Pictured from left to right: Gina McKenney, Program Manager, MaineHealth; Caitlin Cortelyou, External Communications Manager, Hannaford Supermarkets; Tim Leahy, Chief Development Officer, Community Servings; Natasha Pernicka, Executive Director, The Food Pantries for the Capital District; Ericka Dodge, Director of External Communications and Community Relations, Hannaford Supermarkets; Stephanie McNear, Registered Dietitian, The Food Pantries for the Capital District; Tobin Scipione, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Community Servings; Eileen Groll Liponis, Executive Director, New Hampshire Food Bank; Sherri Stevens, Community Relations Manager, Hannaford Supermarkets; Alex Alam El Din Meeks, Special Initiatives Manager, The Food Pantries for the Capital District.
Funding will increase access to nutritious food for individuals with chronic health conditions in Massachusetts
Donation part of more than $1.5 million commitment through new “Eat Well, Be Well – A Path to Better Health” initiative
JAMAICA PLAIN, Mass. – Hannaford Supermarkets and the Hannaford Charitable Foundation today announced a $250,000 donation to Community Servings in support of its home-delivered medically tailored meal program, which prioritizes scratch-made, fresh and nutritious foods as part of a comprehensive treatment plan for individuals and families experiencing illness and nutrition insecurity.
The donation is one component of a more than $1.5 million commitment from Hannaford to support healthy meal programs in New England and New York through its new “Eat Well, Be Well – A Path to Better Health” initiative. The program highlights the importance of nutritious food in achieving long-term wellness for food insecure individuals with a history of chronic illness.
“At Hannaford, we have long believed that wholesome, fresh food is a critical ingredient to ensuring the vitality of our communities,” said Hannaford Charitable Foundation Board Chair Peter Forester, who also serves as senior vice president of merchandising for the grocery retailer. “Healthy meal programs break down the barriers that many individuals face in regularly accessing the wholesome, nutritious meals that their bodies and minds need. We look forward to seeing these programs grow and become an integral part of person-centered care in the years to come.”
The $250,000 donation to Community Servings in Jamaica Plain, Mass. will support the expansion of the non-profit organization’s home-delivered medically tailored meal program to individuals and their family members experiencing critical and chronic illnesses. This funding will support the preparation and delivery of approximately 200,000 medically tailored meals to 850 clients, their dependent children and caregivers experiencing illness and food insecurity.
Recognized as a pioneer and national leader in the Food As Medicine movement, Community Servings has experienced significant growth since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The agency currently serves more than 90,000 meals per month in comparison to 40,000 meals in early 2020. Community Servings’ medically tailored meal program offers a high level of customization with 15 different medical diets, available in more than 90 different diet combinations.
Community Servings in partnership with Hannaford welcomed all “Eat Well, Be Well – A Path to Better Health” grantees for a day of shared learnings and resources at their headquarters in Jamaica Plain on Monday, September 19.
“In just two years, the number of clients receiving our medically tailored meals has increased by 135 percent, and we’re called upon to do more every week,” said Community Servings CEO David B. Waters. “This generous gift from Hannaford Supermarkets and the Hannaford Charitable Foundation could not come at a better time as we look to scale our operations and staffing to meet unrelenting demand for meals. Thanks to Hannaford’s investment, we will be able to expand our reach in priority communities in Massachusetts.”
The “Eat Well, Be Well – A Path to Better Health” initiative recognizes the important role of healthy, fresh foods in a person’s overall well-being. Sitting at the crossroads of nutrition and healthcare, the concept commonly referred to as “Food As Medicine” focuses on the prioritization of a fresh and nutrient-rich diet as a critical component of a comprehensive treatment plan for chronic health conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease.
Studies have demonstrated that medically-tailored nutrition interventions can accelerate treatment and recovery for patients with chronic health conditions, while lowering healthcare costs by reducing utilization and hospital admissions. Data collected through the Hannaford-funded projects will be used to help establish sustainable funding streams for healthy meal programs within each partner organization.
“We are thrilled to see this investment by Hannaford to expand access to Community Servings’ home-delivered medically tailored meal program. These meals provide vital nutrition support for patients with complex health needs at a critical time for their medical treatment or recovery,” said Kim Prendergast, Senior Director of Social Health for Community Care Cooperative (C3), an Accountable Care Organization partner for Community Servings. “Our data shows improved outcomes for our members who receive meals through our program. This grant will assure the benefits of good nutrition are available to more individuals at a time when they need it most.”
The new “Eat Well, Be Well – A Path to Better Health” initiative further illustrates Hannaford’s longstanding commitment to supporting organizations and programs that keep its communities healthy and thriving. In 2021, Hannaford donated 25 million pounds of food to local hunger relief organizations. In 2019, Hannaford introduced its “Fuel Kids at School” program with a $1 million commitment to establish 90 school food pantries across the Northeast.
To learn more about the overall impact of Hannaford’s “Eat Well, Be Well – A Path to Better Health” initiative, view the video at https://vimeo.com/747996384.
For more information about Hannaford’s community efforts and charitable giving initiatives, visit Hannaford.com/HannafordHelps.
About Hannaford Supermarkets
Hannaford Supermarkets operates 185 stores in the Northeast, most with full-service pharmacies. Stores are located in Maine, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. All are committed to offering great fresh food, convenient experiences and everyday low prices. Hannaford also is an active and committed community partner—focusing on fighting hunger, supporting youth development, and helping people live healthier lives. Hannaford is an industry leader in sustainability with a strong commitment to reducing waste and protecting the environment. Hannaford diverts or donates all food at risk of going to waste—sending no food to landfills. In 2020, Hannaford donated more than 25 million pounds of food to hunger relief organizations and prevented 65 million pounds of food waste from reaching landfills. Hannaford employs nearly 30,000 associates and is based in Scarborough, Maine. Additional information can be found at Hannaford.com.