By the end of May, we will have staged over 60 farmers markets in the metropolitan Phoenix area in 2012. The balance of the year
looks to be equally spectacular as we begin to bring on new senior independent living
If you would like to learn about others ways you can help, please send us a message by filling out the form at the bottom of this page.
Gregory’s Fresh Market Place Founder, Diana Gregory, with local Walgreens store manager and pharmacist during blood pressure testing at Henson Village. Walgreens pharmacists answered senior’s questions prior to providing blood pressure screening.
Some of the residents at Senior Living at Henson Village began gathering at noon for a 3 pm presentation on Wednesday, April 25 to ensure they did not miss out on the Health and Wellness series. Nearly 70 seniors received bags filled with fruits and vegetables donated by Walgreens through Gregory’s Fresh Market Place (GFMP), as an avenue to promote living well and eating well.
In addition to receiving the fresh produce, seniors enjoyed juicing demonstrations on how to whip-up delicious smoothies and juices. Walgreens pharmacists were also on hand to provide complimentary blood pressure screenings, answer questions relating to prescriptions, and share tips on how to live well. The seniors expressed their appreciation for the event and look forward to more programs like this.
Gregory’s Fresh Market Place provided fresh fruits and vegetables to seniors, donated by Walgreens, at Henson Village.
Diana Gregory, President and CEO of GFMP commented, “Thanks to Walgreens, many seniors that don’t have transportation to travel for fresh fruits and vegetables had the fresh produce delivered where they live and received valuable information on nutrition and prescription medication. Fresh produce is extremely beneficial to help manage common health challenges such as hypertension, diabetes, heart conditions, high cholesterol, digestive issues, obesity and many more. The lives of many seniors were impacted by Walgreens sponsoring this program.”
This program is the first of four senior outreach initiatives GFMP has partnered with Walgreens on to provide fresh produce to seniors from April to June.
WALGREENS LAUNCHES SENIOR HEALTH, WELLNESS SERIES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GREGORY’S FRESH MARKET PLACE IN THE GREATER PHOENIX AREA
The 3-month execution will bring fresh fruits and vegetables to seniors at independent living facilities
PHOENIX (April 18, 2012) – Over 300 seniors will receive complimentary fruits and vegetables donated by Walgreens through Gregory’s Fresh Market Place, as an avenue to promote living well and eating well. The Walgreens Senior Outreach Health and Wellness Series will launch on Wednesday, April 25, starting with Senior Living apartments at Henson Village, located in a food desert area.
Walgreens’ team of trained pharmacists will visit each location to provide blood pressure screenings, answer questions relating to prescriptions, and share tips on how to live well. In addition, GFMP will provide demonstrations on how to easily prepare and enjoy the donated fruits and vegetables to receive the maximum nutritional value.
“Health and wellness are the keys to living a full life”, Walgreens Community Affairs Director John Gremer explains. “We are 
honored to support the Senior Outreach Health and Wellness Series, in partnership with Gregory’s Fresh Market Place. Seniors deserve to have easy access to fresh fruits and vegetables. We are proud to help make this possible through community programs such as GFMP.”
Diana Gregory, President and CEO of GFMP commented, “Thanks to Walgreens, many seniors that don’t have transportation to travel for fresh fruits and vegetables will have the fresh produce delivered where they live and receive valuable information on nutrition and prescription medication. Fresh produce is extremely beneficial to help manage common health challenges such as hypertension, diabetes, heart conditions, high cholesterol, digestive issues, obesity and many more. The lives of many seniors will be impacted by Walgreen’s sponsoring this program.”
The Walgreens Senior Outreach Health and Wellness Series will run from April to June. Phoenix Manor, The Salvation Army Laura Danieli Senior Activity Center and Manistee Manor are confirmed locations, as well.
ABOUT DIANA GREGORY OUTREACH SERVICES FOUNDATION
Gregory’s Fresh Market Place is a division of Diana Gregory Outreach Services Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) organization that provides programs in health, nutrition, and education. The mission is to enrich lives to achieve healthy eating.
ABOUT WALGREENS
As the nation’s largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2011 sales of $72 billion, Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) vision is to become America’s first choice for health and daily living. Each day, Walgreens provides nearly 6 million customers the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice in communities across America. Walgreens scope of pharmacy services includes retail, specialty, infusion, medical facility and mail service, along with respiratory services. These services improve health outcomes and lower costs for payers including employers, managed care organizations, health systems, pharmacy benefit managers and the public sector. The company operates 7,840 drugstores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Take Care Health Systems is a Walgreens subsidiary that is the largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite health and wellness centers and in-store convenient care clinics, with more than 700 locations throughout the country.
Congratulations to Judith Gragg at Matthew Henson Apartments. She is a recipient of a monthly bag of produce, sponsored by GFMP donors for the Sponsor A Senior Throughout the Year program.
Judith Gragg at Matthew Henson Apartments
Matthew Henson is located in a food desert area. Judith has to depend on family for transportation to the grocery store. She is very appreciate of this monthly service.
Gregory’s Fresh Market Place is sincerely grateful for the support of donors for the “Sponsor a Senior Throughout the Year” program. Through this program, GFMP is able to impact the lives of many seniors throughout our many locations. GFMP could not accomplish this outreach service without donor support.
Gregory’s Fresh Market Place now brings our services to some five thousand senior citizens in the Metropolitan Phoenix area. However, it is still difficult for many of our supporters to fully understand the impact of what we are doing and the difference it is making for seniors in our community.
Gregory’s Fresh Market Place started out believing that there was a need and that it would surely be a benefit to certain social economic segments of the Phoenix population. GFMP did not foresee that the need for what we are doing went well beyond our initial thoughts and we find ourselves in service to a diverse racial, social and economic cross section of the Phoenix area.
Gregory’s Fresh Market Place is doing more than it initially intended, making a bigger difference and exceeding expectations.
The country’s economic difficulties, starting in 2007, have proven to be more devastating to our nation’s growing senior 
population, than we could have ever imagined. And with the possibility of government cutbacks, seniors have been challenged further in attempting to maintain a healthy lifestyle. One major ingredient in maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables at affordable prices, something that Gregory’s Fresh Market Place has been able to provide. GFMP brings the farmers’ market to senior citizens residing in independent living facilities. A farmer’s market is set up in the community room or dining room. GFMP’s once a month visits are not only anticipated by the seniors we serve, but they also serve as a social and educational event. Over the last 18 months, we expanded our services to include talks on nutrition, exercise, and tips on easy food preparation. Gregory’s Fresh Market Place is doing more than it initially intended, making a bigger difference and exceeding expectations.
If you would like to visit, join us in volunteering and being a part of making a difference in a senior’s life, or find out how you can support our work, just fill in your information in the form that follows. Of course, if you would like to make a donation, just click on one of the donation buttons on this page.
To date, seniors have been provided with fresh fruits and vegetables for the holidays in 8 of our 30 locations. The seniors and the GFMP team are very appreciative for the support from our sponsors, Majerle’s Sports Grill and Southwest Gas, friends and supporters that helped make this program possible.
Happy Holidays from the GFMP team.
