The SNAP-Ed nutrition education team at Healthy Androscoggin was recently presented with the NorthSTAR award by Central Maine Healthcare (CMH). Healthy Androscoggin is an affiliate of CMH.
The NorthSTAR award recognizes the efforts of teams that exceed one or more of the healthcare system’s Service Standards.
Healthy Androscoggin’s SNAP-Ed nutrition education team has been providing education to SNAP eligible participants in Androscoggin County for more than a decade. In 2024 alone, team member nutrition educators Emily Smith, Rebecca Schoen and Rachel Legendre hosted 523 nutrition education sessions throughout Androscoggin County, reaching 1,894 unique participants and making 8,415 contacts. They visited 30 different class locations to teach about food, nutrition, budgeting and cooking.
“Emily, Rebecca and Rachel are leaders in their field and well respected by partners, participants and colleagues,” said Lindsay Gannon, health promotion manager at Healthy Androscoggin. “They are held up as a model team within the entire Maine SNAP-Ed program, proudly representing Central Maine Healthcare.”
“SNAP-Ed has had a powerful impact on our youth and community,” said Fowsia Musse, executive director of Maine Community Integration. “Through its programs, we’ve been able to connect young people to critical education about nutrition, food access and healthy living, topics that are too often overlooked but are essential for long-term well-being.
Pictured left to right: Lindsay Gannon, Rachel Legendre, Emily Smith, Rebecca Schoen