NeighborKeepers Strengthening Communities One Family at a Time

NeighborKeepers has had an AmeriCorps State member on staff for the past year who performs direct service for its Nutritional Literacy Project. The Nutritional Literacy Project provides supportive, hands on nutrition education so that individuals who are in economic distress and have poor health may develop strategies for improved nutrition to manage and prevent chronic illnesses.

The poor are three times more likely to be limited by a chronic illness than are their non-poor counterparts. Currently, 70% of direct medical costs can be attributed to chronic illnesses, and four chronic conditions (cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and diabetes) cause 75% of all deaths in the United States. This is a project that focuses on access to proper diet and access to nutritional information as a way to improve health outcomes through a health educational strategy based on relationship as a way to minimize isolation faced by the community that lives in poverty.

The goals of the project are:
Goal I - Improve nutritional value of meals by learning new recipes
Goal II - Make new meaningful relationships
Goal III - Families learn why nutrition is important

Two Cooking for Life classes were offered meeting weekly for six weeks in partnership with UVM’s Extension EFNEP program and the Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger. 10 persons participated in the program held at the First Baptist Church in Burlington. A second class was held at the O’Brien Community Center in Winooski. 16 persons participated with a Burundi, an American, a Sudanese and the rest Bhutanese.

Each of the survey statements (detailed below) showed a significant increase in just six months. The increases are as follows:

1. The project has improved my ability to read and understand food labels. (38.2%)
2. The project has improved my ability to prepare nutritious meals. (41.8%)
3. The project has improved my ability to provide nutritious snacks to my children. (44.4%)
4. The project has increased my awareness of the importance of nutritious food. (35.7%)
5. The project has improved my access to nutritious food. (47.7%)

 Program Highlights
• 3 10x10 raised garden beds were planted and tended by 13 NK folk and 6 UVM volunteers. Crops included: potatoes, basil, tomatoes, carrots, Brussels sprouts, onions and cabbage.
• 100+ pounds of veggies and herbs from our garden were eaten
• 34 dinners shared together on Tuesday nights

The key to the success of the project is attributed to the role of NeighborKeepers’ AmeriCorps Member, Adok Labal. Adok came to our community about six years ago from Sudan and became a U.S. citizen this past year. Adok developed relationships with 25 New American families living in Burlington and Winooski. The families were Bhutanese, Burundi, Ugandan, and Sudanese including 48 children. The activities that engaged the families included food shopping, cooking in their homes, gardening, and the farm share program at the Intervale.