You Gave Wanda a Fresh Start

Wanda was ecstatic when her oldest daughter returned to their hometown after a long stint in Tennessee. Now her daughter stops by often to catch up over coffee, help around the house, and encourage Wanda to go out from time to time.

“It’s great to have them close by,” Wanda says.

But recent health issues have made it harder for her to move around comfortably, and sometimes, the pain is just too great to go out at all.

“I can’t do something with them every weekend,” Wanda says. “When I’m up for it, we go to the beach to walk. I love doing that, even though somebody has to help me walk all the time. My knees are messed up.”

Wanda also struggles with Type 2 diabetes, aching joints, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Her medications help to manage her symptoms, but for long-lasting change, she knew she needed to incorporate more fresh produce into her diet.

That’s when she learned about the Farm Share Rx program through Salem Clinic — and for the past three years, it’s changed her life.

“Got lots of leafy greens in here,” Wanda says, looking through her Farm Share Rx bag. “The fresh vegetables help a lot. And it gives me more variety than I usually get on my own. It gets me to actually make other recipes because I’m using food that I don’t usually.”

Marion Polk Food Share’s Farm Share Rx program supports Wanda by delivering fresh produce right to her front door. More than 40 types of fruits and vegetables, grown on the Food Share’s Youth Farm, add variety to her meals — and even provide connection between Wanda and her neighbor.

“Some of the stuff, if I don’t know what it is, I’ll ask my neighbor,” Wanda says. She often breaks bread with her neighbor, who enjoys the fresh ingredients in nutritious meals. “I’ll bring some over to her when it’s cooked.”

Food really does bring people together!

When you support Marion Polk Food Share, you make it possible for neighbors like Wanda to hold on to their independence through Farm Share Rx. Together, we’re building a stronger, hunger-free future for our community.