Transforming Health Through Community Initiatives
Explore our innovative Community Food Pharmacy Program, dedicated to addressing food insecurity and promoting health equity. Discover how we integrate nutritious food into medical care to manage chronic diseases and improve overall well-being.
Non-Profit Programs
You Are Food Farmacy
A Shepherd’s Gate Health Program
Food is medicine. People are worthy. Communities can thrive.
You Are Food Farmacy is Shepherd’s Gate Health’s community-based Food is Medicine program, created to address food insecurity while supporting the prevention and management of chronic disease across the Charlotte Metro, York County, and Lancaster County.
More than a name, You Are Food Farmacy reflects a triple meaning that defines both our approach and our culture:
• You are what you eat — nourishing food plays a vital role in health, healing, and prevention.
• You Are — an affirmation spoken over every participant, recognizing dignity, worth, and hope.
• You Are — a place; a welcoming, trusted community space where food, care, and connection come together.
What Is You Are Food Farmacy?
You Are Food Farmacy integrates nutritious food directly into care, ensuring individuals have access to the food and support they need to manage chronic conditions and improve overall well-being.
Through clinic-and community-based food pharmacies, participants receive:
• Fresh produce
• Whole grains and pantry staples
• Practical nutrition education
• Supportive coaching and encouragement
This care model bridges the gap between medical recommendations and everyday life—making healthy choices more accessible, realistic, and sustainable.
Why Food Is Medicine
Food insecurity is a critical public health issue that significantly impacts health outcomes. Without reliable access to nutritious food, individuals are more vulnerable to chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.
For many households, limited resources force reliance on inexpensive, highly processed foods that can worsen existing conditions and increase healthcare costs. You Are Food Farmacy addresses this challenge by integrating food access, education, and dignity-centered support into a single model of care.
How the Program Works
You Are Food Farmacy supports individuals through a consistent integrated model that empowers individuals to take an active role in their health, leading to improved outcomes and a higher quality of life.
• Referral & Welcome
Participants are referred by healthcare providers or community partners and welcomed into the program with affirmation and respect.
• Food Prescriptions
Participants receive curated food prescriptions aligned with health goals and cultural preferences.
• Coaching & Education
Health coaches and Community Health Workers (CHWs) provide simple, practical guidance—meal planning, label reading, cooking confidence, and budgeting strategies.
• Ongoing Support
Nutrition plays a long game. We walk alongside participants as they build sustainable habits that support long-term health.
Our Vision in Action
Shepherd’s Gate Health exists to advance a simple but powerful vision:
“We envision a world where food is recognized as nourishing medicine that promotes health and prevents disease, every person is affirmed in their worth, and communities are empowered to thrive in health and wholeness.”
You Are Food Farmacy brings this vision to life by addressing both physical nourishment and human dignity—because health equity requires more than calories; it requires care.
Serving Our Community
You Are Food Farmacy operates through community-based satellite food pharmacies across York and Lancaster counties, reducing barriers to access by meeting people where they already live, worship, and gather.
Current Location
The Mercantile
📍 153 E White Street, Rock Hill, SC
The Mercantile serves as a central hub for food prescription distribution, education, and community partnership.
Get Involved
The impact of You Are Food Farmacy is made possible through community partnership and generosity.
• Volunteer — Support packing, distribution, education, and outreach
• Donate — Help fund food prescriptions and coaching for neighbors in need
• Partner — Clinics, churches, and organizations are invited to collaborate
Together, we can reduce food insecurity, improve health outcomes, and build stronger, healthier communities.
Reach out to learn how you can support You Are Food Farmacy.
