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Some of those basic health needs include fresh fruits and
vegetables. An apple a daymay keep the doctor away, but
apples are hard to come by inCamden; theUnited States
Department of Agriculture has identifiedCamden as one of the
country’s nineworst “fooddeserts,”where affordable, healthy
food is difficult to obtain. Camden has fewgrocery stores, and
thosewith limited transportation options usually fall back on
cheaper, processed, sugary foods at corner stores and fast
food restaurants, which take a terrible toll on health andwell-
being. The community asked, andVirtua Camden delivered:
With the support of Virtua Foundation donors and in
collaborationwith theCamden AreaHealth EducationCenter,
the Virtua Camden Farmer’sMarket was established in 2013.
Once aweek on the Virtua Camden campus, every June
throughOctober, themarket offers affordable fresh food and
Jersey Fresh produce, and a Virtua nurse and nutritionist help
customersmake selections for healthy recipes at home. Gifts
fromVirtua’s generous donor community also allowVirtua to
distribute prepaid electronic bank transfer cards (calledVirtua
Foundation Bucks) to local students so they can purchase food
for their families.
“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.
The Farmer’sMarket also provides health screenings,
education, and fun activities, which is also an essential
component in the annual CamdenCommunity Day held each
September, where Virtua clinicians educate families on how to
live a healthy and active lifestyle in an urban setting. But health
education is a yearlong, and a lifelong, commitment, and it’s
especially important to start young. That’s whereC.A.S.T.L.E.
comes in.
TheChildren Achieving Success through Therapeutic Life
Experiences programprovides high qualitymental and
behavioral health services in a classroomsetting to children
ages three through 15. C.A.S.T.L.E. gives kids facing emotional
or behavioral challenges the tools they need to build self-
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Residents enjoy Camden Community Day—a fun annual
event that educates families on how to live a healthy and
active lifestyle in an urban setting.
Virtua Camden Farmer’s Market provides fresh produce, health
education, screenings and fun activities for families.
An apple a day may keep
the doctor away, but apples
are hard to come by in
Camden; the United States
Department of Agriculture
has identified Camden as
one of the country’s nine
worst “food deserts,” where
affordable, healthy food is
difficult to obtain.