Seeking to fill the gaps and address the needs of local residents in health equity and wellness services, the Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley (CHT) has served as a provider, funder, and partner for the last 24 years.
As a provider, CHT has the Diabetes Health Center which provides diabetes and nutrition education and support for those living with diabetes and prediabetes; the VeggieRx program that is a produce prescription program for those facing food insecurity; El Mercado, a health and wellness focused farmer's market, and El Mini Mercado, a year-round food pantry for patients with nutrition and diabetic needs.
As a funder, CHT annually invests in local organizations to improve wellness and build health equity in the Pajaro Valley. Since the inception of its gifting programs in 2001, nearly $4.6 million has been awarded to impact 250,000 individuals. The gifting program includes grants awarded to organizations, emergency funding, and scholarships to prospective health professionals.
As a partner, CHT collaborates with agencies and industries to support the health and wellness of the community. Some examples include: the Food, Farming, and Health Policy Council in partnership with the Second Harvest Food Bank, an advocacy group dedicated to addressing local food access issues, the Carey-Davis Community Garden in collaboration with Watsonville Police Activities League, which entailed the revitalization and maintenance of the garden to increase access to fresh food, and Veggie Voucher, a partnership with PVUSD to provide fresh food for students and their families.
The Community Health Trust has had the honor of serving the Pajaro Valley through its services and programming and is dedicated to creating a lasting impact for years to come.
