Healing Meals is the first of its kind nutritious food gifting program currently available in Bergen and Passaic Counties in New Jersey. Healing Meals provides nutritious meals for ill children, seniors and families when they need it most. We started Healing Meals for families with children undergoing treatment for cancer, serious blood disorders and sickle cell anemia distributed through Tomorrows Children’s Fund (TCF) at Hackensack University Medical Center, through Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Program at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, Paterson, NJ. We expanded our Healing Meals program to include seniors in need living at Ridgecrest Senior Housing in Ridgewood, NJ. As a result of the pandemic, we are providing Healing Meals to families and individuals at the Franciscan Community Development Center of Fairview and through Social Services of Ridgewood and vicinity.
School Nutrition Education is key to help improve the lifestyles of children and their families. Research suggests that the earlier the nutrition intervention in establishing healthy habits, the greater the chance of these habits sticking for a lifetime of wellness. That’s why HealthBarn Foundation wants to support HealthBarn USA’s collaboration with the Fairview Superintendent and Board of Education to offer first grade students at the Number Three Annex, the dynamic, hands-on healthy snacking 6-week program in Spring 2025. This program was “piloted” in the Spring 2024 for 200 first graders and funded by the Community Health and Improvement Partnership (CHIP) of Bergen County and HealthBarn Foundation. It was such a success, that HealthBarn was invited back for Spring 2025 — need your financial help to make this happen
Call to Action: We need to raise $5,000 by January 2025 from the public and HealthBarn Foundation will match the donation to fund the Healthy Snacking Program for Fairview 1st graders and their families.