S:US’ Manhattan WOW Day Habilitation Program Shops at NYC Greenmarkets with Health Bucks
People served from S:US’ Manhattan Without Walls (WOW) Day Hab program, Anthony, Ingrid, Augustina, Cristian, Alexis, and Jermaine, at the NYC Greenmarkets.
Over the course of several months in the autumn, all of the people supported at S:US’ Manhattan Without Walls (WOW) Day Habilitation Program (DHP) shopped weekly at the New York City Greenmarkets using the Health Bucks Program. The Health Bucks Program is offered through the organization GrowNYC to anyone with supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP), families first electronic benefits transfer (EBT) or pandemic electronic benefits transfer (PEBT) program and offers $2 vouchers for every $2 spent at the market, up to $10 per day to maximize purchases made at NYC farmers’ markets. Fresh produce including fresh fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, herbs and food-producing plants are able to be purchased through the Health Bucks Program.
The group including 15 people supported from the DHP along with staff who used the Health Bucks vouchers purchased vegetables, onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, potatoes, parsley, broccoli, carrots, lettuce and fruit. A Direct Support Professional (DSP) at the DHP, bought fruit and berries to make fresh smoothies with the participants at the DHP along with vegetables to bring home to her family.
Person served spending Health Bucks for fresh produce at the NYC Greenmarkets.
Cristian, a person supported at the DHP, bought fruits and vegetables including apples, carrots, tomatoes and potatoes to bring home to his family. He shared “…I talked to the farmers on Thursdays, they got to know me and I got to know them. I helped my mom get groceries from the market and I help her cook. I was happy because the market has different stuff (than our regular market) and I can learn about the stuff from the farm.”
Jermaine, another participant who attends the DHP shared, “…I bought big green apples to eat and bring home to my family, and I liked to look at the produce. I would love to do it again this year. I loved looking at the flowers that were so colorful.”
The staff at the program plan to return to the greenmarkets in late spring when the Health Bucks program resumes with the warmer weather.
