House of Hope Panel Explores Poverty and Health Connection
STUART, Fla. - The link between poverty and health is a profound one. It’s also a fact of life for many people on the Treasure Coast and across the nation.
House of Hope is sponsoring a panel of community nonprofit leaders to explore how poverty affects health and how health in turn affects economic status. At 10 a.m. on Friday, September 24, the panel will meet at the Kane Center in Stuart in a session that will be held both in-person and carried on Zoom.
The discussion is entitled “At the Crossroads of Poverty and Health” and will feature Karen Ripper, CEO of the Council on Aging of Martin County; Samantha Suffich, CEO of the Martin County Healthy Start Coalition; Marybeth Pena, Nurse Program Specialist and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist for Florida Department of Health in Martin County; and Rob Ranieri, CEO of House of Hope.
“Poverty means more than limited resources for basics like food and housing,” says Ranieri. “It may also mean poor health, which in turn traps people in poverty. It’s a ruthless cycle that affects our friends and neighbors.”
The community is invited to participate by registering at https://tinyurl.com/HOHdiscussion. There is no charge for admission. Covid protocols will be observed.
The session will be recorded and available to the public after September 24.
About House of Hope
Founded in 1984, House of Hope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers Martin County residents to overcome hunger and hardship. House of Hope touches the lives of more than 7,000 people each month helping with basic needs such as food, clothing, furniture, financial assistance, as well as longer-term case management services that help build life skills for a more self-sufficient future.
The organization has service centers and thrift stores in Stuart, Hobe Sound, Indiantown, and Jensen Beach. House of Hope’s Golden Gate Center for Enrichment in Stuart offers free programs, technology, and workshops designed to enhance life skills, earning potential, health, and overall well-being.
House of Hope also operates the Growing Hope Farm in Palm City and several nutrition gardens that provide sustainable sources of fresh produce for clients as well as nutrition education and vocational opportunities to the community. For more information, visit hohmartin.org or call 772-286-4673. Updates and announcements can also be found on Facebook, Instagram Instagram, and Twitter.
