Health literacy grant awarded to Foley Library and School of Nursing

Two squishmallows are perched above a sign that reads "Eat Healthy, have fun"
May 31, 2022
Opportunity Northeast

Gonzaga University's Foley Library and the School of Nursing and Human Physiology (SNHP) teamed up to work towards addressing food insecurity and health literacy in the Logan neighborhood. 

Candise Branum, Health Sciences Librarian at the Foley Library, along with Assistant Dean of SNHP Jen Towers and Program Manager Gena Hoxha of SNHP, built a program that promotes health literacy and healthy food preparation for underserved families in northeast Spokane. Gonzaga resides in the Logan neighborhood, where 25% of residents live below the poverty level, and food insecurity in children has drastically increased alongside the COVID-19 pandemic.

Educational materials and programming were offered to community members at the Campus Kitchen’s monthly neighborhood dinners and at the Logan Block Party, an annual tradition that brings together all of the residents and businesses within the Logan neighborhood in Spokane.

Collaborating with the teachers at Logan Elementary, age-appropriate health literacy curriculum were presented to K-6 students throughout the Spring. 

In partnership with the Center for Community Engagement, the programming culminated in a campus visit for 5th and 6th graders, where students had the opportunity to engage in interactive health literacy programming and enjoy a healthy lunch on campus. 

This project is supported by an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant award via the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the Washington State Library.