Growing healthy eating habits while growing their own gardens.The Latino Center of the Midlands gets thousands of dollars worth of grant money to teach people in the community what their own backyards are capable of. The Molina Healthcare of Nebraska grant money helps the cultural wellness program.People can apply to learn how to grow their own produce, to plant a seed of change in their lifestyles. $50,000 — that’s the amount of money the Latino Center got to keep food insecurity at bay in South Omaha.”The community members will see these grant dollars in the garden beds that they see in their homes,” said Albert Varas, CEO of the Latino Center of the Midlands.He says this grant is a huge help.”It means that we’re able to really expand in our services and address the needs of the community,” Varas said.He started the initiative 10 years ago when he was City Sprouts’ board chair. The Latino Center officially took over two years ago, and now the program is called Cultiva Bienestar (Cultural Wellness).This space near 20th and N was originally a landfill for building and construction rubble, and eventually transformed into a garden. The area was named after Dorothy Patach, who lived across the street and founded the space.”It allows us to establish a garden. That garden produces food, and then the food insecurity is alleviated, and it’s using this model to teach people how to grow their own food,” Varas said.He says five new households typically join the program each year.”We’re increasing by 10 households; this grant is directly tied to us increasing,” Varas said.The program is multifaceted.”It addresses food insecurity. It helps interns gain relevant experience to pursue careers in the health field,” Varas said. “It also provides a source for sustainability education for the community at large.”Vicente Juarez participated in the program and is now Cultiva Bienestar’s number one volunteer.”They’re the root, and I’m slowly growing as a person and career-wise,” Juarez said.He started volunteering two years ago, not knowing what he wanted to do for a career. Now he’s an anesthesiologist intern at CHI Bergan Mercy.”I’ve seen it grow from us having a small space in the garden, to now owning that big space,” Juarez said.Molina’s chief medical officer, Deb Esser, says the Latino community tends to have high blood pressure and diabetes. By growing and having access to their own produce, it could help them make healthier choices.”It helps control diabetes. if we control the diabetes, our weight goes down, we control our weight, the blood pressure goes down. So it’s really important to be able to give these kinds of basic skills,” Esser said.”Our hope is, at some point in the future, every single person who applies, we’re able to meet their needs,” Varas said.This upcoming Saturday, March 24, Cultiva Bienestar is hosting a “plant buffet” for the households selected to participate this year.The families will pick up their plants and learn how to establish their own home gardens.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
Growing healthy eating habits while growing their own gardens.
The Latino Center of the Midlands gets thousands of dollars worth of grant money to teach people in the community what their own backyards are capable of. The Molina Healthcare of Nebraska grant money helps the cultural wellness program.
People can apply to learn how to grow their own produce, to plant a seed of change in their lifestyles.
$50,000 — that’s the amount of money the Latino Center got to keep food insecurity at bay in South Omaha.
“The community members will see these grant dollars in the garden beds that they see in their homes,” said Albert Varas, CEO of the Latino Center of the Midlands.
He says this grant is a huge help.
“It means that we’re able to really expand in our services and address the needs of the community,” Varas said.
He started the initiative 10 years ago when he was City Sprouts’ board chair. The Latino Center officially took over two years ago, and now the program is called Cultiva Bienestar (Cultural Wellness).
This space near 20th and N was originally a landfill for building and construction rubble, and eventually transformed into a garden. The area was named after Dorothy Patach, who lived across the street and founded the space.
“It allows us to establish a garden. That garden produces food, and then the food insecurity is alleviated, and it’s using this model to teach people how to grow their own food,” Varas said.
He says five new households typically join the program each year.
“We’re increasing by 10 households; this grant is directly tied to us increasing,” Varas said.
The program is multifaceted.
“It addresses food insecurity. It helps interns gain relevant experience to pursue careers in the health field,” Varas said. “It also provides a source for sustainability education for the community at large.”
Vicente Juarez participated in the program and is now Cultiva Bienestar’s number one volunteer.
“They’re [Cultiva Bienestar] the root, and I’m slowly growing as a person and career-wise,” Juarez said.
He started volunteering two years ago, not knowing what he wanted to do for a career. Now he’s an anesthesiologist intern at CHI Bergan Mercy.
“I’ve seen it grow from us having a small space in the garden, to now owning that big space,” Juarez said.
Molina’s chief medical officer, Deb Esser, says the Latino community tends to have high blood pressure and diabetes. By growing and having access to their own produce, it could help them make healthier choices.
“It helps control diabetes. if we control the diabetes, our weight goes down, we control our weight, the blood pressure goes down. So it’s really important to be able to give these kinds of basic skills,” Esser said.
“Our hope is, at some point in the future, every single person who applies, we’re able to meet their needs,” Varas said.
This upcoming Saturday, March 24, Cultiva Bienestar is hosting a “plant buffet” for the households selected to participate this year.
The families will pick up their plants and learn how to establish their own home gardens.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
