Tips & Tricks: Resources in Nassau County
Diabetic wellness and nutrition workshops
Harmony Healthcare nutritionist Christine Santisteban will run a free “Taking Charge of Diabetes” nutrition and wellness workshops at noon on Feb. 18, March 17, and April 21 at FHC’s facility at 380 Nassau Road in Roosevelt. Light refreshments will be served, and space is limited; call 516-571-8600 to register. Harmony Healthcare nutritionist Monica Gonzalez holds nutrition groups on the second Thursday of the month at the Hempstead location (135 Main St.; 516-572-1300 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and usually the second to last or on the last Friday of the month at the Westbury location (1600 Stewart Ave., Suite 300; 516-546-4174) from 9 to 10:30 a.m.
CLICK HERE to find a Workshop near you!
Fitness Opportunities
The Yes We Can Community Center in Westbury (141 Garden St.; 516-869-6311) has a gym and basketball court available to members; fees per month are $10 for seniors, $12 for adult residents/$15 for adult non-residents, and $5 to $6 for children for two months (children don’t have access to the gym but can use the basketball court). Those looking to exercise in Hempstead, can also go to the local Retro Fitness Gym, which also makes childcare available as part of membership, or Planet Fitness, both of which are not expensive to join.
Food Pantries
Local food pantries in Hempstead are located at Iglesia Pentecostal de Hempstead (516-292-1780), Rehoboth Fellowship Center(516-505-0514), Catholic Charities (516-733-7045), Family & Children’s Association (516-486-7200), Long Island Council of Churches (516-565-0390), and Economic Opportunity Commission of Nassau County, Inc. (516-292-9710). Local food pantries in Westbury are located at First Baptist Cathedral of Westbury (516-333-5422), St. Brigid’s Parish (516-997-5507), Westbury Divine Congregational Church of God (516-333-8262), and Catholic Charities (516-733-7045). In addition, the Hempstead Family Health Center (135 Main St.; 516-572-1300) has a small food pantry that’s available to all patients. Long Island Cares, which provides resources for the hungry and food insecure on Long Island, drops off food at the Harmony Healthcare in Roosevelt (380 Nassau Road; 516-571-8600).
Online Resources
Great educational resources for people with diabetes include the following:
- Sponsored by the American Diabetes Association, www.diabetes.org shows people living with diabetes how to be healthy. The website was recently updated and will soon feature a Spanish version.
- Offered by the American Diabetes Association, www.diabetes.org/diabetes/type-2/living-with-type-2-diabetes program is an online resource that offers free booklets and ongoing email updates to help those living with diabetes.
- Learn about heart-healthy eating on a budget HERE
- Learn about diabetes resources and patient education opportunities on Long Island at www.longislanddiabetes.org/resources.htm
- For affordable meal planning, great ways to add more vegetables, and great ideas for using leftovers, visit www.budgetbytes.com
