ACF of Cochise

The Naco Wellness Initiative collaborates with bi-national healthcare providers that include both volunteer clinicians and paid Promotoras— trusted community members who empower their peers through public health education—while respecting and embracing the values and culture of local residents. Services extend beyond day-to-day medical healthcare and treatment and include community gardening, food distribution, health education, exercise classes, and social enterprise development.

The Cambia Tu Vida program, which translates as change your life, is a cornerstone of their disease prevention work and was funded in part by ACF of Cochise. A component of the program is the development of family and school garden projects that provide tools, seeds, irrigation, training, and supervision. This enables individuals to grow organic, fresh fruits and vegetables on their own property to feed their families and neighbors at a fraction of the cost of grocery store produce.

In 2020, Naco Wellness Initiative’s dedicated team transformed an empty lot in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Naco into a 1.5 acre community garden. Jardín Orgánico San José is a labor of love surrounded by a living native fence structure built from 16,800 stalks of ocotillo. Volunteers arrive around 6 a.m. to pick fresh produce from 19 varieties of nutritious vegetables. Before morning is over, squash, cucumbers, peppers, onions, green beans, and more are distributed to local families to fill their dinner tables.

Image: Naco Wellness volunteer Alma harvesting summer crops.