The state of Massachusetts recently reached a milestone in its Food is Medicine journey. At the beginning of this year, 43 community-based organizations in the state, including many food banks, became Medicaid healthcare providers. “They have become just like your doctor,” said Stephanie Buckler, Deputy Director of Social Services Integration…
Food Bank News
With federal funding becoming scarce, food banks are turning more attention to a source of food that has long been a mainstay – food donations from local grocers. Whether they are relatively new to the practice or have been at it for a while, food banks are recognizing that retail…
Partnership for a Healthier America is not a food bank, but it has a goal that many can relate to: building sustainable access to fresh produce. Especially since the pandemic, the 15-year old organization has been in a perpetual cycle of seeking to make communities healthier through nutritious food. Under…
Many people working in hunger relief have likely heard the claim that solving hunger has nothing to do with food. But they may not go as far as Mariana Chilton in saying that it has everything to do with love. Chilton’s assertion may be a tad unconventional, but she has…
GUEST POST BY AMY HAYNES, FACILITATOR, COACH, SOCIAL WORKER – In the face of rising demand, fluctuating resources and systemic change, food bank leaders are leaning into innovation and reimagining what’s possible. Those are the conclusions of a series of interviews conducted with eight seasoned food bank leaders, each bringing…
Coming out of Covid, many food banks phased out their drive-through distributions. Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana is taking the opposite approach by leaning into its drive-through. There are good reasons to move away from drive-through distributions, as they generally don’t let clients choose their own food, nor access wrap-around…
The timing could not have been better to demonstrate that major Food is Medicine interventions can improve patient health, while lowering costs. Three research studies released in as many months all point to a variety of positive outcomes related to Food is Medicine initiatives. The studies out of North Carolina,…
WASHINGTON D.C. – If you’re thinking about ways to get into Food is Medicine, you might consider reaching out to your state’s primary care association as a first step. Every state and territory in the country has an association of primary care providers, according to Patricia Quinn, Vice President of…
With proposed cuts to SNAP of $230 billion over the next ten years looming, the Food Research and Action Center yesterday lined up speakers who put forth several powerful arguments against the measure, highlighting its potential impact on children and the economy. The proposed cuts, which would be the largest…