Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1458429
AC PUP FINDING LOVE AT THE SHELTER H ave you ever been lonely? Have you ever dreamed of loyal companionship and unconditional love? Well, look no further than your local rescue shelter. That's where you'll find love like you've never known. All pets are wonderful, but there's something special about rescues. They understand so much because they've been through so much. They've known loneliness, fear, disappointment and rejection. Some have even known mistreatment and pain. Most of the time, a rescue animal's history remains largely a mystery. But all rescue pets have experienced some level of abandonment, which is why they're homeless and in a shelter. This hurt may run deep, causing some rescues to not behave well in a shelter or at adoption events. Some rescues are passed over because they cower and tremble in their kennels. Sometimes the collateral damage from their past life camouflages the beauty and immense love within. When you're looking for unconditional love at the shelter, take time to look at the ones who seem defeated and have given up. Understand there is massive potential for love and zest for life beneath the surface. The rescue you choose will spend the rest of his life thanking you for choosing him. I know this because I'm a rescue pup who's spent my life advocating for animals as the mascot of the animal welfare group Central Georgia CARES. Asking folks to give rescue pets a chance has been my job for the past 13 years. And then I met the beautiful Sally Kemp, who had a similar story. She is a rescue pup who was alone on the streets until her fabulous mom adopted her. Then she spent her life being "social director" at a A trium Health Navicent, along with community partners, has opened the health system's new Healthy Communities Food as Medicine Market and Food Farmacy program. "Our most recent community health needs assessment identified food insecurity as a major barrier to health care in our area and found that there's a need for not only increased access to healthy food, but also knowledge about how to make healthier food choices," said Delvecchio Finley, president and CEO of Atrium Health Navicent. "The Food as Medicine Market and Food Farmacy program will give individuals in our community tools to live healthier, prevent illness and address serious health conditions that can be caused or worsened by insufficient intake of certain foods, like fresh fruits and vegetables." The market is accessible by appointment and is available for those in need of food assistance. There are special services for people with medical conditions for which nutrition could affect their overall well-being. Patients are able to select foods and place them in a cart, just like at a grocery store, so they can supplement their pantries and refrigerators. They also receive one-on-one mentoring from nutritionists, nurses, social workers and others who provide education on how to choose and prepare healthy foods. "Not only is food insecurity an issue for our community, but how we eat and prepare food is leading to both heart disease and diabetes," said Carol Babcock, Atrium Health Navicent's director of Palliative Care and Community Services. "The Food as Medicine Market and Food Farmacy is a collaboration with our downtown community neighbors to begin a journey to healthier living." Community partners include the Navicent Health Foundation, Middle Georgia Community Food Bank, Macon Outreach, the Society of St. Andrews, Mercer University, High Street Unitarian Universalist Church, Community Foundation of Central Georgia and the Macon-Bibb County Economic Opportunity Council. "Middle Georgia Community Food Bank serves 102,080 food insecure persons in a 24-county area through a network of agencies and we are delighted that Atrium Health Navicent is becoming a partner in this effort ," said Middle Georgia Community Food Bank President and CEO Kathy McCollum. "By combining access to food with advice tailored to individual health conditions, the market will help middle Georgians improve their diets and live healthier lives." — AMY LEIGH WOMACK LOCAL BUZZ FOOD AS MEDICINE MARKET NOW OPEN 22 maconmagazine.com | FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022