The SNAP-Ed program seeks to promote health and prevent or postpone the onset of diet-related diseases among the SNAP population of the Bronx through providing nutrition education and obesity prevention services.
Contact Us.
Carolina Espinosa, MS, RDN; Program Director, SNAP-Ed
646.393.4000 x9874
cespinosa@bronxworks.org
SNAP-Ed Adapts to COVID Restrictions
When New York State issued stay at home orders on March 16, BronxWorks SNAP-Educators faced an unforeseen challenge: how do we provide essential food and nutrition programming amid a state-wide shelter in place order? The solution quickly surfaced: make the programming easily accessible within the household.
The SNAP-Ed team created a virtual platform that the community could access from the safety of their homes, including YouTube videos, virtual demos and workshops, digital and print distribution of newsletters and information, and online advocacy. There are even plans now to help create a podcast series. The BronxWorks Community Health Programs also adapted to online program delivery, creating cooking videos, virtual physical education workshops, hosting virtual yoga, and much more.
The team became experts on creating digital content around food. They are thinking about lighting, framing, angles, sound, and everything to create the best content we can for our communities,” said Program Director Carolina Espinosa.
As the pandemic continued, it became clear that senior citizens would become an increasingly difficult population to reach, as senior centers remained closed for safety. SNAP-Ed prioritized physical distribution of printed newsletters and information packets to senior residences and BronxWorks food pantries. They also began connecting with seniors over the phone to conduct check-ins and one-on-one nutrition sessions.