April Flint Mobile Food Pantries announced by the Foodbank of Eastern Michigan, and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. For more information, call (810) 239-4441 or visit https://www.fbem.org/programs/mobile-pantry-distributions/
Genesee County Food Pantries: CLICK HERE for a complete list of food pantries in Genesee County
Grand Blanc-Holy Family Outreach (Food Pantry, must be a Grand Blanc resident): Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 810-771-7279, CLICK HERE to visit website.
Grand Blanc-FISH, Inc. Call 810-695-1880 (must be a Grand Blanc resident). CLICK HERE to visit website.
New Creation Church of God provides a food pantry every 3rd Thursday of the month from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Call 810-732-0500. CLICK HERE to visit their website. (New Creation Church of God is located 5 minutes from the GHP office on Lennon Road, Flint Twp.)
CLICK HERE to download flyer.
Join Shea Automotive Group and Flint Township as they celebrate America! Bring the family to view a parade, try a food truck, and enjoy fireworks on Saturday, June 13th, from 12-4p.m.
Click here to download the flyer.
The Genesee County Free Medical Clinic is providing a series of FREE Stroke Screenings throughout 2026 from 9am-12pm.
Screening includes:
Local physicians, nurses, pharmacists, EMS providers, and other healthcare personnel will be volunteering at the screening in order to help answer your questions! Call 810-235-4211 for more information.
CLICK HERE to download flyer.
As we say goodbye to winter, we exchange cold temperatures for sunlight, warm weather, and a shift in our sleep schedules. On March 8th, we will lose one hour of rest as we spring forward for daylight saving time; a yearly event that has affected the sleep cycle of over 55 percent of Americans every year. Interruptions in your sleep schedule can be dangerous, resulting in mental and physical health changes like depression, heart attack, and stroke. Research has also shown an increase in car accidents in the first week after spring daylight saving time. Continue reading to learn more about how springing forward can affect your body, and what steps you can take to keep a regular sleep schedule.
The human body regulates our sleep and wake cycles through our internal clock, also known as circadian rhythm. This rhythm also regulates our body temperature, metabolism, and emotions. When we lose an hour of sleep and gain more light in the day, that internal clock is forced to readjust our sleep cycle, resulting in effects that can include increased feelings of fatigue, insomnia, and changes in appetite and mood during this time. Additional effects may include:
According to Sleep Advisor, it can take the average person a week to adjust to the time change, with night owls needing a few extra days. Morning people can usually adjust to the time change within the first few days.
Preparing for the daylight-saving time can be as easy as following your current routine while adding small steps that can help prevent fatigue and give you an energy boost. Below are three recommendations that our Health Navigators provide for Genesee Health Plan members that may be struggling with daylight saving time, followed by additional tips to keep your internal clock ticking smoothly. Genesee Health Plan members that would like help adjusting their healthy living habits for better sleep can join the Health Navigation Program at NO COST! Our health navigators can also help with nutritional support, education on long-term diseases, support to quit smoking, and more!
Click here to learn more about the Health Navigation Program.
NO ONE SHOULD LOSE SLEEP OVER HEALTH COVERAGE! Call 844-232-7740 to have your healthcare enrollment questions answered today.
Michigan State University (MSU) recommends adjusting sleep and wake up times by at least 10-15 minutes in the days leading up to daylight saving time. Gradually adjusting your sleep schedule can help reduce fatigue the following week and help your internal clock adjust.
Create a cozy space in your bedroom that will make it easier to relax before bedtime and support overall sleep quality. Experts recommend blackout curtains to block out excess light, turning down the temperature to cool down the room, and bundling up with comfortable blankets as you prepare to sleep. Reducing blue light exposure by turning off your television, phone, tablet, and computer for about an hour before bed can also signal to your body that it is time to rest.
University of Michigan sleep experts have found that the shift in light during daylight saving time can make it difficult for adults to feel alert after waking up. Genesee Health Plan Health Navigator, Perlita Irish, recommends exposing your body to natural sunlight shortly after waking to help reset your internal clock and improve energy. NPR also recommends turning on all the lights in your house if your alarm goes off before sunrise, letting your brain know that it is time to start the day.
Keeping a regular routine after the time change can reduce stress and help your internal clock ease into the transition. Try to eat, sleep, exercise, and attend your favorite activities at the same time as any other day.
Avoid drinks like coffee and energy drinks several hours before bed. Caffeinated drinks can stay in your system for up to six hours and interrupt your sleep cycle. Drinking too much alcohol before bed can interrupt sleep and cause insomnia and breathing issues.
Meals right before bed can also interrupt sleep due to discomfort from eating too much. Experts recommend eating your last meal three to four hours before bedtime to give your body time to digest.
Taking an afternoon nap can result in an interruption to your regular sleep pattern. If you feel the need to sleep, keep naps to 20-30 minutes a few hours before bed.
Smartphones will usually take care of this task, but manually adjusting other clocks in your home can help you avoid confusion in the morning after the time change.
Fundraising proceeds benefited the Genesee County Free Medical Clinic
FLINT – On Saturday, February 7, Genesee Health Plan (GHP) and Sovita Credit Union co-sponsored the Healthcare Heroes Night in partnership with the Flint Firebirds, providing healthcare employees with a free ticket to enjoy the game against the Erie Otters.
