AvMed “Going Mobile” to Feed South Florida

The health plan that encourages its Members to eat healthy in order to live healthy is bringing its message to the South Florida communities it serves.

For the rest of 2016, Florida-based AvMed is sponsoring and fully funding AvMed Mobile Pantry, an alliance with Feeding South Florida to deliver free fruits, vegetables, bread, and dairy products to five neighborhoods that are considered “food deserts.”

“These areas have few opportunities to get the right kinds of foods,” said AvMed Chief Medical Officer Ann O. Wehr, M.D. “There’s rarely an issue finding the wrong kinds of food. Unhealthy choices are available on nearly every corner. We hope this effort not only helps deliver fresh, healthy alternatives, but serves to educate residents on the importance of the choices they make every day.”

Feeding South Florida is the sole Feeding America food bank serving Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe counties. It provides 44 million pounds of food per year to more than 784,000 South Floridians struggling to make ends meet, the majority of which are children and older adults. AvMed’s 460 South Florida-based Associates and their families are volunteering to staff the events.

“Feeding South Florida is thrilled to announce this new collaboration at a time when the intersection between overall health and food insecurity is more apparent than ever,” said Feeding South Florida Vice President of Community Relations Sari Vatske. “AvMed’s generosity enables a significant step forward in our work, ensuring South Florida families have the proper nutrition to live, work, and thrive.”

AvMed Mobile Pantry stops next in Fort Lauderdale (9/10), Pompano Beach (10/8), and Miami (11/12, 12/3).

About Feeding South Florida

Feeding South Florida’s mission is to end hunger in South Florida by providing immediate access to nutritious food, leading hunger and poverty advocacy efforts, and transforming lives through innovative programming and education. For more information, visit www.feedingsouthflorida.org.

About AvMed

With headquarters in Miami and offices in every major metropolitan area of the state, AvMed aims to inspire its 345,000 Floridian health plan Members to celebrate an active lifestyle and “Embrace better health®” across the only state it has served in its near-50 year history. Learn more at www.AvMed.org.

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