Pediatric Associates of Kingston launches food pantry
In response to growing food insecurity spawning from the COVID-19 pandemic, Pediatric Associates of Kingston has launched “PAK Provisions,” a food pantry located right inside their office.
“Even just having to tweak your expenditures at the grocery store, choosing maybe inferior products just to make ends meet or just to buy enough for the family that in itself is food insecurity,” said Alvaro Reymunde, MD, a pediatrician owner at PAK Pediatrics.
PAK Provisions was created to provide ongoing support within the community for those families dealing with food insecurity. The program strives to identify, educate, and provide resources to these families.
“We thought this would be a great way to help people and keep them healthy by providing fresh food right in their doctor’s office,” said Dr. Jeffery Kile, owner and pediatrician of PAK Pediatrics. “The goal is to improve the health and well-being of children and their families right in our community.”
PAK Provisions is a pilot program supported by the Pennsylvania chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and one of a few programs in the country that has a food pantry embedded within an actual doctor’s office.
The program partners with local food distribution centers to provide families with fresh healthy food and dry good, specifically the Al Beech Food Pantry in Kingston.
Anyone looking for more information could go to pakpeds.com/resources/food-dignity or call 570-288-6543.
