CVS Health touts food insecurity solutions to address hunger

CVS Health is leaving no stone unturned when it comes to food insecurity.

Noting that according to the recent UN Environment Program’s Food Waste Index Report, up to 783 million people are impacted by hunger annually, CVS Health said, "Additionally, Feeding America, which helps support a nationwide network of food banks, conducts an annual study, Map the Meal Gap, which indicates that food insecurity is still rising post-pandemic and about half of the people who struggle to pay for meals don't qualify for federal assistance like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Studies also indicate that a lack of access to fresh and healthy food can increase the risk of chronic health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, while also impacting an individual’s mental health."

Nourishing our neighbors: 

Food security is one of the foundations for a healthy, vibrant life. "Through our collaborations with local and national organizations working to combat hunger, we know that people who have access to nutritious food are better focused on their health and well-being. Every year, across the country we support organizations working to provide food insecurity solutions localized to their community that will help individuals take proactive steps toward a healthier future," the company said. 

As part of this commitment, CVS granted nearly $1.5 million this year from its company and CVS Health Foundation to support the following organizations: 

• Central California Food Bank
• Higher Ground International
• Northern RI Food Pantry
• Franklin Food Pantry 
• Youth Pride 
• Meals on Wheels of R.I.
• No Kid Hungry
• Worcester Regional Strategic Opportunities Foundation
• Keney Park Sustainability Project 

This month, CVS Health expanded its collaboration with Community Servings by granting an additional $400,000 to support its “Food is Medicine: Medically Tailored Nutrition Program and Coalition Accelerator” to improve access to medically tailored meals and education for people with severe illnesses and their caregivers. "Last year, our funding toward the Community Servings Accelerator trained 150 food bank staff members and facilitated FIM programs that served 24,500 individuals across Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut." 

“I live alone and have limited capacity to make healthy meals by myself, so my meal service plan through Community Servings has been so beneficial,” said a community servings client. “My health has been improving week by week since starting, and I have been able to now get to all my doctor's appointments, and my fears about not eating and not eating 'well’ have been eased. I’m moving back to self-reliance and with a better understanding of nutrition, all thanks to Community Servings!”

Every September, CVS Pharmacy locations host an in-store fundraising campaign to provide customers an easy opportunity to contribute to the growing rates of food insecurity and support Feeding America’s mission to end hunger. Last year, CVS Pharmacy customers donated $8.2 million for Feeding America to distribute to their local network of food banks. 

[Read more: CVS Health report highlights need for expanded role of retail pharmacists]

Sustainable solutions 

"As we continue supporting organizations that increase access to food for those who need it most within food banks, pantries and medically tailored meal services, we are also working with local nonprofits specializing in urban farming and educational resources to provide another path to food insecurity solutions. This emerging effort highlights that, more than just increasing access to fruits and vegetables, the greater need is growing healthy habits and sustainable communities. Most recently, we granted $100,000 to Keep Growing Detroit to support its Garden Resource Program. The program encourages urban gardening by providing accessible, high-quality resources to family, community, school and market gardens in Detroit, Highland Park and Hamtramck. Additionally, we awarded a $150,000 grant to Harlem Grown to support its youth education programming and mobile teaching kitchen, which will empower young community members through hands-on experiences in nutrition, sustainability and urban farming." 

“At Harlem Grown we plant fruits and vegetables, but our true impact is in growing healthy children and sustainable communities. What started with young people transforming an abandoned community garden into a sprawling urban farm, has created a sense of ownership for our children where they are empowered to care for their health and the health of their community," said Nicole Engel, executive director of Harlem Grow. "Our partnership with CVS Health is invaluable in making our work possible.”

[Read more: CVS Health commits nearly $600M to address racial inequality]

Minimizing our food waste 

CVS noted that Americans waste 92 billion pounds of food each year, the equivalent of 145 billion meals, $473 billion, and 38% of what we grow. "With this in mind, we continue championing efforts across our entire business to create less waste, including the products sold in our CVS Pharmacy stores. Our efforts in 2023 resulted in $220 million in unsaleable products being donated to support our local communities. For more information on how we’re creating a healthier world for future generations, explore our Healthy 2030 Impact Report," the company said.