Delaware Physicians Care is planting the seeds for a healthier future by gardening with children

DOVER, Del. -- Three Boys and Girls Clubs in Delaware will soon add gardening to their lists of activities, thanks to the sponsorship of Delaware Physicians Care, an Aetna Medicaid plan, and the Yellow Tractor Program.

Beginning this week, the Boys and Girls Club in Claymont will plant fruit trees and berry bushes and build raised garden beds as part of an effort to positively impact the health of children through gardening. The Boys and Girls Clubs in Smyrna and Seaford will do the same later this month. Children will help plant vegetables in the raised beds next spring and begin to harvest fruits and vegetables by summer. The bounty will be used to feed and educate children in the clubs’ after-school programs.“We’re excited to begin our community garden program in all three Delaware counties,” said Terry Farsace, chief operating officer, Delaware Physicians Care. “This program allows children to learn about and actively participate in growing a garden. It also encourages them to eat healthy and will provide fresh fruits and vegetables for their families.”Yellow Tractor Program (YTP) is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating and facilitating the use of vegetable gardens for school-age children. By partnering with various volunteer organizations, YTP connects workforces with garden projects. It aligns, connects and provides the gardening organization, supplies and resources needed for volunteers and communities who want to establish or maintain a garden project. YTP provides garden-related curriculum meeting national standards in math, science, history, art, social studies, language arts and health and nutrition. The Yellow Tractor Program advocates for sustainable growth by clearing a path for food security, building opportunities for healthier life skills, and providing a safe place for children to grow not only food, but themselves. For more information about YTP, visit www.yellowtractorprogram.com.About AetnaAbout Yellow Tractor Program“The Claymont Boys and Girls Club is excited to join with Delaware Physicians Care and the Yellow Tractor Program to provide our children and their families with a hands-on learning experience regarding healthy foods and nutrition,” said Kim Harkins, unit director for the Claymont Boys and Girls Club. “Our kids will gain knowledge about healthy eating, which will help instill in them the need for a healthier lifestyle.”Delaware Physicians Care is receiving valuable support in this effort from Yellow Tractor Program, an organization that works through its Circle of Health ™ campaign to address issues surrounding Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and obesity. The campaign aligns health care organizations with needs-based programs, building vegetable and fruit gardens and providing project management and activity-based learning. The groups aim to teach participants the benefits of healthy eating, by eating what they grow. Research shows that children who plant and harvest their own fruits and vegetable are more likely to eat them.Aetna is one of the nation’s leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 35.4 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life and disability plans, and medical management capabilities and health care management services for Medicaid plans. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates. For more information, see www.aetna.com. To learn more about Aetna's innovative online tools, visit www.aetnatools.com.

Aetna is one of the nation’s leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 35.4 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life and disability plans, and medical management capabilities and health care management services for Medicaid plans. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates. For more information, see www.aetna.com. To learn more about Aetna's innovative online tools, visit www.aetnatools.com.