DANBURY — Residents with certain health conditions who lack consistent access to nutritious food will soon get help, thanks to a plan to open a “food pharmacy” in downtown Danbury.
United Way is partnering with Nuvance Health to open the Greater Danbury Food Farmacy at the Connecticut Institute for Communities at 120 Main St.
“We have worked in partnership with Nuvance for some time now and decided that a food pharmacy was a terrific option for Danbury and the residents of Danbury,” said Ashley Gaudiano, vice president of resources development and marketing at the United Way of Western Connecticut.
The Greater Danbury Food Farmacy will be unlike other food pantries.
“It’ll have the look and feel of a small grocery store, with aisles, refrigeration and fresh foods that are well-balanced with a lot of produce — healthier food options,” Gaudiano said, noting that the Greater Danbury Food Farmacy won’ t be open to everyone.
Patients of Danbury Primary Care or the Connecticut Institute for Communities’ federally qualified health center who screen positive for food insecurity and are diagnosed with hypertension will be eligible to access it with a prescription from their doctor.
“That’s who we’re going to start with and if it’s successful, we’ll branch out,” Gaudiano said.
In addition to shopping at the pantry twice a month, participants will have access to a registered dietitian, program administrator and community health worker who can link them with other wrap-around social service supports, she said.
They will also have access to cooking classes and demonstrations through a United Way partnership is undertaking with UConn Extension, according to Gaudiano. They will be enrolled in United Way’s Healthy Savings Program, which provides $10 a week on a rewards card that can be used to buy fruits and vegetables at participating grocery stores.
The food and services offered through the Greater Danbury Food Farmacy will all be free of charge.
“It will be a no-cost program,” Gaudiano said. “They’ll be able to access the Food Farmacy for free and receive support for free, and it’s all part of the funding that’s been made available.”
Funding for the Greater Danbury Food Farmacy will come from $1.05 million in Senate Directed Funds that the United Way received for the program’s launch.
“We found out in the fall that the funding was appropriated, and here we are putting together the plan to actually launch this thing in the next few months,” Gaudiano said, noting that US Sens. Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal helped United Way get the 12-month federal grant.
The first three months will be used to set up the space, he said, and the other nine months will be a pilot period for the program.
The goal is to enroll 100 people in the Greater Danbury Food Pharmacy program during those nine months and see improved diet-related health outcomes among participants, Gaudiano said.
The official opening date of the Greater Danbury Food Farmacy has yet to be determined, she said.
Even though the federal funds have been granted, Gaudiano said United Way is waiting to find out when the money will be made accessible.
“It’s all been approved and appropriated, but we’re in a little bit of a waiting game,” she said. “If the funding is available beginning in June, we could open the doors in September or October. If it’s later, then we’ll adjust accordingly.”
There is a press conference scheduled for 10:30 am Friday at the Connecticut Institute For Communities to announce the plans for the Greater Danbury Food Farmacy, with Sens. Blumenthal and Murphy were among those scheduled to attend, along with Isabel Almeida, president of United Way of Western Connecticut, and representative of Nuvance Health.