The results are in

Every year, MANNA conducts a client satisfaction survey based on the Performance Outcome Measurement Project, a validated survey tool supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The survey gives clients the opportunity to provide feedback on all aspects of the MANNA program, including food quality, delivery, packaging, nutrition education, and how they view the impact of MANNA’s services on their own health. MANNA then uses the results in our efforts to continually enhance our program. To date, we have received over 200 responses from our clients and are thrilled to share the results.

Thomas and Betty

  MANNA Client, Thomas and wife, Betty

 

When asked about their overall opinion of the MANNA program, 99.5% of clients said they were satisfied, with 85% reporting that they were “very satisfied.” MANNA meals met high standards, with 98.6% of clients expressing that MANNA provides quality food each week. Additionally, almost 96% of clients believe our services helped them to eat healthier foods, achieve or maintain a healthy weight, improve their health, and continue to live at home. Nearly 85% of clients said that MANNA services helped them to decrease their hospitalization rate, supporting our Food is Medicine philosophy. Finally, clients shared that MANNA helped them to better understand nutrition, with more than 95% saying they are better prepared to make healthy eating choices on their own, a true indication of the lasting educational effects of the program.

 

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Food is Medicine Advocacy

Our research shows that people battling life-threatening illnesses who receive MANNA services save healthcare dollars and experience improved health, all while having the quality and stability of their lives enhanced. Our staff, volunteers, donors and clients know that the mission is important and impactful, but it is important that our elected officials understand MANNA’s critical role as well. MANNA’s advocacy committee develops and implements strategies to advocate the “food is medicine” concept and continually works to advance MANNA’s mission.

With crucial support and training from the M·A·C AIDS Fund, our Executive Director, Sue Daugherty, Director of Policy and Institutional Affairs, Ann Hoskins-Brown and Community Outreach and Advocacy Specialist, Katelyn Baron will be attending the annual Food & Nutrition Services Symposium in Washington DC from September 29th to October 1st. This symposium encourages collaboration between peer organizations and offers training on interacting with elected official and academic institutions. The MANNA team will meet with staff from the offices of Representative Chaka Fattah, Representative Bob Brady and Senator Pat Toomey from Pennsylvania along with several of their New Jersey counterparts. MANNA’s goal is to help these officials understand that food truly is medicine and nutritional support should ultimately be a reimbursable standard of care that is a right to everyone facing a life threatening illness.

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Continue to check our blog for more updates on MANNA’s “food is medicine” advocacy work.