The Healthcare Heroes appreciation night was established in the 2021-22 season to recognize and honor local healthcare workers for their service and commitment to the community and has been a mainstay of the promotional schedule ever since. From the start, the Genesee County Free Medical Clinic has been the beneficiary of the Healthcare Heroes appreciation night fundraising, which helps ensure Genesee County residents without medical coverage can seek immediate healthcare services from the clinic. 3,763 fans attended the appreciation night, helping raise $1,025 in 50/50 raffle proceeds for the clinic.
The clinic also houses a GHP Community Health Worker on site a few times a month to connect with patients, enrolling them into healthcare coverage and providing resources for additional needs. Sovita Credit Union partners with the clinic on their annual “Healing Hands 5k Run/Walk”; a fundraiser that benefits the clinic which is scheduled for Saturday May 16th at Mott Community College Event Center.
To commemorate the evening, Julie Forbush of Sovita Credit Union, Shannon Ciszek of Genesee Health Plan, and Stacey Doyle of the Genesee County Free Medical Clinic, were welcomed to the ice to participate in the ceremonial puck drop. The puck drop not only signified the start of the game but showcased the power of partnership in the Flint and Genesee County community.
Pictured left to right:
Flint Firebirds Team Captain, Nathan Aspinall
Flint Firebirds Athletic Trainer, Phil Fazio
Flint Firebirds Team President, Jeremy Torrey
Flint Firebirds Owner and Governor, Captain Rolf Nilsen
Sovita Credit Union Business Development Representative, Julie Forbush
GHP Communications Coordinator, Shannon Ciszek
Genesee County Free Medical Clinic Executive Director, Stacey Doyle
Erie Otters Athletic Trainer, Meagan Briant
Erie Otters Alternate Captain, Julius Saari
For our eleventh year in a row, we are hosting a “Health Heritage Essay Contest” for young people learning the importance of how their health history impacts their present and future health. Essays submissions are open to all home-school, private school grades 5th-12th, and 5th year students residing in and attending school in Genesee County.
Essays should reflect the students understanding of their family’s health history, their current health and plans for a healthy future. Students in the elementary and middle/junior high competitions will compete for the chance to win a $200 first place or $100 second place prize. Students entering the high school competition will compete for the chance to win a $400 first place or $200 second place prize. See the flyer below for more information. Good luck!
CLICK HERE to download the flyer.
CLICK HERE to download the essay template.
Email submissions can be sent to healthheritage@countyhealthplans.org
Low-to-Moderate income families in Genesee County can file their taxes for free with a professional through United Way’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. VITA is a volunteer run program in partnership with the IRS to help families access the EITC and other credits that can boost financial stability. The schedule below list sites and times for walk-in and drop off tax preparation. Click here for a printable version!
CLICK HERE to visit United Way’s VITA webpage
CLICK HERE to visit the free tax preparation webpage on the CASES website
CLICK HERE for a tax preparation checklist (English and Spanish)
Genesee Health Plan (GHP) has been a longtime member, supporter, and partner of the Grand Blanc Chamber of Commerce. The chamber has provided GHP with opportunities to share information about health care updates, coverage options and assisting with enrollment for small businesses, those who are self-employed and young professionals who are aging out of their parents’ insurance.
We are grateful to the Grand Blanc Chamber of Commerce for connecting us to local businesses and community leaders, allowing us to expand our reach and impact. The Grand Blanc Chamber is comprised of an extraordinary team that ensures their members get the most out of the chamber and their membership, providing opportunities for members to connect and partner to develop innovative solutions to meet community needs. At their 2025 Annual Meeting, GHP was awarded the Health & Wellness Award for the work we do in tandem with the chamber, their members and community. We are honored and humbled with this recognition and look forward to the good work that our organizations will do together in the years to come.
Leigh LaForest-Grand Blanc Chamber of Commerce President, Shannon Ciszek-Genesee Health Plan Communications Coordinator, Jim Milanowski-Genesee Health Plan President/CEO, Joe Osborne-Grand Blanc Chamber of Commerce Membership Development Specialist
GHP staff put their health first by participating in the Commit 2 Fit Fall 4 Fitness Challenge again this year. Walking laps at the office and raking leaves at home not only helped our staff stay healthy but led to a first place win in our division of the competition! Genesee Health Plan has proudly participated in this challenge every year, resulting in past first place wins in 2015 and 2021. Staff gathered on Friday, December 19th to celebrate and take a group photo. We were excited to welcome the first-place trophy back to the GHP office!
Commit 2 Fit is a Greater Flint Health Coalition program that provides nutrition, physical activity, and healthy food access programming throughout Flint and Genesee County. They provide nutrition education through their Cooking with Kids program, physical activity education through multiple programs and school challenges, and partner with local food banks, distribution centers, and meal sites to provide residents with fresh, healthy, local, and affordable food. Commit 2 Fit also provides grant assistance to support community gardens and urban farms. Our community health workers have worked with Commit 2 Fit in the past to provide nutrition and physical education to the students at Flint Community Schools through special programming and events. Click here to learn more about Commit 2 Fit. We look forward to the 2026 Commit 2 Fit Fall 4 Fitness Challenge!
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