Augusta, GA

Augusta food pharmacy teaches new moms about nutrition, resources

Published

7 months ago

June 18, 2024

Augusta food pharmacy teaches new moms about nutrition, resources

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A new food pharmacy is helping pregnant and postpartum mothers make sure they get the right resources for nutrition.

We spoke with a mom about how this is helping her and other moms in our area.

The National Institute of Health ranks Georgia as number two in the country for maternal mortality.

What’s the biggest issue they face here in Augusta? Access to healthy food and knowledge of how to take care of their body both before and after the baby is here.

Augusta University, the HUB and Augusta Locally Grown are all teaming up to find solutions and teaching moms to use food as medicine.

Pregnancy complications were never in the cards for first-time mom Sara Clark.

“My blood pressure skyrocketed. And I didn’t really know a whole lot about that. But I do know now that it is part of pre-eclampsia, which I have the MTHFR gene, which is very common nowadays. But you are predisposed to preeclampsia,” said Clark.

When she brought baby Trace home, she says her health took the backseat.

Trace continued to pass milestones and because Clark’s blood pressure was rarely checked, it continued to rise.

Without proper follow-up care, Dr. Marlo Vernon says moms like Clark can develop chronic health issues leading to death.

“We have one of the highest rates of maternal mortality in the country. And the way we look at maternal mortality is not just during pregnancy, but throughout the first year postpartum. And people forget that moms still need to be monitoring their own health and ensuring that they have healthy lifestyles after those first six weeks postpartum,” said Vernon.

This is why this food Farmacy at the HUB was created.

Tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce are just a few of the items that come from our local area farms straight to the table of new and expecting moms along with recipes for a happier and healthier lifestyle.

“We provide that to moms enrolled in our program, alongside teaching methods, how to make healthy meals for yourself how to shop for healthy, healthy foods and how to access healthy meals,” said Vernon.

A drug used to help people who are immunocompromised fight COVID-19 is in high demand but...

Vernon says once-a-week cooking classes target blood sugar, gestational diabetes and postpartum health control.

“One thing we’re trying to teach moms is and providing them the tools to get there right, is that a healthy diet can also be your medicine. Being physically active, and eating well, are two key factors to reducing your risk of a lot of diseases,” said Vernon.

It’s helping moms just like Clark flip the script to use food as medicine.

Clark said: “Learning that that puts the focus back on the mom and just being like, what can you do after pregnancy? Or after you have the baby? What are some safe ways that you can, you know, also take care of your baby, but take care of yourself.”

The next class cooking class is on Wednesday.

Leaders say they are looking for women with chronic health conditions, food insecure and expecting or recently postpartum. It is set to run for the next six months and comes at no cost to those who qualify.

20 women have already signed up, and they’re looking for 20 more.

If you want to sign up, click here.

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Augusta, GA

Winter weather causes crashes across CSRA on slick roads

Published

2 hours ago

January 10, 2025

Press Room

Winter weather causes crashes across CSRA on slick roads

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Multiple cars crashed due to winter weather conditions on I-20 in the CSRA early Friday morning, according to authorities.

On I-20 in Augusta, the road conditions at the Washington Road exit were hazardous, according to our reporter on the interstate.

Our reporter saw another wreck on the Bobby Jones overpass from I-520 to I-20 at 10:35 a.m. We’ve reached out to learn more.

Across the river, on I-20 westbound just before mile marker 4, multiple vehicles were pulled over after a car carrier crash around 10 a.m. in Aiken County.

On I-20 westbound just before mile marker 4, multiple vehicles were pulled over after a car carrier crash around 10 a.m. in Aiken County.

We have reached out to learn more.

Dispatch told us crews were on the scene of a multiple-car crash on I-20 eastbound at the Walton Way extension ramp at 9:25 a.m.

Officials say at least two vehicles were involved, but more were reported, and they are unsure how many exactly.

They did however say more vehicles became involved after sliding on the road from weather conditions.

Dispatch says they are unsure of any injuries or if any lanes were blocked.

Augusta, GA

Wayfair Outlet store opens at the Augusta Exchange

Published

11 hours ago

January 10, 2025

Press Room

Wayfair Outlet store opens at the Augusta Exchange

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The new Wayfair outlet is now open at the Augusta Exchange.

You will be able to find furniture and home décor at the location that used to be a Buy Buy Baby store.

It’s the latest store to open in the Augusta area.

One customer we spoke with says he thinks the store will be here for a while as it brings something different to the area.

“People are here spending money and they are here to make their house look better. I never thought I would be a dude in his 40s in an outlet, me in an outlet. But I did it today and I think it’s good,” said Carlton Ferguson.

It’s welcome news for fans of the Augusta Exchange, which has seen a bevy of closures in the past couple of years, including Subway, Genghis Grill, O’Charley’s, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Buy Buy Baby and Christmas Tree Shops.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta takes step to hire full time EMA Director

Published

19 hours ago

January 9, 2025

Press Room

Augusta takes step to hire full time EMA Director

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – There can be big time disaster emergencies in Augusta, but an emergency management director is not a full-time position for the city.

“I think lessons learned from Hurricane Helene, we desperately need it as we try to recover our city as we try to prepare from the next storm,” said Mayor Garnett Johnson.

The consolidation bill gives the mayor the authority to name an EMA director.

But for the last 20 years, the mayors have called on the fire chief to pull double duty while getting supplement pay.

But at the Mayor Johnson’s request, commissioners have approved beginning the process to hire a full time EMA director.

“You want to make sure that when disasters come, we are 100 percent fully prepared,” said Commissioner Stacy Pulliam.

“A city our size deserves someone who is full time committed to that role that helps with our storm preparedness,” said Mayor Johnson.

But when commissioners approved this year’s budget in November, funding for a new EMA director was not a part of it.

“You talking about cutting budgets but yet you’re talking about increasing personnel. It comes with a cost,” said Commissioner Tony Lewis.

“It will pay for itself as we go through this recovery for Hurricane Helene, as we try to see out grant opportunities and funding opportunities for reimbursement,” said the Mayor.

For sure the city has not seen its last emergency, now the city is seeking a permanent director to manage it.

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