Each drive is different…Whether it is an office chili cook-off, a coat drive, or a collection of monetary donations, it is exciting to so many creative groups helping out others during the holiday season.

The IU Health  Affinity groups had their own idea for a Holiday Helpings drive that, fortunately and gratefully, we were the beneficiary.  This drive was different, not in the way the donations were collected but in the way they were given.

When we went to pick up the donated items, the expectation was to drop by, load up and express our great thanks for these groups’ continued support for the 3rd year in a row.  However, when we arrived, the Affinity groups had a different plan in mind.

We were warmly greeted, asked to speak to the Affinity groups about our Homeless Initiative and Better Indy Babies programs (the specific programs that benefited from the drive), and then we had the opportunity to talk with many of the group members.

This experience went above
and beyond!

The groups’ willingness to learn more about these programs gave a sense of partnership, rather than just giving and receiving.

We appreciate EVERYTHING that the IU Health Affinity groups did for the Homeless Initiative and Better Indy Babies programs this year.  We are very grateful for the generosity shown, and the willingness to go beyond giving donations and wanting to learn more about how their donations will help!

It’s NOT Too Late! You can still hold a Holiday Helpings Drive!!

The needs are still great. Many holiday assistance programs have exhausted their resources – yet families in our programs still have needs.

Whether it’s the quick donation of a gift card or asking everyone who comes to your house for a holiday dinner to bring warm gloves for the homeless, you can learn why a Holiday Helpings Drive is vital to furthering the HealthNet mission and what is on our Holiday Wish List!

All of our BIBs & Healthy Families participants along with the homeless individuals served by our Homeless Initiative Program will need help beyond just the holiday season.  You can contact us about running your own drive by calling – 317-781-4918, every little bit helps!

The event will take place at the Challenge Foundation Academy, 3980 Meadows Drive, Indianapolis.

The future $20 million, 70,000-square-foot facility will sit on the 100-acre Avondale Meadows redevelopment site near 39th Street and Keystone Avenue on Indianapolis’ near east side. Construction should take a year to complete.

The center, expected to open in 2013, will offer expanded hours for primary care visits, personal physicians, multi-age recreational programming for 5,000 underserved residents, social and recreational programming for 1,000 youths and teens, meeting space for community organizations and family programs. Partners to be located in the center include HealthNet, YMCA, United Northeast Development Corporation and the Meadows Community Foundation, Inc.

It’s hard to believe that it was a little over a year and a half ago that HealthNet was invited by IU Health to become a part of this unique collaboration. Thanks to the support of IU Health and the Methodist Health Foundation, this new HealthNet community health center is becoming a reality!

We look forward to working with residents in the coming months to tailor the health center’s services to the specific needs of this community.

Give a care about expanding access to care for kids and families in Indy? If so, stop by this afternoon for a sneak peek!

At the beginning of May HealthNet and IU Health started a voucher program that provided $7.00/week to shop at the Garden on the Go locations.  This Rx program will run from May thru November 2012.  There will be 25 participants chosen to participate.  I currently have 21 participants enrolled.  There have been many positive comments on how this has helped increase the intake of fruits and vegetables.  Thank you to all my patients who are participating.

photo from National Nutrition Month

Getting back to the basics of healthy eating is to eat foods in their most natural form.  Many foods in our society are processed and ready to eat.  These types of foods have more fat, salt and sugar.  By using the plate to get in shape, you can make informed choices and get the right amount of fruits/vegetables in your daily intake.  Half your plate should be fruits/vegetables, a quarter protein and a quarter grains.

Diet Tip:

How many fruits and veggies should you eat?  Five or more per day.  Try to get a rainbow of colored fruits and veggies daily.
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Editor’s note: This month’s theme is “Our HealthNet”!  Our bloggers have taken on this topic and are talking about how it takes a community for us to provide quality health care and support services.  Click here to find out more about our topic this month.

Each drive is different…Whether it is an office bake sale, a canned food drive, or a collection of monetary donations, it is fun to see the creativity of groups in accomplishing the goal of helping out others during the holiday season.

The IU Health Women’s and Minority Affinity groups had their own idea for a Holiday Helpings drive that, fortunately and gratefully, we were the beneficiary.  This drive was different, not in the way the donations were collected but in the way they were given.

When we went to pick up the donated items, the expectation was to drop by, load up and express our great thanks for these groups’ continued support for the 2^nd year in a row.  However, when we arrived, the Affinity groups had a different plan in mind.

We were warmly greeted, asked to speak to the Affinity groups about our Homeless Initiative and Better Indy Babies programs (the specific programs that benefitted from the drive), and then we had the opportunity to mingle and talk with many of the group members.

This experience went above
and beyond!

flickr photo by stevendepolo

The groups’ willingness to learn more about these programs gave a sense of partnership, a two-way road, rather than just giving and receiving.

One woman from the group even expressed to us just how important the Homeless Initiative Program (HIP) was to her personally. She had been touched by HIP’s efforts to help her own family member out of homelessness.

Another group member was glad to hear stories from our staff.  So much so, that she decided to give Better Indy Babies the proceeds from a Holiday Fundraising Party she had recently held with a group of friends.

We appreciate EVERYTHING that the IU Health Women’s and Minority Affinity groups did for the Homeless Initiative and Better Indy Babies programs this year.  We are very grateful for the generosity shown, and the willingness to go beyond giving donations and wanting to learn more about how their donations will help!

You can still hold a Holiday Helpings Drive!!

You can learn why a Holiday Helpings Drive is vital to furthering the HealthNet mission or what is on our Holiday Wish List!  With warm weather lingering, the cold is still to come.  All of our BIBs & Healthy Families participants along with the homeless individuals served by our Homeless Initiative Program will need help beyond just the holiday season.  You can contact us about running your own drive by calling – 317-781-4918, every little bit helps!