We have relationships with many community organizations that provide physical activity, nutrition education, or healthy and affordable food to health center families, such as:
Nutrition education resources
- Share Our Strength’s Cooking Matters provides cooking classes for families to learn how to cook healthy meals on a budget. Families also get to take home the same ingredients they used in class to try at home.
- My Plate has great handouts, posters, and lessons in English and Spanish for different age ranges.
Physical activity resources
- YMCA of Greater Boston has many locations throughout Boston and the surrounding neighborhoods. The YMCA offers discounted membership rates through their ACCESS Program, and Boston Children’s supports the participants interested in programs such as swimming, karate, ballet, basketball, and more. Adults can try out the YMCA for free by using a one-day guest pass.
- Healthworks Community Fitness is dedicated to promoting the health and empowerment of women and children by providing holistic nutrition, fitness, and well-being services. Fitspiration is a weekly wellness program for children ages 5 to 12. Participants get to enjoy a fun fitness class designed specifically for youth to build on age-appropriate developmental fitness skills.
- Boston Centers for Youth & Families offers affordable after-school and summer programming for pre-school aged children up to adults at 36 different community centers and pools across the city.
- Outdoors Rx® is a free, year-round program led by the outdoors experts at the Appalachian Mountain Club. Join their guided programs for the whole family to explore nature and play games in local parks! Spending time outside helps your family to lower stress and improve mood. Time spent in nature also increases concentration and improves school performance.
Food access resources
- Fair Foods is a food rescue program that drops off fresh fruits and vegetable at community health centers and many other sites throughout the city. Families do not need to sign up to access this program, and the bags are only $2 each. Access their current schedule here.
- Fresh Truck provides families the opportunity to pick out their own food by walking on to their transformed mobile school bus. Fresh Truck accepts HIP and you can find them at community health centers, weekly markets, and other community events throughout the city. Access their current schedule here.
- Boston Farmers Markets give families an instant dollar-to-dollar match of their EBT card when purchasing fruits and vegetables at these markets. Each market has a different schedule, but most run from early summer to mid-fall.
- Trustees Mobile Farmers Market offers fresh produce out of a converted truck at community sites and health centers in Roxbury and Dorchester such as the Roxbury YMCA, Dorchester Head Start, Whittier Street Health Center, and The Dimock Center.