May 12, 2025

Acquanyc

Health's Like Heaven.

Bucks Knocks Out Hunger provides food pantries with healthy options

A recent survey conducted by Bucks County’s Hunger and Nutrition Coalition shows that locally, 59% of food-insecure households include at least one person with a chronic medical condition — a statistic that aligns with nationwide findings. Feeding America reports that among all U.S. households that visit food pantries, 58% have at least one member with high blood pressure and 33% have at least one member with diabetes.

Managing a chronic medical condition can be challenging even under ideal conditions. It’s even harder for those who experience food insecurity.

“Food insecurity” describes a lack of financial resources for food at the household level. Food-insecure households have less control over the foods they can access than households with greater financial resources.

Help Knock Out Hunger:The pandemic left 30,000 Bucks County residents without enough food. Help the United Way Knock Out Hunger

Frequently, the most affordable fast and filling foods are canned or processed with significant amounts of sodium, fat, and sugar.

But with management of many chronic health conditions like diabetes or hypertension directly linked to diet, local hunger relief organizations are putting an emphasis on ensuring better options are available for Bucks County residents.

Andy Levine, left, a YMCA of Bucks County board member, helps Dennis Denard, a driver with the Bucks County Opportunity Council, load collected food into a box truck on Saturday. In addition to the 22,500 pounds collected at all four sites, the event raised more than $121,000 as of Saturday which will be used to purchase fresh produce, dairy and pantry staples and help with the cost of delivering these items directly to client's homes.

Maddie Burgess, manager of two high-volume food pantries operated by Bucks County Housing Group, has joined forces with Philabundance to improve the diet and health of pantry guests.

The “Healthy Pantry Initiative” works with food banks and pantries to increase the availability of healthy food and beverage options. The initiative encourages consumption of those foods by making environmental changes like placing healthy foods in more prominent and attractive, eye-level displays. It also provides nutrition education such as healthy food tastings, demonstrations, recipes, and classes.

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