Community Benefit Initiatives

Learn More About Our Initiatives:

The Farm at Augusta Health

In winter of 2017, we partnered with the Allegheny Mountain Institute to develop a sustainable production farm located on our hospital campus – in January 2024, Augusta Health assumed sole management of the farm, furthering our vision to be a national model for community-based healthcare.

The purpose of the farm is to:

1. Provide access to locally grown, nutrient dense produce to our community: patients, employees, and visitors
2. Create an education hub for teaching about healthy nutrition and sustainable agriculture practices 

Crops to Community

The Crops to Community Fresh Food Box Program was implemented in April of 2020 in response to the food access needs that were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 50 food boxes are delivered bi-weekly to community members who have been identified as having food insecurity. These boxes consist of fresh meat sourced from Cool Breeze Farms, eggs from Polyface farms, and produce from the Farm at Augusta Health. The Community Outreach and Partnerships team, the Farm team, and a group of community volunteers deliver the boxes to the patients’ homes.

Food FARMacy

Food FARMacy is our physician referral, prescription produce program for patients with chronic disease diagnoses, coordinated in partnership with The Farm at Augusta Health. Through the program, participants receive nutrition education, take part in a cooking demonstration, and receive free take-home produce as part of their ongoing treatment.

Food Pantry

The Augusta Health Food Pantry strives to increase equitable access to nutritious food for patients and community members who have been identified as having food insecurity. The Food Pantry is located in the Fitness Center at 107 Medical Center Circle, Fishersville VA, across from Outpatient Diabetes and Nutrition Education Suite 101. Premier partners include the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank and The Farm at Augusta Health. For more information and hours of operation, please visit https://www.augustahealth.com/food-pantry/. 

Homeless Healthcare Connection

The Homeless Healthcare Connection provides access to preventative health care services to our community members experiencing homelessness.

Get Fresh

Get Fresh is in partnership with Waynesboro City Schools to increase education of nutrition and physical activity in youth. This includes uplifting the work of the Agricultural Educator through educational resources and collaboration between staff. The program also includes facilitating a four-week education series for youth and families to participate in cooking classes, physical activity exercises, and discussion-based learning around nutrition. Additional partners on this project are Virginia Cooperative Extension, Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, and Project Grows.

Walk-to-School Week

Walk-to-School Week is held each year in partnership with local schools and other community organizations. Partially grant-funded by Safe Routes to School, the initiative promotes physical activity among elementary and middle school students and teaches students pedestrian safety.

RN Maternal Health Navigator

The RN Maternal Health Navigator partners with pregnant women in the community who could benefit from having someone to assist them in accessing resources in the community.  Resources may include education, maternity clothing, baby supplies, lactation support, food access, hygiene products, or simply someone to support them during their pregnancy journey.

In addition, we offer a Mothering Together support group and Baby Steps Cohorts.  The Mothering Together support group meets monthly to provide emotional support, information, encouragement, and resources for any woman in the community who wants to connect with other women walking the path of motherhood.  The Baby Steps cohorts are a series of classes focusing on non-traditional childbirth classes such as nutrition, meal planning, activity, contraception after childbirth, breastfeeding, mental well-being, and yoga with the added bonus of free gifts throughout the classes.

Screening Events

We hold annual screening events at Augusta Health, including an annual cancer screening and the Heart Health Fair. Additional screenings can be requested for community events.