NOAH’s Holiday Meal Program Brings Families Together

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NOAH’s Palomino Health Center was filled with holiday cheer Saturday, December 14 as we handed out food boxes to patients as part of our Holiday Meal Program. Designed to support families facing significant challenges such as food insecurity, homelessness, or other life-changing hardships, this initiative helps ensure that selected NOAH patients and their families will enjoy a festive and nutritious holiday meal.  

With the help of Lyft, St. Mary’s Food Bank, and other generous community support we distributed a total of 100 meal boxes through this program, each carefully curated to feed a family of four. These packages included fresh fruits and vegetables, a carbohydrate, and a protein voucher for a turkey or ham, making it possible for families to prepare a balanced and delicious holiday meal.  

We were especially touched by the stories each family shared with us. Their courage highlights the real impact of programs like this, and we are honored to serve as a source of hope during this season.  

This wonderful event was made possible not only by our sponsors and donors but also by the dedicated volunteers who donated their time to assemble and distribute the meal boxes. Their enthusiasm and hard work truly reflect the spirit of giving, and we are grateful to have such an incredible team.

Lastly, thank you to everyone who participated, donated, or cheered us on from afar. Stronger together, we’re building a community that supports one another.  

Happy holidays from all of us at NOAH!  

If you are experiencing food insecurity, please contact NOAH Community Resources at 480-882-4545 or learn more here. We will have a limited supply of free food available on a first come, first served basis at our Cholla Health Center beginning at 1pm Tuesday, December 24.

Community Care Day Event

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We are thrilled to announce an upcoming event that goes beyond the usual back-to-school preparations, offering valuable resources for the entire family. NOAH will be hosting a Community Care Day on Saturday, July 27, at NOAH’s Cholla Health Center. This event is open to all patients and community members and offers free supplies and essential health information.

Event Details:

  • Date: Saturday, July 27
  • Time: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
  • Location: Cholla Health Center

Resources Offered:

  • Diapers and Wipes*
  • School Supplies*
  • Wellness Kits*
  • Food Boxes*
  • Haircuts
  • Shoes*
  • Health Resource Information
  • Application Assistance for SNAP, AHCCCS, Marketplace, and more

Mark your calendars and help us make this event a success by sharing this information with friends, family, and anyone who might benefit from these resources.

Special thanks to our presenting sponsor Molina Healthcare and to the team at Jaburg Wilk Law Firm for their contribution of diapers and school supplies. We can’t wait to see you!

*While supplies last.

NOAH and Molina Healthcare: Programs Benefiting our Community

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At NOAH, we are committed to improving the health and well-being of our community. Our partnership with Molina Healthcare has been vital in enhancing our services and reaching more individuals in need. We are proud to highlight some of the key programs and events that with support from Molina Healthcare have made a significant impact on our community.

Fresh for You Food Distribution System 

Addressing food insecurity and promoting healthy lifestyle choices are central to our mission at NOAH. Thanks to the generous funding from Molina Healthcare, NOAH purchased a bank of 16 refrigerated lockers for our Cholla Health Center. The Fresh for You food distribution program provides our food-insecure patients and community members with easy and dignified access to healthy produce and other nutritious items.

In collaboration with Farmbox Arizona and St. Mary’s Food Bank, we ensure a steady supply of locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables and shelf-stable items to fill these lockers. This partnership not only supports local agriculture but also guarantees that our patients receive the freshest and most nutritious options available. 

Since launching in late 2023, demand for our Fresh for You food distribution program has soared creating the need for even more food lockers. Molina Healthcare was quick to support this community need by funding additional food lockers doubling our distribution capacity to 32 food lockers by August 2024.  

Books for Kids

During well-child checks, children receive books generously donated by Molina Healthcare, available in either English or Spanish based on the family’s preference. These books are theirs to keep, encouraging reading at home and supporting literacy.

To make the experience enjoyable for the entire family, we also provide books for siblings. This ensures that if a sibling accompanies the child to the appointment, both children can enjoy a book, making visits to our health centers a positive and engaging experience for families.

Special Events

NOAHfest Carnival and Health Fair

Molina Healthcare was the presenting sponsor two years in a row for our 2023 and 2024 NOAHfest events. These free one-day community events featured a day of fun, entertainment, and health at NOAH’s Cholla Health Center in Scottsdale. 

Thanks to Molina’s contribution, NOAH was able to offer this event to hundreds of individuals and families who enjoyed a variety of activities, including inflatable and tabletop games, face painting, crafts, and giveaways, as well as information and health screenings from NOAH providers. 

Connecting with patients and community members about healthcare in this non-traditional way created an opportunity to educate more than 800 participants about NOAH services and community resources.  

Back-to-School Wellness Events

Back to School season is a great time to ensure students are up to date on vaccinations, on-track for growth and development, and ready for the new school year. With support from Molina Healthcare, NOAH was able to fund the post-COVID-19 return of special back to school wellness events in 2023. Over 700 children benefitted from our increased appointment availability, extended Saturday schedules, and free resources to get the school year started.  

Community Care Day

In 2024, Molina and NOAH are going beyond back to school with resources available for the whole family during a special Community Care Day event on July 27 at NOAH’s Cholla Health Center. Patients and community members are invited to stop by for free school supplies, diapers, nutrition tips, health information, and more while supplies last.

