predictable way;
• Click ‘N Cook is GBFB’s online recipe database that offers easy, healthy recipes in seven languages;
• SWAP is a nutrition measurement system used on ShopGBFB, GBFB’s online food ordering platform, that helps shoppers choose the healthiest options in GBFB’s inventory.
Participants move through the program step by step— the completion of one module and its related activities allows access to the next step. Each module has a pre-test and a post-test and an activity to apply at the facility.
“This program will allow us to cultivate and develop standard practices for all of our partner agencies and promote healthy selections amongst our clients,” said Adriene Worthington, RDN, LDN, GBFB assistant director of nutrition. “We are currently in the pilot stage with five agencies participating and providing feedback. Next steps include incorporating feedback and improving the current modules, developing additional modules, offering the program to additional agencies, and further development of data management.”
Krantz, who has taken the training, will pass what she’s learned to the 120 volunteers at the pantry.
“For example, our ‘behind the scenes crew’ manages inventory, and they have recently begun to purchase and display produce and healthy items in multi-height, more attractive display bins, instead of the boxes that these items arrive in. We learned through the GBFB program that the more attractive and close to eye level the healthy items are, the more likely the shopper will be to select the item,” says Krantz.
The Holliston Pantry Shelf will also launch a “Bonus Bag” initiative, something unique to the food pantry. Krantz explains that this idea was designed specifically for Holliston’s food pantry customers. Once a month, the pantry will prepare “Bonus Bags” –filled with all the ingredients needed to make a healthy recipe provided by GBFB “Click and Cook” recipe program. “Our shoppers are always careful to fill their bag allotments wisely,” says Krantz. “We feel a ‘bonus bag’ will be a positive and effective way to connect our shoppers with easy healthy meals.”
About The Holliston Pantry Shelf: The Holliston Pantry Shelf, which was established in 1993, supplies food free of charge to Holliston residents in need. The Pantry is different from other food pantries in several aspects. First, the Pantry is open five days a week all year. Furthermore, the Pantry allows clients to shop for their own food, a completely unique approach. Finally, the Pantry has no paid staff and relies on volunteers to run it. Therefore, all money received goes either toward buying food or maintaining the space for the Pantry.
The Pantry relies entirely on private donations and receives no municipal, state, or federal support. Want a tour of the Pantry? Contact us via email ([email protected]).
About The Greater Boston Food Bank The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) is the largest hunger-relief organization in New England and among the largest food banks in the country. GBFB provides the equivalent of 50 million healthy meals annually, distributed through its network of 526 member food pantries, meal programs and shelters across Eastern Massachusetts. GBFB operates four direct service programs at nearly 70 sites throughout the area. A member of Feeding America, the nation’s food bank network, GBFB serves more than 140,000 people every month in its goal to create a hunger-free Eastern Massachusetts. For more information, visit us at GBFB.org, become a fan on Facebook, follow us on Twitter (@gr8bosfoodbank) and Instagram, or call us at (617) 427-5200.
Issue Date:
April, 2019
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