As volunteers, staff, clients, and donors of the ECLC, we are working to build an Evansville with less poverty, stronger families, and more Jesus. We do this by helping people move from need toward their potential.
The Problem:
Many of our neighbors (including those we see regularly at the ECLC) have health issues, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and more. Unfortunately, they are often ill-equipped with the education, resources, and experience to both choose and prepare healthy foods which could help these health issues. Therefore, the food they eat is often making them sicker.
Symptoms and effects of these health issues decrease their mobility, ability to work, and access to resources and relationships. These are hurting their overall quality of life and creating additional barriers keeping them from moving toward their potential.
Picture a senior on social security, without the physical ability to work and provide for themselves. They are often living on approximately $350 per month in social security and receive less than $20 per month in SNAP food benefits. With rent (even subsidized at 30% of their income) and utilities, they can be stuck in their circumstances.
The food they eat, which is both familiar and more affordable, is often hurting their situation. However, on such a limited budget, it is risky for them to experiment with new, more expensive, healthy foods like fruits and vegetables. Without prior exposure to or experience preparing these foods, it is unlikely that they will choose new, healthier options.
This need for healthy food education and experience is a great opportunity to improve the quality of life for our neighbors.
Food Nutrition Cohorts:
We’re excited to announce that we are working to offer new Food Nutrition Cohorts (healthy cooking and education group classes). In these relationally-based, multi-week cohorts, participants will:
- Experience hands-on learning about healthy foods, recipes, and practices in our kitchen
- Help prepare and sample the food each week
- Participate in choosing the ingredients
- Work with a trained facilitator who will equip them with both knowledge and skills to make healthy choices and prepare healthy, delicious food at home using ingredients and tools they have access to
- Build positive relationships that help them move from need toward their potential
We’re working toward a tentative goal of launching these cohorts on Fridays in early 2021.
Changes:
As we transition, we will no longer be serving meals on Fridays as of this March (2020).
This will allow our team the opportunity to:
- Build relationships
- Secure funding
- Plan for the program’s long-term success
- And work to help clients who utilize our hot meal program on Fridays transition to find other resources to meet their needs
A Healthier Community:
Because health plays such a key role in the overall quality of life for our clients and our community, the opportunity to provide both nutrition education and experience for our neighbors can mean a major difference in the trajectory of their health, quality of life, and ability to move toward their potential. As they move forward, the overall health of our community increases as well.
This is a key resource needed for those on their journey out of poverty. We believe it is one more step toward a community with less poverty, stronger families, and more Jesus.
If you are interested in helping support this initiative as a volunteer or donor, please contact us at restoringpeople.com or 812.423.9222.
FAQ
Have questions? Read/download this printable FAQ (PDF) for more details.
Have additional questions? Contact us through this form or by calling us at 812.423.9222.