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An apple a daymay keep the doctor away, but apples
are hard to come by in Camden. The city has few
grocery stores, and the only options for residents with
limited transportation are processed, sugary foods from
corner stores and fast food restaurants.
in fact, fresh
fruit and vegetables are so difficult to obtain in
camden, the united States department of
agriculture named it one of the country’s nine
worst “fooddeserts.”
Fortunately, that desert also has an oasis:
Virtua Camden
.
Once a week, every June throughOctober, the Virtua
Camden Farmer’s Market gives residents access to fresh
food. A Virtua nurse and nutritionist provide recipes and
help customers make selections for healthy, home-
cookedmeals. The food is affordable for the community
and Virtua also distributes Virtua Foundation Bucks that
give students access to fresh produce and an
opportunity to learn about budgeting.
“What it’s all about is dignity for people; to be able to
afford the foods that they need to eat. Because
healthwise, a lot of people cannot afford this at the
regular grocery stores,” says Mildred Johnson, one of
many grateful customers.
Themarket is just one of many ways that Virtua Camden
sustains and supports its community, always listening to
residents and striving to bring themwhat they need. The
KyleW. Will Community and Family Health Center is vital
to that effort. It’s a “one stop shop” where adults and
children can go for well visits, sick visits, andmuchmore
— including podiatry, physical therapy, and labwork.
The Center is an important resource in an area facing
alarming rates of chronic disease such as diabetes,
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CAMDEN
The Heart of