Tom Shicowich’s story
Tom Shicowich incurred nearly $200,000 in medical bills six years ago after having a toe amputated due to his Type 2 diabetes.
Being more than 100 pounds overweight and on a very tight budget, Tom couldn’t afford fresh fruit or vegetables, so dinner was often fast food or heat and eat food and a soda. "You're supposed to eat healthy, but you have to be able to afford eating healthy," Tom, 56, says. At his grocery store, "all I could afford was canned ravioli or a Hungry Man meal to keep my belly full.”
Six months after enrolling in the Fresh Food Farmacy, the 6-foot-5-inch former high school track competitor lost more than 45 pounds and cut his HBA1C level from 11 to a normal level of less than 7.0. Now, Tom and his girlfriend cook fresh, healthy meals at home, and it’s much easier for him to climb a flight of stairs or take a walk.
Rita Perkins’ story
Rita Perkins, a 58-year-old caretaker to 3 children under 14, has been living with diabetes since 1996. When her care team at Geisinger Kulpmont told her about a new program that would provide diabetes education and consultations with Geisinger dietitians and pharmacists, she decided to enroll.
“At the time, I wasn’t eating fresh fruits and vegetables,” she recalls. “And I realized that I had to get healthy to take care of the kids. I couldn’t let myself go — they depend on me.”
Ms. Perkins joined Geisinger’s Fresh Food Farmacy program in 2016 and never looked back. Since then, she’s seen her blood glucose (A1C) drop from 13.8 to 5.9 percent and she’s lost roughly 60 pounds. She says the program set her up for success because the team took the time to understand her personal situation and needs, then offered guidance accordingly.
“I learned that portion control was a big issue for my family and I,” Ms. Perkins explains. “So, I started using smaller plates when serving dinner and stuck to the recommended serving size. I also knew what to look for when grocery shopping so that we were getting three nutritious meals per day.”
Ms. Perkins credits Fresh Food Farmacy for helping her make strides toward a healthier lifestyle — literally.
“The classes took place a few blocks away from my house, so I started walking there,” says Ms. Perkins. “I found I had more energy and started going on daily walks, tracking my steps on my phone.”
Ms. Perkins’ current goal is to get at least 1,000 steps per day, and she vows to keep up with her exercise routine even though she officially graduated from the program in December 2020. Because not only did the program teach her how to eat well and stay well, but it also showed her what she was capable of on her own.
“I never graduated from high school, so this was my first time wearing a cap and gown,” says Ms. Perkins. “It was a really awesome feeling. I’m so grateful to my team at Geisinger who helped me see that yes, I can do this — not just for me, but for my family.”
Dan Huston’s story
When Dan Huston, a registered nurse with Geisinger Health Plan, won a supermarket shopping spree for donating to the Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way, he knew exactly what to do with his winnings -- donate it all to the Fresh Food Farmacy.
With only two minutes to grab as many groceries as possible at Weis Markets, Dan focused his attention to fresh produce and lean protein including pork and fish.
At checkout, Dan’s total came to $535.79, and Pepsi, the sponsor of the shopping spree, donated an additional $1,500 in Weis gift cards to the Fresh Food Farmacy. “It’s so nice to give back to the community,” Dan said. “I got things that are really needed in the Farmacy.”
Don Manbeck’s story
Fresh Food Farmacy Lewistown celebrates anniversary: Honoring the teams and volunteers who care for our communities
Geisinger Fresh Food Farmacy Lewistown location is celebrating its anniversary this month after opening its doors in 2019.
Fresh Food Farmacy (FFF) is a program that turns education and food into life-changing results for our patients who have high A1C levels and are food insecure. The program provides interventions including care management, diabetes education and consultations with our clinical care teams.
Thanking our teams
“We’re thankful to be able to provide our patients with ‘food as medicine’ right here in central Pennsylvania,” remarked Kirk Thomas, chief administrative officer, Western Region. “Our teams at Fresh Food Farmacy are working to change the lives of our patients and really move the needle on the health of our communities.”
Fresh Food Farmacy is an example of our Geisinger Medical Home model, which brings team members together, working to achieve the best outcomes for patients.
Volunteers who make it happen
“We have four volunteers here, and it’s important for people to know what our volunteers are doing in our communities and for our patients,” said Taylor Kohler, wellness associate, at FFF Lewistown. “Their contributions are invaluable, and they deserve credit for the great work that’s happening here. We can’t do what we do without them.”
Don Manbeck is one of those volunteers. He enjoys spending his time out in the community and giving back. Don is at FFF every morning, Monday through Friday despite working at a local restaurant in the evenings.
“I like interacting with the patients and the staff here,” Don said.
Don’s a military veteran who grew up in the Jersey Shore area. He moved to Strodes Mills, a small town near Lewistown, in the early 1970s and has been here since.
“Volunteering is a good way to use my time. I’m glad I’m here,” said Don.
More about FFF
Patients receive more than 20 hours of diabetes education with clinical staff and access to the FFF app, which includes healthy recipes and nutrition information.
Patients receive enough food to prepare healthy, nutritious meals for their whole family, twice a day for five days (10 meals per week).
FFF patients have the ability to attend an evidence-based weekly diabetes or chronic disease self-management program and have access to other no-cost classroom education offered by our dietitians and team members. Geisinger providers can refer members to the FFF via the EPIC 178 referral.
Not only is Don a volunteer, but he is also a successful participant of the FFF. He has improved his weight, reduced his sweet tooth, kept his GFR stable, and reduced his A1c score from 9.5 to 5.5 during his time in the program. Don is one of many patients improving their health management with the help of the Fresh Food Farmacy program!
Congratulations to the teams at FFF for their amazing work!
Want to make a difference like Don? Learn more about Geisinger’s volunteer opportunities here.
