Bronx Health REACH helps promote the Health Bucks program through faith based organizations. Health Bucks are $2 coupons that shoppers use to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at New York City farmers’ markets year round. The Health Bucks program is managed by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH). For every $2 spent at farmers’ markets using their SNAP or EBT card, participants receive $2 in Health Bucks coupons. The maximum Health Bucks per day that a participant can receive is $10 per day. Community and faith based organizations may apply free of cost to receive the Health Bucks which they can distribute as incentives to participants in nutrition education or other health related activities.
Since 2015, Bronx Health REACH has provided technical assistance to partnering Bronx houses of worship on best practices for the promotion, distribution and redemption of distributed Health Bucks. Collectively our partners have distributed more than 22,000 Health Bucks, led 108 farmers’ market walking tours with more than 1,300 participants to encourage the use of the Health Bucks to purchase fresh produce.
Bronx Health REACH’s faith based partners who have participated in the Health Bucks Program include:
Church Alive Community Church, Church of God of Prophecy, Cosmopolitan Church of the Lord Jesus, Manna of Life Ministries, Al Masjidu Adam, Inc., Ash Shifaa, Inc., Darou Salam Community Inc., Masjid As Sabur, Masjid Sidiki-Unite my Ummah, Mount Zion CME Church, New Covenant Community Development Corporation, Resurrection and Life Pentecostal Church, Saint Augustine Our Lady Victory Church, St. Helena RC Church, Thessalonica Christian Church, Tremont United Methodist Church, Walker Memorial Baptist Church, Word of Life International, Inc., and Wings of Redemption Ministry.
