Inaugural West Virginia Healthy People Healthy Places communities provide fresh fruits and vegetables to neighbors in need.

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Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the celebrations intended to take place this spring to honor the seven communities awarded West Virginia Healthy People Healthy Places (WVHPHP) recognition had to be canceled. Given the unprecedented circumstances communities are facing as they rise to meet this health crisis, WVHPHP decided to repurpose funding that would have been used for these celebrations to provide much needed fresh food in these communities.

Together, the seven inaugural WVHPHP communities –Greenbrier, Mingo, and Wirt Counties and the cities of Huntington, Martinsburg, West Hamlin, and Wheeling –have helped provide fresh fruits and vegetables to more than2,300 West Virginians weekly throughout the summer.

Each community determined the best way to distribute their fresh produce. Several communities partnered with youth groups, some created pop-up markets, and otherspartnered with food banks, and faith-based organizations who are already meeting this need.

“We felt we needed to honor the important work happening in these communities to improve the health of West Virginians. Our team came together (virtually) and decided redirecting funds to help our WVHPHP honorees feed those in need was the right path to take in this unique time,” said Jessica Wright, Director of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, Division of Health Promotion and Chronic Disease (HPCD).

West Virginia Healthy People Healthy Places recognizes communities of all sizes around the state who meet key health benchmarks to build healthier places to live, learn, work, eat, and play.

Communities who are interested in applying for 2021 recognition should visit www.wvhealthypeoplehealthyplaces.com/pledge.

Communities that pledge to apply will receive early access to the application, technical assistance from experts, and other support.

To learn more about West Virginia Healthy People Healthy Places, contact James Vance, Senior Program Manager, for HPCD at 304-356-4251, email James.a.vance@wv.govor visit www.wvhealthypeoplehealthyplaces.com.

2 Comments

  1. I am the Family Resource Network Director for Greenbrier County. Can you share who received these funds for our county as I know of other worthy causes who did not receive these funds and are these funds going to be available again?

    Thank you

    • Hi, Lisa.
      This comment was posted on West Virginia Executive’s website. We receive press releases from across the state and share the information under our Business News tab; however, we are not in charge of this program. To learn more, you will need to reach out to West Virginia Healthy People Healthy Places directly at http://www.wvhealthypeoplehealthyplaces.com.

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