Once a month, Upstate Medical University hands out boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables to patients who need restricted diets, whether due to diabetes, cardiology issues, or other health concerns.

Upstate partners with the Food Bank of CNY which provides the boxes once a month for distribution at Upstate Health Care Center (UHCC) at 90 Presidential Plaza.

A record number of food boxes were handed out Thursday as cars snaked around UHCC, waiting in lines for the food delivery. Many of the cars in line were those of Door Dash drivers who drop off food to patients who are unable to get to the distribution.

The program was started in 2019 for people with diabetes but has since expanded to include patients with other health conditions that can be helped by healthy eating. Now it provides 270 boxes each month for patients.

Maribeth Schoeneck, quality compliance specialist in Adult Medicine, helps organize the monthly giveaways. She said each box is chock-full of fresh produce during the summer season. Each box also comes with a recipe card for items contained within. The boxes include fresh fruit and vegetables such as lettuce, carrots, apples, peppers, broccoli and berries.

Fruits and vegetables are beneficial for individuals with diabetes and other health issues due to their high nutritional value, fiber content, and ability to help regulate blood sugar levels. The goal is to provide healthy options for people who may not otherwise be able to afford it or have the ability to get it themselves.

Each month, six to eight Upstate staff members hand out the boxes in a drive through set up through the UHCC parking lot. If patients are unable to come to the pick-up, they can receive their box via Doordash.

“It’s quite a process and very organized,” Schoeneck said. “The patients love to see the community involvement of Upstate staff.”

The next drop off is June 26. Interested patients should talk to their provider if they would like to participate.

Schoeneck said the program is popular among the participants.

“They will tell us they are doing really well, that their A1C is down,” she said. “They just love it when we’re outside, they’re always very excited to see us.”

Caption: Upstate's Adult Medicine staff help load boxes of fresh produce to be delivered to patients.