Great Idea Library

The effort that would become FoodShare began as a research project at USC School of Medicine in 2015. So many of the patients seen at USC were diabetic or pre-diabetic, dealing with heart disease or obesity, and the question was posed—what if these patients were treated with healthy food? What began as a small research project to measure the impact of healthy foods has become a hugely successful, nearly statewide effort.

The SCJNN is designed to address the “justice gap,” which is the difference between the civil legal needs of low-income Americans and the resources available to meet those needs. The demand for legal services is high, but accessibility is low, and people experiencing poverty are excluded from equitable participation in the justice system.

Hub City Roots’ Seed to Table Program began in 2018, serving local students with STEM-based activities during field trips to the Hub City Roots Urban Teaching Farm. In 2020, Covid hit and caused a major disruption. Field trips were no longer an option, so the program created the Virtual Seed to Table video series, as well as Seed to Table On the Go, which visited locations like the library and provided nutrition workshops and free produce to students. In February 2022, the new Seed to Table Partner Program model was piloted with The Franklin School, Cleveland Academy of Leadership, and Mary H. Wright Elementary School. This model is still being implemented today.

Food is Medicine SC is a committee under the South Carolina Food Policy Council umbrella. The committee seeks to improve the coordination among organizations working to advance healthy food access within health care settings as well as to both identify and facilitate the adoption of state-level Food is Medicine policy and system changes.

New Horizons Family Health Services, Healthcare for the Homeless – Mobile Medical Unit (MMU), is a 35’ doctor’s office on wheels with 2 exam rooms, the ability to draw patient labs, and staffed with a medical provider and clinical staff. A smaller unit with one room will be launching soon, once it is fitted and staffed.

The Equity in Public Health Initiative (EPHI) is a strategic partnership between three non-profits (LiveWell Greenville, the Hispanic Alliance, and the Greenville Equity and Economic Mobility Commission [REEM]) and Clemson University and Furman University. Its aim is to improve the health of Black and Hispanic individuals living in Greenville County by addressing policies and practices that contribute to structural racism and perpetuate health inequities.