Grant Received to Increase Access to Food
HANCOCK, Mich., Feb. 21, 2017 – Upper Great Lakes Houghton Family Health Center (UGL) received a $10,880 grant from the Portage Health Foundation (PHF) to offer Prescription for Health programming for patients of Dr. Michelle Seguin.
UGL applied for funding under PHF’s food initiative late last year. The funding was a result of proceeds raised at PHF’s Stop the Roar of Hunger Spring Gala. Applications focused on programs that addressed food insecurities, hunger, or undernutrition in Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw, and Ontonagon counties.
UGL will work with the Downtown Houghton Farmer’s Market to offer qualified patients vouchers to purchase local produce. Dr. Michelle Seguin, a family physician with UGL, said, “With the help of the Portage Health Foundation and Upper Great Lakes Family Health Center, I am thrilled to bring the ‘Prescription for Health’ program to our community. This voucher-based food program will increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables while also providing nutritional education to enrolled patients. The vouchers will be used at the Downtown Houghton Farmer’s Market during the 2017 market season.”
PHF’s objectives with the food initiative are to (1) create greater awareness throughout the community to the role food plays in overall population health and (2) to develop and execute the first steps to help provide nutritious food to people who may be food insecure. UGL’s Prescription for Health program meets these by “improving access to healthy food, providing educational outreach to community members, and supporting our local food system,” said Dr. Seguin. “It is a win-win-win scenario.”
About Upper Great Lakes Family Health Center
Upper Great Lakes Family Health Center is a not-for-profit health center that operates nine locations serving Houghton, Iron, Marquette, Menominee, and Ontonagon counties. Services include medical, dental, and behavioral health services.
About the Portage Health Foundation
The Portage Health Foundation is a 501(c)3 charitable organization that receives and contributes charitable donations, which support the health needs of the community through enhanced philanthropy and community collaboration throughout Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw, and Ontonagon counties.
