Community Corner

'Eating Healthy on a Budget' Highlights Produce Mission at ECHO

The Emergency Care Help Organization in Brandon is teaming with interns from St. Petersburg College (SPJC) to help clients eat healthier. In exchange for participation is a free bag of fresh produce. The inaugural class is March 16.

 

The Emergency Care Help Organization in Brandon is teaming with a pair of student interns to kick off a movement to bring more produce, and more awareness of healthier eating habits, to ECHO's clients.

Friday, March 16, is the kickoff for “Eating Healthy on a Budget,” with participants receiving a free bag of fresh produce in exchange for their commitment to attend the class.

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“This class was developed by two intern students in the nursing program at St. Petersburg College [SPJC],” noted Stacey Efaw, ECHO’s executive director, in an email notice.

She noted that the interns surveyed ECHO’s clients to determine their eating habits and their access to healthy food.

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"All the participants that go through the class receive a free bag of fresh produce," Efaw said. "Providing more fresh produce is one of ECHO’s goals for this year but we also want to tie into that education so that [our clients] will know how to prepare the produce [and why it is important].”

At the March 16 kick-off class, blood-pressure tests will be given as well, at the following times:

  • 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.
  • 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
  • 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
  • Noon to 12:45 p.m.

ECHO is available to people who, because of emergency situations, are having trouble paying for food, clothes and other items. A person can used ECHO services up to four times on one lifetime.

ECHO is at 507 N. Parsons Ave., north of Brandon Boulevard, just over the railroad tracks on the east side of the street.

For more information on upcoming classes, call: 813-685-0935.

UPCOMING ECHO EVENTS:

  • Feed the Bay Food Drive (March 25)
  • Pancake Breakfast (April 14)
  • Designer Trunk Show (May 1)
  • “Stamp Out Hunger” Postal Food Drive (May 12)


For more information, visit ECHO online at echofl.org.


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