July - August 2009
WIC Celebrates 20 Years of Farmer's Market Benefits
Metro Health's Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program marking its 20th year of issuing annual Farmer’s Market benefits to eligible WIC participants.
The Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) was officially established by Congress in July 1992 to allow for locally grown, fresh and nutritious fruits and vegetables to be available for purchase using specially developed WIC Farmer’s Market vouchers . Although the Program was not officially established until 1992, Metro Health WIC served as a pilot site and began issuing Farmer’s Market benefits in the fall of 1989.
Since its inception, the Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program has given thousands of WIC participants access to fresh fruits and vegetables, and at the same time assisted local farmers by increasing awareness and use of local Farmer’s Markets.
Metro Health WIC issued Farmer’s Market vouchers during the month of May and will continue the benefit through the months of June and July. Each eligible WIC participant will receive five vouchers worth two dollars each and will be able to spend them at any of the participating Farmer’s Markets throughout the city.
The following sites are approved WIC Farmer’s Market vendors:
South Texas Farmer’s Market:
Adelita Tamales, 1130 Fresno
Tellez Tamales, 1737 S. General McMullen
Texas Thrift Store, 6708 S. Flores
JC Food Mart, 3606 Fredericksburg Rd.
Rainbow Gardens, 2585 Thousand Oaks
Beacon Hill Presbyterian Church, 1101 Woodlawn Ave
Grady’s BBQ, 7400 Bandera Rd.
San Antonio FM Association:
St. Leonard’s Catholic Church, 8510 S. Zarzamora
Olmos Basin, Jackson Keller and McCullough
St. Jude’s Catholic Church, 130 S. Augustine
Leon Valley Community Center, 6427 Evers. Rd.
San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston Place
St. Matthew Catholic Church, 11121 Wurzbach Rd.
Hill Country FM Association:
Kendall County Fairgrounds, 1307 River Road
Grey Forest City Hall Parking Lot, 18502 Scenic Loop Rd.
Leon Springs Baptist Church, 24133 Boerne Stage Rd.
Hill Country Christian Church, 20845 Hwy 46
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In the Community
Metro Health team members joined other members of the City Volunteer Corp for the 2nd Annual Pet Spa Day at Animal Care Services this spring. The volunteers bathed dogs and prepared pets for adoption. They also planted trees, painted, and performed other 'home improvement' tasks for ACS' one-year old facility. Thanks team for your
time and concern for our
four-legged friends!
Featured Employee
Erica Haller Stevenson is a
Senior Management Analyst with the Steps to a Healthier San Antonio program and the braintrust behind our new newsletter name. Meet Erica...
Did you know...?
Metro Health produced its inaugural annual report for fiscal year
2007-2008. The publication highlights the department's programs, services and accomplishments.
Metro Health has an Advisory Board of Health which advises and makes recommendations on the health functions of the department to the Director of Health and the governing bodies of the City and County.
Current ABOH members include...
Metro Health routinely hosts medical students for public health clinical rotations. Meet the current visitors from the Netherlands.
In the News
New food handler rules take effect in January 2010.
Read more or watch the KENS 5 video
New weight gain guidelines for pregnant women. Read more...
Snapshot of Health
Congratulations to
Executive
Secretary Theresa (Tessie) Medina, a role model for a healthy pregnancy and weight gain. Tessie gave birth to her second child, Madeleine Nicole, on June 9.
20-inch long Madeleine weighed
8 lbs. and 4 oz.
Healthy Link
Join Metro Health for a two-day comprehensive conference.
The Changing Face of STIs, HIV & TB:
Issues from a Clinical, Behavioral and Partner Services viewpoint.
September 17-18
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Holiday Inn, 318 W. Durango
More info here...
The Health Collaborative, in
partnership with the San Antonio Zoo, will host a Fitness Safari on
Friday, July 17 from
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
All children visiting the zoo during the safari can participate in nine fitness activities that relate to fitness attributes of certain animals.
Children receive a token after completing each activity. Youngsters with five or more tokens can redeem them for a fitness-related toy.
Dedication on Display
Assistant Social Services Manager Yolanda Alvarado retired after three decades of service to the WIC program. She and several of Metro Health's team members are living proof that public health is
not just a job, it's a commitment.
Read more...
The Artwork
In 2007, the Steps to a Healthier San Antonio Program (Steps-SA), in collaboration with San Antonio ISD and the Southwest School of Art and Craft, presented "A Healthy Community Through the Eyes of a Child" in which children from local schools expressed their creative vision of health
concerns and issues affecting their community through the use of art.