As Hunger Action Month concludes, Feeding America is building on the collective action and voices of people facing hunger to address a critical truth: ending hunger in America also requires ending the nation’s nutrition crisis. The organization is now focusing deeply on the connection between food and health to ensure every person has access to the nutritious food they need to thrive.
“During September, we come together as a nation to take collective action to end hunger,” said Melanie Hall, chief health, research and evaluation officer at Feeding America. “But if we want to end hunger for good in America, we have to listen to people facing hunger when they tell us they need access to healthy, nutritious foods to improve their health.”
This sharpened focus includes structural changes at the national organization. Melanie Hall, formerly chief research and innovation officer, has been named chief health, research and evaluation officer. This role and the focus of the Health Impact Team in the Health, Research and Evaluation Department reflect the organization’s intensified focus on health as a critical social driver.
“With this change, Feeding America is continuing our efforts to co-create sustainable solutions that support the social drivers of health our neighbors need to thrive,” said Hall, a registered dietitian.
Insights from people facing hunger from Elevating Voices: Insights Report highlight the deep connection between food access and the urgent need to improve access to nutritious food. Eight in ten people facing hunger report buying cheaper, less nutritious options due to high food prices, while 79% say they aren’t as healthy as they’d like to be.
To address the root causes of hunger, Feeding America is expanding its health-focused approach that recognizes nutritious food as essential to well-being through:
- Food as Medicine: A Scalable Solution: Access to nutritious food improves physical and mental health, according to Feeding America’s Food as Medicine report, funded by a 3-year $14.1M grant from Elevance Health Foundation. The program has created the opportunity for food banks partner with health care providers to screen over 1 million patients for food insecurity resulting in nearly 200,000 referrals for nutritious food. Food banks then provide the food through onsite pantries, mobile distributions and home deliveries, alongside nutrition education and connections to other supports.
- Expanding Nutrition Access: Over the last year, the Feeding America network sourced, received and distributed nearly 3.7 billion pounds of nutritious food, including fresh produce, dairy, and protein. Additionally, with over 50 registered dietitians and more than 200 dedicated nutrition staff, food banks across the network offer nutrition education, medically tailored meals and partnerships with health providers to support community well-being.
To learn more about Feeding America’s food and health focus, visit FeedingAmerica.org.
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About Feeding America
Feeding America is committed to an America where no one is hungry. We support tens of millions of people who experience food insecurity to get the food and resources they say they need to thrive as part of a nationwide network of food banks, statewide food bank associations, food pantries and meal programs. We also invest in innovative solutions to increase equitable access to nutritious food, advocate for legislation that improves food security and work to address factors that impact food security, such as health, cost of living and employment. We partner with people experiencing food insecurity, policymakers, organizations, and supporters, united with them in a movement to end hunger. Visit FeedingAmerica.org to learn more.