WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 22, 2026) — Food & Friends, the D.C. region’s leader in Food is Medicine and medically tailored meals, today announced a new three-year, $300,000 grant from the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation to expand services for expectant and new mothers experiencing food insecurity and high-risk pregnancies. Through its maternal health program, Food & Friends will provide medically tailored meals and nutrition education to women managing diet-related health conditions during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
Access to nutritious food is a critical but often overlooked component of maternal health. For women facing food insecurity alongside conditions such as high blood pressure, postpartum preeclampsia, or Type 2 diabetes, inconsistent access to medically appropriate nutrition can increase risks for both mother and baby. This program aims to reduce those risks by ensuring mothers receive meals and nutrition support designed to complement the clinical care they are already receiving.
“Good nutrition during pregnancy and postpartum is not optional, it is essential to lifelong health for both mother and child,” said Carrie Stoltzfus, MPH, CEO of Food & Friends. “When women are managing serious health conditions while also facing food insecurity, the stakes are incredibly high. We’re grateful this partnership allows us to meet more mothers where they are with nourishment and support at a moment when it can make a lasting difference.”
Over the three-year grant period, the program is expected to provide home-delivered medically tailored meals and nutrition support for 63 pregnant women experiencing a high-risk pregnancy and food insecurity and will also support 16 dependents. Each expectant mother will receive 18 medically tailored meals per week during her final three months of pregnancy, or earlier if referred, followed by 12 weeks of postpartum meals. Participants will also have access to nutrition counseling and education from a Food & Friends registered dietitian. In total, nearly 30,000 medically tailored meals will be prepared and delivered through this important health intervention.
“For decades, Food & Friends has demonstrated how medically tailored meals can improve health outcomes for people living with serious illness,” said Monica Schmude, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia Plan President. “Their deep experience, strong clinical integration, and trusted ability to reach individuals with complex health needs inspired us to partner with them to expand this work and support maternal health at a critical time for families.”
To measure impact, the maternal health program will track improvements in key biometric indicators such as blood pressure and Hemoglobin A1c, as well as the number of expectant mothers showing improvement in at least one clinical measure. Pregnancy outcomes, including rates of full-term versus preterm births, will also be monitored. Finally, the program will assess client-reported outcomes, including improvements in food security, overall health, quality of life, ability to follow medical guidance, mental health, and stress reduction.
Food & Friends began serving expectant and new mothers nearly a decade ago, addressing a key determinant of health during pregnancy and connecting families to resources that support long-term nutrition. Between 2019 and late 2025, Food & Friends served 2,174 neighbors for maternal health-related needs, along with 1,009 of their dependents.
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About Food & Friends
Food & Friends is the Washington, D.C. region’s leading authority on Food is Medicine and the only community-based organization delivering medically tailored meals and providing medical nutrition therapy to neighbors living with cancer, HIV/AIDS, and other serious illnesses. Food & Friends’ services are free of charge to recipients who qualify solely based on their health status and nutritional needs, including for their dependents and caregivers. Monday-Saturday, staff and volunteers deliver to 6,172 square miles including the District of Columbia, nine counties in Maryland, and seven counties and six independent cities in Virginia. Nearly 2.2 million meals will be delivered to more than 6,000 in 2026. Since 1988, Food & Friends has delivered more than 32.6 million meals to 53,500 individuals. The organization is accredited by the national Food is Medicine Coalition.
For more information, visit FoodAndFriends.org or on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, and TikTok.
About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia
Anthem Health Plans of Virginia, Inc. trades as Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia, and its service area is all of Virginia except for the City of Fairfax, the Town of Vienna, and the area east of State Route 123. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and its affiliate HealthKeepers, Inc. are independent licensees of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Elevance Health. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia is available at anthem.com. Also, follow us at @AnthemBCBS on X, on Facebook at AnthemBlueCrossBlueShield, and at LinkedIn on LinkedIn.