Press Releases

GRAFTON, MA – Today, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Congressman Jim McGovern (MA-02) toured the Community Harvest Project and hosted a roundtable on The Farm to Health Center Initiative and its work to reduce hunger and enhance positive medical outcomes for low-income families in Central Massachusetts.

Joining Leader Pelosi and Congressman McGovern were Jodi Koeman, Executive Director of Community Harvest Project, and leaders from The Farm to Health Center Initiative, the Worcester County Food Bank, the Family Health Center of Worcester, as well as state and local leaders.

“I am proud of the efforts of these organizations, Congressman McGovern and House Democrats in championing and leading the efforts to end hunger across the country," said Leader Nancy Pelosi.  "It is our moral obligation to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry at night, seniors can rely on their next meal, and struggling families can put food on the table.”

“Today is my third visit to the Community Harvest Project and with each visit I am more impressed. This farm is a wonderful place where the community truly comes together. The fresh fruits and vegetables grown here help to put food on the table for so many of our families in need and this is all possible thanks to dedicated leaders and the volunteers who help to farm these crops every year,” Congressman Jim McGovern said. “Our community is stronger when every family has access to healthy food and by helping to make that a reality, this project is a model for communities across the country. Leader Pelosi is a tremendous champion for everyday Americans. I am grateful to have her join us here today and I am proud to have her as a partner in Congress standing up for important projects like this. I also want to thank Jodi Koeman and everyone here for all their work to make the Community Harvest Project and The Farm to Health Initiative possible.” 

“We were excited to host Congressmen McGovern and Leader Pelosi at Community Harvest Project to show them first hand the work we do to bring the community together for hunger relief,” said Jodi Koeman, Executive Director. “We are proud to highlight the Farm to Health Center Initiative. This initiative is a great example of how organizations can collaborate to improve access to healthy fresh fruits and vegetables which affects the overall health of individuals and families struggling with food insecurity."

The Farm to Health Center Initiative is a collaboration between the Community Harvest Project, UMass Medical School students, and Family Health Center of Worcester (FHCW) physicians. The project is aimed at reducing rates of food insecurity by increasing patient access to and consumption of fresh produce.

The Community Harvest Project, in collaboration with University of Massachusetts Medical School and the Family Health Center of Worcester, has served as a model for innovative community-based solutions to increase access to fresh, high-quality and nutritional food to patients and over 99,000 of the most food insecure residents of Massachusetts. Today’s event highlighted the important connection between healthy food, healthy lifestyles and healthy communities for the future of our children, seniors, hardworking families and our country.

At a time when House Republicans are assaulting the food safety net, Leader Pelosi, Congressman McGovern and House Democrats are working to ensure that no child is hungry, that seniors aren’t choosing between food and medicine, and that struggling families can put food on their tables.

Congressman McGovern, as Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Nutrition, has been a leading champion in Congress in the push to reduce hunger in Worcester County and across the country, raising awareness through his regular #EndHungerNow speeches on the House floor.

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