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The Health First Kosciusko Advisory Committee is considering implementing a program providing food for mothers in need in the county.
At its meeting on Wednesday, Health First Kosciusko Coordinator Kurt Carlson said he had spoken with the Milford Food Bank about the potential program.
Through the program, pregnant Kosciusko County women who meet in their homes with visiting nurses from Healthier Moms and Babies in Fort Wayne and Goodwill Industries of Michiana in South Bend could get food delivered to them regularly, with them also receiving some food after their babies are born.
The county would have to pay the bank out of its special health funding from the state "5 cents per pound for food" plus some other costs as needed, said Carlson.
Committee member Rich Haddad said he liked the idea, but wondered if those from Kosciusko-based organizations like Combined Community Services could be connected to the program instead of the organizations based in Fort Wayne and South Bend.
He noted a local organization might better "own" the program. Haddad also suggested grocery gift cards could be given out to women in need instead of the food directly.
No final decision was made on the program yet.
In other business, the committee:
• Heard that its budget for 2025 had been adjusted somewhat. It's now $1,865,580.
• Heard from Carlson that he's still waiting to hear back from Warsaw Community Schools about getting a bus for a mobile health clinic in the county.
• Agreed to not have a September meeting. The board's next meeting will be 6 p.m. Oct. 23 in the Kosciusko County Courthouse's Old Courtroom.