Our partnership with Molina Healthcare has enabled us to launch and sustain impactful programs, addressing critical needs such as food insecurity and community engagement. We are deeply grateful for Molina’s support and look forward to continuing our collaborative efforts to improve the health and well-being of our community.

Get a Sports Physical for School

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The beginning of the school year means new opportunities. If your child is starting a sport for the first time, changing sports, or deciding to try a new physical activity outside of class, then it’s time for them to have a sports physical so a medical professional can make sure they are healthy enough to play their new sport or activity safely.

What is a sports physical?

  • Screening for safe and healthy participation in sports and activities.
  • Checking that your child’s body is ready for the physical demands of the activity.

Does my child need a sports physical?

  • Yes. In Arizona it is state law that a student gets a sports physical if they are playing a team or club sport at school.
  • And where it isn’t required, it is highly recommended because almost all kids are active in some way! This exam looks at the physical and mental demands of their sport or activity and can address any concerns related to their health.
  • To make life easier and to have less appointments, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends scheduling a sports physical with your child’s next routine well-child visit.

What happens during the appointment?

  • Bring your child’s completed Pre-Participation Physical Evaluation form with you. Write down any important medical information like past surgeries, injuries, or illnesses, and any family history of heart disease should be reviewed. Write down any questions you may have to discuss with the doctor.
  • At the appointment, the doctor will check your child’s:
    • Vitals: height, weight, pulse, and blood pressure
    • Eyes: if your child may need corrective lenses or a new prescription
    • Medical history
    • Fitness: heart, lungs, abdomen, joints, flexibility, strength, and reflexes             
  • This is also a good time to talk with your child’s doctor about any concerns for your child’s new or ongoing activity or sport, such as:
    • Concussions
    • Special needs or varied abilities       
  • Your NOAH provider may also request lab work for your child or refer them to a specialist for further evaluation. If needed, your NOAH Care Team will help set up the next steps for this, and most children are able to play after this extra clearance.

Safe and healthy participation in sports and physical activities is the goal, so get your child’s physical scheduled with your NOAH provider and enjoy watching them play and have fun.

NOAHfest Carnival and Health Fair

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New Cholla Health Center Ribbon Cutting

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NOAH welcomed community members and partners to the new Cholla Health Center November 17 for a ribbon cutting event. Attendees were able to learn more about Cholla’s history, the patients, and the NOAH team.

NOAH CEO Wendy Armendariz kicked off the ceremony by introducing the Cholla Health Center, along with Wendy Lyons presenting the history of NOAH. Immediately following was David D. Ortega, Mayor of Scottsdale, and Thomas Galvin on behalf of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. Board of Directors, Kavita Bernstein closed out the ceremony by showing recognition to NOAH community partners and staff.

Honor World Mental Health Day

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By Cody Randel

World Mental Health Day is October 10th, to both raise awareness and to mobilize support for this important issue. This year, however, the World Health Organization (WHO) will host its support event online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Big Event for Mental Health brings together world leaders, celebrities, and supporters from all over the world. The focus will be on the serious need for widespread resources, a problem worsened by the pandemic. The event is free and will be broadcast on WHO’s Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and TikTok channels from 7 – 9:30 a.m.  

Big Event Highlights 

  • How can we better invest in mental health? A look at individual, national, and global levels and the actions needed to scale up resources. 
  • The event will include several short films that focus on the work of WHO and their partners’ initiatives around the globe. 
  • WHO’s event will ultimately highlight a variety of ways to improve mental health, spread more awareness, and share the benefits of investment that go beyond public health. 

Mental Illness Facts

  • Approximately 1 billion people worldwide live with a mental disorder 
  • 3 million people die every year from harmful alcohol use worldwide 
  • 1 person dies every 40 seconds from suicide across the world 
  • COVID-19 has impacted billions of people’s lives worldwide, and subsequently affected people’s mental health

One of greatest obstacles we all face is the social and internalized stigma associated with seeking help for these health issues. Programs like World Mental Health Day are important to not only bringing awareness to these issues, but also continuing to make it a mainstream topic which helps people around the world. Get involved in changing negative views about mental health issues by organizing events to raise awareness, or by simply listening to an individual who is suffering. We all have the power to change a life with even the smallest gestures. 

If you want to speak with someone about any challenges or concerns you are living with, request an appointment today.

National MA Week 2019

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This week our NOAH Care Team celebrated all that our medical assistants do for our patients and their families. Check out these cool pics of our MA’s smiling with their team members and help us wish all #MedicalAssistants a happy #MARWeek! For an appt., call 480-882-4545.

National Health Center Week – Staff Appreciation

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“Community Health Centers began more than 50 years ago to meet the #healthcare needs of our most vulnerable. Today, that mission continues and is very much alive. We celebrated National Health Center Week (NHCW) with YOU (our wonderful & amazing team), our #patients, and more than 1,400 Federally Qualified Health Centers across the nation this week. NHCW is a national campaign to increase awareness of the ways #healthcenters are providing affordable health care in communities. Health centers are on the front lines of public health challenges, caring for our most needy populations, and address today’s social determinants of health. In addition, centers located in rural areas are often the only healthcare provider for miles around. I am grateful for all of you, for your compassion, and for your dedication to honor, inspire, and empower the communities we have the privilege of serving,” says Wendy Armendariz, CEO. To schedule an appt., please call 480-882-4545.