Transformative Community Initiatives

In 2020, the Mosholu Preservation Corporation and Friends of Mosholu Parkland created the Bronx NeighborFood Initiative with the goal of addressing healthy food access in the Bronx while highlighting the borough’s rich cultural diversity. 

Funded by a generous Deutsche Bank grant, NeighborFood collaborates with community organizations and institutions in the Bronx to cultivate edible gardens. These green oases serve as hubs for workshops and educational programs, promoting healthy eating habits and connecting community members to the land through gardening workshops. 

We provide technical assistance and aid with the development and implementation of nutrition workshops, food demonstrations and other initiatives to support each garden. Beyond their practical purpose, these gardens become nurturing spaces where members of the Bronx community can unite to share experiences with food and gardening as well as cherished culinary traditions. NeighborFood sows the seeds of change, nourishing a healthier, more united Bronx.

Contact: Daniela Beasley, Executive Director

dbeasley@montefiore.org 

Learn More About NeighborFood

Every November, our Office of Community Affairs coordinates multiple fresh produce distributions, complementing the various holiday turkey giveaways in our neighborhoods with locally sourced and seasonal produce. Our goal is to provide community families with effortless access to nutritious holiday vegetables while continuing to address food insecurity.

Contacto: communityaffairs@montefiore.org

Project Bravo Food Pantry is a community-based outreach program supporting the most in-need populations of the Bronx. Coordinating with Montefiore Einstein clinics and community partners like FeedNYC, Project Bravo Food Pantry enriches people’s lives by providing assistance with health, wellness and nutrition initiatives. Our clinics actively screen patients for social factors that impact health, such as food insecurity.

Learn More About Project Bravo Food Pantry

Since its inception in 1974, the Montefiore Einstein WIC program, New York State's oldest of its kind, continues to serve approximately 13,000 women, infants and children. We actively refer eligible women to this crucial nutrition-centered initiative and provide space for food demonstrations, peer counseling and physical fitness education.

Based on income, healthcare providers also identify and refer women to the WIC program, where they undergo screening and meet with a nutrition counselor. Monthly vouchers are provided for purchasing nutrient-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, milk, eggs, juice, beans, bread and peanut butter from supermarkets.

WIC counselors encourage breastfeeding for newborns up to six months, offering vouchers for baby food and cereal thereafter. Participants have regular consultations with nutritionists every three months, while qualification verification occurs annually. Montefiore Einstein's commitment to the WIC program remains steadfast, nurturing healthier futures for women, infants and children.

Learn More About WIC

The Bronx Oncology Living Daily (BOLD) program provides free wellness and support services to cancer patients and their families in the Bronx and across the New York region.

Our nationally recognized team of specialists and volunteers—many of whom are cancer survivors themselves—offer a diverse range of programs specifically designed to meet the unique needs and interests of those affected by cancer. These programs include free wellness, artistic and mind-body workshops. We also offer specialized initiatives, such as a research-based yoga program and a mind-body support group. For those looking to quit smoking, our Be BOLD: Quit Smoking initiative is designed to help you successfully kick the nicotine habit. Additionally, our BOLD Buddies program connects socially isolated cancer patients with companions for treatment and phone-based support.

Contacto: 718-430-2380
cancersupport@einsteinmed.edu

Learn More About BOLD

The Oval Center at Montefiore provides timely and confidential services for the prevention, testing, diagnosis and treatment of various sexually transmitted infections. The Center also offers convenient access to highly effective HIV prevention options like pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).

Contacto: 718-882-5482

Learn More About the Oval Center at Montefiore

Our SHR program in the Bronx fosters partner relationships, promotes child development and empowers low-income couples with economic benefits. Research underscores the link between parental conflict and poverty, making this program crucial in addressing these interconnected challenges while strengthening families.

Contacto: 718-401-5050
SHR-UBA@montefiore.org

Learn More About Supporting Healthy Relationships

The Rethink Your Drink project was created in response to high levels of obesity and obesity-related diseases facing Bronx residents. As part of the Montefiore Healthy Store Initiative, the program’s primary objective is to enhance the availability of nutritious beverages in local bodegas. By raising awareness regarding the sugar content found in common beverages and shedding light on how sugary drinks are marketed to youth and communities of color, this project empowers residents to make informed, health-conscious beverage choices.

Our “Rethink Your Drink” ads are endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and spread accurate information about sugar-sweetened beverages found in local schools, health clinics, faith-based organizations and community centers.

At the Children's Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM), the Suzanne Pincus Family Learning Place (FLP) serves as a hub where parents and caregivers can find valuable information about child health, connect with one another and discover community resources and support services. Committed to family-centered care, FLP enables families to make well-informed decisions regarding their child's healthcare. The program also provides educational materials for medical providers, enhancing their ability to effectively communicate and engage with families.

Contact: Administrative Office
flp@montefiore.org

Learn More About FLP