SMART MEALS

Nutrition Education Program

Education and support for individuals and families

living with HIV to improve nutrition and health

Smart Meals is a program of

The Albany Damien Center

The Capital Region’s HIV/AIDS Community Center

12 South Lake Avenue

Albany, NY 12203

518-449-7119

How to Donate a Smart Meal

 and help families living with HIV who would otherwise go hungry

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SMART MEALS

Smart Meals improves nutrition for individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS in the 17 county upstate New York region through four education programs: 

1.        Community Meal Program

2.        Grocery Education Program

3.        Food Voucher Program

4.        Home Delivered Meals

Each program comes with personalized dietary assessments and advice from our on-staff Registered Dietitian.  

Become a member of the Albany Damien Center to make nutrition a priority in improving your health while living with HIV.

Community Meals

A six month education program where members enjoy restaurant quality lunches and dinners served Monday through Thursday in the supportive and comfortable atmosphere of the Albany Damien Center. Our Registered Dietitian is available at every meal to answer questions from members.

Nutrition education classes  focus on topics to help individuals living with HIV to learn how to prepare and shop for healthy, nutritious meals.

Grocery Education 

A six month education program provides members with a weekly grocery bag that includes various foods and recipes to prepare nutritious meals at home. Weekly nutrition education classes cover a range of topics to help members stretch their food dollars and shop for nutritious meal ingredients.

  Food Vouchers

A six month education program available to eligible members and dependent children who live in the following New York State counties: Clinton, Columbia, Delaware, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Green, Hamilton, Montgomery, Otsego, Schoharie, Warren, and Washington Counties. 

Vouchers are distributed monthly and can be used at Price Chopper Supermarkets to purchase nutritious food for 30 meals per month. Cornell Cooperative Extension provides (at least) two nutrition education classes in the member’s home. 

Members will also receive monthly mailings of nutrition education materials as well as guidance from our Registered Dietitian.

Home Delivered Meals 

Hot, healthy meals are delivered to the homes of members who are unable to shop or prepare food for themselves.

Eligibility Requirements:

Any person living with HIV who:

1.    can provide proof of HIV+ status,

2.    is at nutritional risk & wants to learn to eat better,

3.    is a member of the Albany Damien Center,

4.    meets the criteria for the respective service as outlined below.

Dependent children may also receive these services.

Community Meal Program - Members must be unable to purchase nutritious food due to limited financial resources and/or inadequate cooking facilities to prepare meals.  Available to anyone in the 17 county upstate NY region.

Grocery Education Program - Members must be unable to purchase nutritious food due to limited financial resources and have the ability to cook and store meals in their home. Available to anyone in the 17 county upstate NY region.

Food Voucher Program - Members must be unable to purchase nutritious food due to limited financial resources, but be able to shop for and prepare their own meals. Available to residents of the New York State counties of: Clinton, Columbia, Delaware, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Green, Hamilton, Montgomery, Otsego, Schoharie, Warren, and Washington. 

Home Delivered Meals - Members must be unable to shop or prepare meals for themselves due to physical and/or mental challenges, and lack a network of family or friends to provide such support. 

Improve your health by choosing nutritious, well-balanced meals every day!

For More Information Contact:

Joanna Mackenzie

518-449-7119 ext. 19

E-mail: JoannaM@AlbanyDamienCenter.org

Eat Better!

Feel Better!

Live Better with HIV!