APLA Health’s Vance North Necessities of Life Program Now Covers 100% of Weekly Meals
Expansion of program coincides with National Nutrition Month
March 11, 2020 – Los Angeles. March is National Nutrition Month and APLA Health is proud to announce the expansion of its Vance North Necessities of Life Program (NOLP) to provide 100 percent of a person’s recommended daily allowance (RDA) for low-income people living with HIV in Los Angeles and increase the ability for more people to join the program.
“Being able to know where your next meal is coming from is just as important as knowing when your next doctor’s appointment is. People were getting stressed because they had to decide between groceries and whether to pay their rent or refill their medication” said Craig E. Thompson, CEO of APLA Health. “By providing the equivalent of three meals a day, seven days a week, we are able to reduce food insecurity and help clients with reducing living expenses. “
“Previously, the Vance North Necessities of Life Program represented a supplemental food program, providing 50% of a person’s weekly RDA, but in with the high cost of living in Los Angeles, we knew that just wasn’t enough. 100% of the people who use our program live below an annual income of $25,000, which is stark comparison to the median LA income of $55,000,” said Jeff Bailey, director of HIV Access Programs at APLA Health. “Now, not only can we provide more food for individuals, we also want more individuals to join the program and receive food.
The Los Angeles County Division of HIV & STD Programs provided funding for the expansion of services. Founded in 1986, NOLP is the largest food bank for people living with HIV and AIDS, distributing more than 101,000 bags of food at eight locations in Los Angeles County, including North Hollywood, Mid-Wilshire, Long Beach, Venice, Pasadena, South Los Angeles, Claremont and Lancaster. More information about NOLP can be found at www.aplahealth.org/NOLP
ABOUT APLA HEALTH: APLA Health’s mission is to achieve healthcare equity and promote well-being for the LGBT and other underserved communities and people living with and affected by HIV. We remain committed to ending the epidemic in our lifetime. We are a nonprofit, federally qualified health center serving more than 18,000 people annually. We provide 20 different services at 16 locations throughout Los Angeles County, including: medical, dental, behavioral health and HIV specialty care; PrEP counseling and management; health education and HIV prevention; and STD screening and treatment. For people living with HIV, we offer housing support; benefits counseling; home healthcare; and the Vance North Necessities of Life Program food pantries; among several other critically needed services. Additionally, we are leaders in advocating for policy and legislation that positively impacts the LGBT and HIV communities and conduct community-based research on issues affecting the communities we serve. For more information, please visit us at aplahealth.org.
