CHESAPEAKE, Va. — Staff and volunteers at a local medical and dental clinic are making it easier for their patients to access food and healthy ingredients.
"Our goal is to improve the health of our patients," said Chesapeake Care Clinic Executive Director Dourina Petersen.
Patients seen at the nonprofit go through an application process, which is currently open. Petersen told 13News Now that every year they serve approximately 900 patients who are uninsured and low-income.
The team offers free medical specialty care, dental services, education, and prescription assistance.
However, by surveying patients about their social determinants of health, Petersen said they identified some of the greatest issues.
"The biggest ones are usually transportation or food, and with the cost of food going up, it's become more difficult for our patients to afford food," said Petersen.
Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, a free food pantry or "food pharmacy" in the middle of the clinic's waiting area has only grown.
"In January, the food bank approached us about getting a refrigerator, and then we were able to partner with a local grocery store to get food donated to us every week," said Petersen. "We were able to go from just shelf-stable food to meats, dairy, a lot more produce."
Patient and Chesapeake mother Johana Tejeda expressed a great deal of gratitude for the option.
Translated from Spanish to English, Tejeda said, "This is where I always come to get groceries, which is an immense help for my family."
People, church members, and donors from all over make the pantry a success. Petersen said they haven't had to buy any food to stock it since starting the program because of the community's generosity.
If you're interested in dropping off items for the food pantry, you're asked to first call the Chesapeake Care Clinic at (757) 545-5700. Here are the facility's operating hours:
- Tuesday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Wednesday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Thursday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Friday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Gloucester Mathews Care Clinic and Lackey Clinic in York County also benefit from a similar free food pharmacy program, organization representatives told 13News Now.