Food & Friends Empowers Northern Virginians to Improve Health with Support from the Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation

Food & Friends, dedicated to improving the lives of those facing serious illnesses, has been increasing our medically tailored meal interventions in Northern Virginia with the invaluable support of the Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation.

In 2022, Food & Friends received a pivotal "Food As Medicine" grant from the Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation. This crucial support empowered Food & Friends staff and volunteers to provide an additional 29,000 medically tailored meals to Virginia residents grappling with diabetes and/or heart disease, who were also facing the harsh reality of food insecurity.

This grant has become a lifeline for individuals striving for better health through medically tailored nutrition. Food & Friends benefitted from the Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation support alongside several Food Is Medicine Coalition organizations across the nation.

The research underscores the significance of medically tailored meals. Recipients dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid experience a remarkable 50% reduction in inpatient admissions and a 70% decrease in emergency department visits. This data reaffirms the power of addressing health challenges through the appropriate provision of medically tailored meals.

Through the support of this grant, Food & Friends became a lifeline for individuals like Kevin Pinkett of Alexandria, VA. Kevin was facing health challenges after a diagnosis of diabetes and had been laid off from his job which was disrupted by the pandemic. He found solace in the medically tailored meals provided by Food & Friends, and it empowered him to think about nutrition and health differently.

Kevin is a recipient of Medicaid, our nation’s safety net health insurance program. The National Strategy on Hunger Nutrition and Health from the Biden-Harris administration is wisely calling for Congress to take steps to make medically tailored meals a part of Medicaid and Medicare coverage. However, options for food as medicine within Medicaid care are still nonexistent.

Reflecting on receiving meals from Food & Friends, Kevin expressed, "It was cool because it was big bags of food, and I never was aware of a lot of the different foods they sent." However, the positive impact became evident as he continued altering his eating habits, "I started to like some of the groceries I was receiving. I would eat it because I knew it was good for me. They helped my cause."

Kevin's journey reflects the Food & Friends commitment to holistic well-being. The support went beyond sustenance, offering a bridge of support through the volunteers who deliver the meals. As the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation's grant funded the provision of medically tailored meals, Kevin's health began to improve. The positive impact on his A1C levels and overall well-being demonstrated the efficacy of the intervention.

Kevin experienced improved health results and became well enough to continue to express his creativity. His passion for art, a source of solace during difficult periods, became intertwined with his healing journey. He continued to pursue his career passion as a tattoo artist.

Food insecurity remained a challenge for Kevin and his local church community helped support him with rental assistance as he worked to regain his health. With Food & Friends, he continued to experience improved wellness. Kevin shared, "They came through because I love fruit. And once you go to the store these days, fruit is expensive. So, I liked that."

Kevin was referred through Inova, a longtime referral partner for Food & Friends. For patients on the Food & Friends service, medically tailored meals and groceries are also made available for dependents and caregivers free of charge.

Fadi Saadeh, referral partner and Senior Director of Community Health at Inova says, “Many patients don’t have enough food to eat dinner. Food & Friends has been a nice addition to the type of services we connect patients with. Those patients and their families are getting food specific to their health needs through the Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation grant. It’s not enough to support the patient who needs food support, it supports the family of the patient who also needs food support, which is fantastic.”

In essence, this partnership is based on the belief that food has the power to heal. With the Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation's crucial support, Food & Friends continues its mission, reaching out to more neighbors in Virginia, including individuals like Kevin.

To learn more about the Elevance Health Foundation’s Food As Medicine grants click here.