MaineHealth Free Food as Medicine Program

Media Contact:
Jill Gray
Communications & Public Affairs Manager
207-779-2555

FARMINGTON, Maine – MaineHealth is offering a free, one-year, Food as Medicine program (FAM) to support individuals with one or more chronic health conditions who have limited access to healthy food.

The program is facilitated by trained health educators from the Healthy Community Coalition of Greater Franklin County (HCC). The next session begins July 6 and includes face-to-face and virtual classes.

The program will provide access to free healthy food (10 meals weekly for up to a family of 4), peer support, goal setting, healthy cooking classes, recipes and menu planning with a health educator. Additionally, participants will get helpful resources and information related to their chronic conditions.

“This new and exciting program is designed to meet people where they are at with their health, provide the right tools, skills and support to make small changes over time to feel better,” said LeeAnna Lavoie, HCC director. “Change can be hard, especially if people don’t have access to the right type of food to help keep them healthy. This program will provide the right food and teach skills to cook healthy, affordable, and most importantly, delicious food! All while being supported by others who are working on similar goals.”

FAM program eligibility criteria includes those who:

• Have limited access to affordable healthy food
• Are age 18+
• Have a chronic health condition
• Want to make healthy lifestyle changes
• Have a MaineHealth primary care provider (which includes Franklin Community Health Network primary care providers)

The Food as Medicine program is supported by Hannaford, MaineHealth and Good Shepherd Food Bank.

For more information:

Kathy Doyon
207-779-2928
Kathy.Doyon@mainehealth.org

David Scammon
207-779-2435
David.Scammon@mainehealth.org

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About MaineHealth:
MaineHealth is a not-for-profit integrated health system whose vision is “Working together so our communities are the healthiest in America.” It consists of nine local health systems, a comprehensive behavioral healthcare network, diagnostic services, home health agencies, and 1,700 employed providers working together through the MaineHealth Medical Group. With approximately 22,000 employees, MaineHealth provides preventive care, diagnosis and treatment to 1.1 million residents in Maine and New Hampshire. It includes Franklin Memorial Hospital/Franklin Community Health Network in Farmington, LincolnHealth in Damariscotta and Boothbay Harbor, Maine Behavioral Healthcare in South Portland, MaineHealth Care at Home in Saco, Maine Medical Center in Portland, Memorial Hospital in North Conway, N.H., Mid Coast-Parkview Health in Brunswick, NorDx in Scarborough, Pen Bay Medical Center and Waldo County General Hospital in Rockport and Belfast, Southern Maine Health Care in Biddeford and Sanford, Spring Harbor Hospital in Westbrook and Stephens Memorial Hospital/Western Maine Health Care in Norway. MaineHealth Affiliates include Maine General Health in Augusta and Waterville, New England Rehabilitation Hospital in Portland and St. Mary's Regional Medical Center in Lewiston. It is also a significant stakeholder in the MaineHealth Accountable Care Organization in Portland.