Gregory’s Fresh Market 5th Annual Holiday “Gift of Nutrition” Program Brings Healthy Food and Friendship to Phoenix Seniors

Gregory’s Fresh Market 5th Annual Holiday “Gift of Nutrition” Program Brings Healthy Food and Friendship to Phoenix Seniors

Jan 8, 2016 | Fresh Foods, healthy eating, holiday food program

For many people, the holidays are a time of great expectations – much anticipated visits with friends and family traveling back home for the season; surprise gifts received from family and friends. For others, however, the holidays can be a time of intense loneliness, magnified even more when compared with the backdrop of seemingly non-stop festivities and parties enjoyed by everyone else. For these people, the greatest gift they can receive is that of friendship — a comforting hand, a reassuring voice, a friendly face.

This year, Gregory’s Fresh Market, a division of Diana Gregory Outreach Services, once again recruited volunteers and sponsors to bring healthy food and friendship to seniors living in the greater Phoenix area through its fifth annual “Gift of Nutrition” program. In the program, seniors receive fresh fruits and vegetables delivered by volunteers who also spend time with them, offering companionship, entertainment and holiday greetings.

“The holidays can be a tough and lonely time, especially for seniors,”” said Diana Gregory, president and founder of Gregory’s Fresh Market. “We are so grateful to the volunteers who give their time to visit the seniors and to the sponsors who have enabled us to reach more than 7,000 seniors since we started Gift of Nutrition.”

Gregory’s Fresh Market 5th Annual HolidayThis year, the Gift of Nutrition program ran from November 16 to December 23 and reached more than 20 senior locations in the Greater Phoenix area. In addition to healthy food and visitations, seniors also were treated to musical entertainment from Living Spirit, a singing group of ministers who perform spirit filled music, and from local singer Ivan Thompson.

Added Gregory: “I want to say a special thank you to Angela Curley and the volunteers from the Henkel Corporation for their community service and donation, to ONECare by Care1st Health Plan Arizona Inc., the presenting sponsor of the Gift of Nutrition holiday program, and to the other supporters who generously partnered with us to expand healthy eating options to more seniors in the Greater Phoenix area.”

Maryvale Christmas 2015Proceeds from the 4th Annual Senior Awards Luncheon help fund the holiday program. The luncheon sponsors are Presenting Sponsor, ONECare by Care1st Health Plan Arizona Inc., Southwest Airlines, Walgreens, Henkel, Southwest Gas Corporation, Cox, Arizona Foundation for Women, Girl Scouts-Arizona Cactus- Pine Council Inc., Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, Majerle’s Sports Grill and the Arizona Informant.

Diana Gregory Outreach Services is committed to fulfilling its mission to improve the lives of seniors in the Greater Phoenix area through healthy eating choices.

Gregory’s Fresh Market Expands Holiday Food Drive for Seniors By 50%

Jan 15, 2014 | Giving, holiday food program

Holiday Food Drive for Seniors Expands by 50% 

Gregory’s Fresh Market (GFM), a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to improving the nutritional health and well-being of seniors, hosted its third annual holiday food program for seniors at 15 locations in the Greater Phoenix Area from November 11 to December 23.  For the third consecutive year, the organization announced another milestone in its nutritional food giveaway program for seniors.

GFM 2014 Holiday Giving“We’re very grateful to ONECare by Care1st Health Plan of Arizona for their support as presenting sponsor for the GFM seniors holiday food drive program,” said Diana Gregory, president of Gregory’s Fresh Market.  “They started by sponsoring our annual Senior Awards luncheon in October, which raised funds that allowed us to expand the food program this year to 15 locations.  As a result, we delivered packages of fresh fruits and vegetables to 1,200 seniors, a 50% increase over last year.”

Studies conducted by the Food and Drug Administration and other health care organizations document the nutritional benefits of eating recommended daily amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables.  Beneficiaries of the GFM food drive program received packages filled with zucchini squash, carrots, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, oranges, apples, bananas, bell peppers, tomatoes, onions, and other items.    Many senior citizens are nutritionally at risk because they don’t consume enough fresh produce.

In addition to ONECare, other sponsors who supported the annual GFM Awards Luncheon and holiday food program include Walgreens, Southwest Gas Corporation, Southwest Airlines, Cox Communications, Majerle’s Sports Grill, Girl Scouts, ArizonaCactus-Pine, SRP African American Cultural Committee, and the Arizona Informant.

 

“We thank all of our sponsors and individual supporters, who so generously partner with us to expand healthy eating options to more seniors in the Greater Phoenix area,” said Ms. Gregory.