Gregory’s Fresh Market is excited to be selected along with Future Stars and Life Paradigms to receive a grant from the African American Women’s Giving and Empowerment Circle, a fund of the Arizona Community Foundation. The grant will enable Gregory’s Fresh Market to launch a new program called Grandparents Healthy Champions (GHC). The program empowers African American women by increasing their knowledge of chronic disease self-management and resources available to make healthy lifestyle choices.
Many grandparents are susceptible to becoming ill because they are so focused on caring for their grandchildren 24/7 that they neglect their own health. This can have a devastating effect on the children and the family. In grandparent-led households, 38% report that their health declined since taking care of their grandchildren. Gregory’s Fresh Market, a division of Diana Gregory Outreach Services has created an interactive 12-week program facilitated by a mobile farmers market, mobile health screening and preventative health education workshops for the grandparents at Grandfamilies Place of Phoenix. Each participant receives a weekly bag of produce and easy to prepare recipes.
The center for Disease and Control has issued several epidemics regarding health issues. The health consequences of obesity and lack of access to healthy choices include coronary heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, cancers, high cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides, liver and gallbladder disease, sleep apnea, and respiratory problems. Through the mobile health program, information will be provided to address health issues.