A new food pantry in Fort Worth is intended to prevent heart disease in people as young as possible.
The American Heart Association and Medical City Healthcare are behind a new food pantry that is open at the Fwisd Cesar Chavez Elementary School in North Fort Worth.
The new Food Pantry is open on August 28 and has already served more than 340 families.
“It is a much bigger reaction than what I expected. I was very surprised to see so many families coming to the pantry and telling us how things really meet a need,” said headmaster Monica Ordaz.
The initiative is intended to improve the health of the heart and to beat a stroke, including promoting food for a healthy heart.
This school is located in the postal code of Fort Worth 76106, where approximately 94% of the students of the school are economically disadvantaged.
A lack of food accessibility, availability and affordability makes it more difficult for people in historically housed areas, such as in the basic community of Cesar Chavez, to gain access to nutritious food that helps prevent chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes with type 2, all of which can contribute to a stroke.
“We know it is more difficult to gain access to healthy food, so we want to make sure that it is not just the genetic factor that comes into play. We want to ensure that we increase access to nutritious food in this community,” said Community Impact Director of Aha Tarrant County Hilda Colunga.
The Chavez Pick & Pack market is open to the community, regardless of their association with the school.
Pantry hours are the 2nd and 4th Tuesday, 3.30 pm – 4 pm or by appointment. As long as you stand in line at 4 p.m., you get food.
Please contact Natalie Levar Guerrero on (817)815-0316 or natalie.guerrero@fwisd.org for more information.
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