The Family Health Center of Worcester (FHCW; a federally qualified health center in urban Worcester, MA), UMass Chan Medical Students and the Community Harvest Project (a farm in Grafton, MA and an orchard in Harvard, MA that grows 100% of produce for hunger relief) have collaborated since 2014 to provide a weekly produce distribution in the summers to patients at the FHCW. Families at the FHCW demonstrate high social determinant of health needs, including high rates of food insecurity.
Students are essential to making the produce distribution happen each year. In addition to managing the summer distribution, students are invited to engage in volunteering at the farm; attending local events and meetings about food insecurity; and complete a quality improvement project examining one aspect of the produce distribution for that year.
First year medical students could apply for a summer program stipend for this community health project. As a faculty mentor Dr. Gnazzo can guide this process.