Thanks to the You First CSA Program, 17 womxn in Bennington County have been given free CSA shares from Clearbrook Farm. Imagine buying farm-fresh fruits and veggies throughout the growing season from a local Vermont farm! Previously called Ladies First, You First has offered a $250 credit to eligible members. You First CSA pick-ups began on June 15th. We’ve already started receiving updates from members picking up produce and can’t wait to see more. In addition to recipes and photos shared with us, participants can share their CSA participation on Facebook with #YouFirstVT and #BenningtonCares. We want everyone to know about this wonderful You First benefit. What a summer this will be for 17 Bennington County You First members!
I met with Cindy Krautheim, GBICS’s You First Champion, and Siobhan Donegan, Lifestyle Program Coordinator for You First, to learn more about the program:
You First
Q. To start with, what is your role with You First?
Cindy: I’m Bennington County’s You First Champion. It means I am the Bennington County person seeking You First membership, application facilitation, Heart Health coaching, Smoking Cessation Counseling, and gym memberships. Periodically, You First offers its members special perks such as VT State Park Passes and Farmers’ Market Coupons – I help members take advantage of those perks.
Siobhan: I work as the Lifestyle Program Coordinator for You First. We strive to reduce chronic disease for our member population by promoting healthier lifestyles. You First partners with dozens of organizations across the state to set up nutrition- and fitness-related opportunities for members, and then I work with both members and partners to boost member participation. A few examples of our partnering programs include FoodFit Bennington, WW (formerly Weight Watchers), Take off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS), local fitness memberships, and healthy eating incentives such as the USDA farmers’ market coupons and CSAs from local farms.
Q. How can people become You First members?
Cindy: To apply for a You First membership, call me at (802) 447-3700 Ext 4 for information and/or an appointment. Eligible womxn can become You First members by completing and submitting the application or calling (800) 508-2222. The application takes about 20 minutes to fill out.
CSA Program
Q.Why did You First start this program?
Siobhan: We started the CSA program because, for the past several years, members have shared that they have limited access to fresh fruits and vegetables due to cost. We thought that by offering the CSA option we could help boost overall fruit and veggie consumption for our members.
Q. Who is eligible for the You First CSA program?
Cindy: You First members 40 years old and older who are up to date with their mammograms, Pap tests, and their Heart Healthy screens (which include weight, two blood pressure readings in an office visit, glucose screen, and cholesterol screens) are eligible for CSA shares. Plus, these members had to submit their screening results to You First headquarters, agree to pick up their produce, and agree to share how they use their fruits and veggies throughout the season.
Siobhan: Members also need to set at least one nutrition- or fitness-related goal and stay connected to their health coach (Cindy), so she can check on these goals and monitor progress. We encourage all CSA recipients to set a goal to eat more fruits and vegetables. You First also asks that members receiving the CSA keep Cindy informed of how they use the food purchased. Photos, recipes, quotes, and testimonials are encouraged. Besides that feedback, we will further evaluate this program by monitoring any changes in weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, or blood sugar for participants.
Clearbrook Farm
Q. What sort of things will members get in their CSAs?
Cindy: You First members can select their choice of vegetables and fruits available at Clearbrook according to their household’s needs and preferences. You First offered a $250 credit for members to purchase whatever vegetables and fruits they wish from Clearbrook when they shop. Members may shop any time Clearbrook is open – there is no specified day or time.
Q. How did Clearbrook Farm become involved?
Cindy: Clearbrook became involved because I suggested Siobhan call them to see if they would participate with You First members.
Siobhan: Yes! Cindy shared with us that Clear Brook Farm has an excellent reputation locally and offers a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. We also love their unique and very flexible model that allows members to shop anytime at their farm stand which is open 7 days, and/or at the Londonderry Farmers Market on Saturdays. Members basically do their own shopping for the produce they prefer and will use. This differs from the standard CSA food pick-up option which is often a narrow window of time on one day of the week, where recipients do not get to choose the foods they get. With Clear Brook Farm, members get to choose. We believe this model will result in increased fruit and veggie consumption for participants.
Learn More
Q. How can folks learn more about You First’s CSA program?
Cindy: Folks can learn more about the CSA program by calling me at (802) 447-3700 Ext. 4 and leaving a message. The CSA program is closed for this year, but the free mammograms, Paps, and Heart Health screenings benefits continue throughout the year. Any womxn that becomes a member can get started on fulfilling the requirements AND take care of her health needs now. Or maybe she would like a gym membership when the weather gets colder – we can help with that.
Q. Any other thoughts or comments people should know about the program?
Cindy: I want womxn to know that a VT woman must be 21 and over and not receive Medicare B. The financial eligibility for You First is MUCH higher than Medicaid. A single womxn is eligible if she earns up to $31,225 a year or $600 a week. Family income only includes a spouse, not a significant other. If diagnosed with pre-cancer or cancer of the breast or cervix, You First will refer her to Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Plan reserved for You First members only. This special medical insurance would pay for all of her medical care. You First will pay a womxn’s co-pay and deductible if needed for diagnosis.
Siobhan: For women ages 21-39 who are uninsured or have very limited insurance, You First can pay for Pap tests or (if medically necessary) Mammograms. Women ages 21-39 would not be eligible for our heart health screening or for our fitness- or nutrition-related offerings.
More info on eligibility can be found at www.YouFirstVT.org