A nursing student in the accelerated BSN program at IU Columbus, is helping dialysis and chronic kidney disease patients eat healthier through a "Free Little Pantry" at Major Nephrology. As part of a quality improvement project, the student sought to address one of the biggest issues affecting this population; food insecurity. The student found that food insecurity is compounded by the constraints of transportation, disabilities, and health complications. Some patients were interviewed and had insight on the constraints they experienced. Dialysis patient testimonials, "My health won’t allow me to walk and get the things I need.”, “I have had a hard time finding transportation to the store.”, “I’m handicap and in a wheelchair, so it’s hard to get around.”. After reviewing the Shelby County health needs assessment and interviewing some dialysis patients, she knew that we needed to provide nutritious food that was convenient. The pantry is designed to be stocked with nutritious items that are free to the patients in an effort to help eliminate food insecurities. We serve several patients that have renal dietary needs, so a diet with fresh fruits and vegetables is optimal. FRESH is always BEST, especially for this population. We will take any donations that are low in sodium and low in sugar. We appreciate your support!
This listing was last updated Nov 14, 2023
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Drop off through the front doors of the Sue Ann Wortman Professional Building. We have navigators in the lobby to assist.
ProducePedia
ProducePedia is a free resource that covers the types of fresh produce that can be delivered to food pantries. Each entry includes information on color, taste, and possible uses. People unfamiliar with the vegetable or fruit will learn how to use it, and those who are familiar with it still might learn a fun fact or two!
The Cooperative Extension sites have a wealth of information for any backyard gardener. Once you go to the site (each one if very different from the others) look for a link for “homes and gardens”, “landscape”, “consumer horticulture”, etc. to find information on improving your backyard garden. Neighboring state sites may offer information your own state’s site lacks.
