The U.S. Conference of Mayors and the American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America recently announced that the city of Des Moines was one of nine recipients of the 2022 Childhood Obesity Prevention and Environmental Health and Sustainability Awards. As the first-place winner in the medium-city category, Des Moines and the Polk County Produce Prescription Program will receive a $175,000 grant to continue the program’s work addressing health, wellness and environmental health for children and families across the community. The program was launched in August 2021 after receiving grant funding from the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines and Mid-Iowa Health Foundation. It connects food-insecure children with diet-related diseases such as diabetes and obesity and their families to medical providers that write prescriptions for free fruits and vegetables, while delivering nutrition education and collecting and monitoring biometrics on a routine basis. Last year, 189 individuals participated in the program and nearly $14,000 in vouchers were redeemed for fresh fruits and vegetables. Other partners in the program include Broadlawns Medical Center, the Healthiest State Initiative and local retailers. Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie accepted the award on behalf of the city during the U.S. Conference of Mayors annual meeting. Click this link to view a video about the Polk County Produce Prescription Program.

Iowa Stops Hunger is a yearlong Business Publications Corp. initiative to bring awareness and action to food insecurity in Iowa. Read additional stories on Iowastopshunger.com.