American Heart Association and Medical City Healthcare, supported by the HCA Healthcare Foundation, help establish pantry, promote nutrition access

FORT WORTH, Texas, Aug. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Heart Association and Medical City Healthcare, supported by the HCA Healthcare Foundation, are helping the Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD) enhance nutritional security. Serving the needs of students, families, and the surrounding community, a new food pantry is open at the district's Cesar Chavez Elementary School in north Fort Worth.

The new food pantry opened August 28th and operates on a "self-select" basis, providing a dignified shopping experience where families can make personal nutrition choices that work best for their households. Essential resources to open the pantry were provided through the American Heart Association's Getting to the Heart of Stroke initiative, an ongoing partnership with Medical City Healthcare, supported by the HCA Healthcare Foundation. The initiative aims to improve heart health and beat stroke – including advancing nutrition for a healthy heart. The organizations partnered to provide all the necessary equipment for the new pantry, which students have named "Chavez Pick & Pack." The equipment included shelving, refrigeration units, worktables, baskets and mobile carts. In addition, Medical City Healthcare colleagues will volunteer to assist with the pantry.

"We are proud to work with the American Heart Association to help ensure a consistent supply of nutritious foods that can lead to healthier tomorrows for North Texas children and families," says Joseph Parra, MD, chief medical officer of Medical City Healthcare and a member of the Tarrant County American Heart Association board of directors. "We know that proper nutrition is essential for good health."

Students at 40 elementary schools across the district learn to select healthy foods and beverages as part of their annual participation in the American Heart Association's Kids Heart Challenge. This school is located in Fort Worth's 76106 zip code, where approximately 94% of the school's students are economically disadvantaged. A lack of food accessibility, availability and affordability makes it harder for people in historically under-resourced areas, such as in the Cesar Chavez Elementary community, to access nutritious foods that help prevent chronic diseases like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and Type 2 diabetes – all of which can contribute to stroke. The new pantry will implement an organizational nutrition policy based on the American Heart Association's food and beverage guidelines that promote healthy standards and guide the donation of items to meet these standards. Additionally, the pantry will follow the Healthy Eating Research (HER) guidelines to promote healthy choices, encouraging the consumption of foods labeled as "choose often" and reducing the distribution of foods labeled as "choose rarely."

"Every day I see amazing families committed to seeing their children get a great start in life, but they struggle putting nutritious foods on the table. The ability of our students to thrive should not be hindered by a lack of nutrition access in our neighborhood. Cesar Chavez Elementary is proud to continue our support of the community with this amazing new pantry and we hope others in North Texas see what is possible and are motivated to act," said Cesar Chavez Elementary Principal, Ms. Monica Ordaz.

Other Cesar Chavez pantry initiative partners include FWISD Parent Partnerships, school personnel and the Tarrant Area Food Bank (TAFB). To ensure sustainable success of the pantry and understanding the importance of the non-English speaking population (66%), Chavez Pick & Pack will have bilingual support on-site pantry leaders who received training from TAFB. Currently, the pantry is open every second and fourth Thursday afternoon by appointment.

Local food pantry programs are just one way the American Heart Association is working to help people have access to foods that can lead to living longer, healthier lives. In addition, the Association advocates for better food policies, including ensuring strong nutrition standards for school meals and ensuring all students have access to those meals. The Association's local team continues to replicate community solutions like this around the Dallas and Fort Worth area. Organizations looking to connect with the American Heart Association's team in North Texas can contact Jenny Ever, VP of Health Strategies via email at [email protected], and can follow on social media using @AmericanHeartTX on social IG, FB, and X.

Medical City Healthcare also supports nutrition access through its annual Healthy Food for Healthier Tomorrows food drive. In 2024, the health system and its colleagues provided more than 140,000 meals to hungry families through 17 food banks and pantries. In addition, Medical City Children's Hospital's kids teaching kids Healthy Lifestyles Program offers nutrition education and resources to 20,000+ students and families in 17 North Texas school districts to improve wellness and eating habits.

About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public's health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for a century. During 2024 -- our Centennial year -- we celebrate our rich 100-year history and accomplishments. As we forge ahead into our second century of bold discovery and impact our vision is to advance health and hope for everyone, everywhere. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.

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For Media Inquiries:
Lindsey Lyons Jones: (214) 441-4114; [email protected]
For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and stroke.org

About Medical City Healthcare
Committed to the care and improvement of human life, Medical City Healthcare strives to deliver excellence always, providing high-quality healthcare in the communities it serves. With the resources and strength of HCA Healthcare, the nation's leading provider of quality healthcare services with 185 hospitals in the United States and England, Medical City Healthcare is one of the North Texas region's largest and most comprehensive healthcare providers. It includes 21 hospitals with 4,086 licensed beds, more than 5,500 active physicians, 7,400 nurses, 18,600 employees, 15 ambulatory surgery centers, 8 off-campus emergency rooms and 57 CareNow Urgent Care clinics. Three Medical City Healthcare hospitals are accredited comprehensive stroke centers and 6 hold prestigious Magnet Recognized designations on 10 campuses from the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

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For Media Inquiries:
Janet St. James
[email protected]
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SOURCE American Heart Association