((PKG)) FOOD & FRIENDS
((Banner: Food and Friends))
((VOA Korean))
((Reporter: Eve Unshin Lee))
((Camera: Sanghoon Lee))
((Adapted by: Philip Alexiou))
((Map: Washington, D.C.))
((NATS))
((Wesley Clark, Volunteer, Food & Friends))
Right now, we’re putting together meals for some families, getting ready for deliveries.
((NATS))
((Dan Kaufman, Volunteer, Food & Friends))
I’ve been working here for about 12 years part-time, substitute for the baker when he goes on vacation, and I also, just right now, I’m working just to help keep the volunteers organized.
((NATS))
((Abigail Seiler, Communications Manager, Food & Friends))))
So, this is where we get all of the food organized into different meal plans and then by delivery routes. So, you’ll see these red bags. This is what volunteers would deliver the meals in, keep them nice and cold.
((Courtesy: Food & Friends))
((NATS))
((Carrie Stoltzfus, Executive Director, Food & Friends))
We’re partnering with ‘Amerihealth Caritas DC’, which is a Medicaid provider here in our area, to deliver meals and provide nutrition counseling to their members, people who, you know, are on their insurance plan and who are pregnant. They’re all low-income just by nature of receiving Medicaid. There are income qualifications for that. So, each woman can receive 18 meals per week. Also any children that she has in the household can also receive those meals. We’ve served almost 400 women so far under this program.
((NATS))
((Ashley Hayslip, Registered Dietitian, Food & Friends))
Getting a variety of food is really good for their pregnancy. So, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, lean protein, and just focusing more on like iron, folate, calcium, all those sorts of nutrients too.
((NATS))
((Ashley Hayslip, Registered Dietitian, Food & Friends))
The most expensive ingredient is probably the protein, especially, like the fish, I would say, is the most expensive thing. So, and fruits and veggies in general, getting that 5 servings a day can add up after, and especially if you have a family of multiple children.
((NATS))
((Carrie Stoltzfus, Executive Director, Food & Friends))
You know, we hear different things about how to eat healthy, in particularly when you’re pregnant. That’s really important, and I also think access to healthy food is an issue.
((NATS))
Kitchen crew, we really, really appreciate it. You guys have a great summer, great spring coming, okay, great spring coming.
((NATS))
((Marquis Chambers, Volunteer, Food & Friends))
I didn’t really want to have fun on my spring break. I find this kind of interesting. I’d rather do this, helping the community, rather than go on, like you know, the essentials, Miami-s of the world, traveling. I thought this was pretty cool.
((NATS))
((Carrie Stoltzfus, Executive Director, Food & Friends))
One of many pieces of feedback that we’ve gotten was actually from the mother of a pregnant woman who was receiving our services and she was talking to us about how she wishes that a program like this would’ve been available when she was, you know, struggling with her pregnancy and not having a lot of money, you know, many years ago.
((NATS))
We’re getting down to the end, yay!
((Gale Seiler, Volunteer, Food & Friends))
I just have so much respect for the work this organization does. I think it’s just such a life saver for so many people.
((NATS))
