Dr. Renee Rodriguez-Goodemote of Saratoga Community Health Center speaks about the impact that the $300,000 donation from Hannaford Supermarkets to The Food Pantries for the Capital District will have on individuals and families with chronic health conditions.
Funding will increase access to nutritious food for under-resourced individuals with chronic health conditions in the Capital Region
Donation part of more than $1.5 million commitment through new “Eat Well, Be Well – A Path to Better Health” initiative
ALBANY, NY – Hannaford Supermarkets and the Hannaford Charitable Foundation today announced a $300,000 donation to The Food Pantries for the Capital District in support of its healthy meal delivery program, which prioritizes wholesome, fresh and nutritious foods as part of a comprehensive health care plan for under-resourced individuals and families with chronic health conditions.
The donation is one component of a more than $1.5 million commitment from Hannaford to support healthy meal programs in New York and New England 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 healthy, 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 $300,000 donation to The Food Pantries for the Capital District will support the enrollment of numerous individuals with chronic health issues into the non-profit organization’s healthy meal delivery program, which provides and delivers nutritious and balanced prepared meals to homebound individuals who cannot produce meals themselves and their families.
Traditionally focused on medically-tailored grocery packages, which required program participants to cook and prepare meals on their own, the program has evolved to include fully-prepared meals. Over the course of six months beginning in mid-September, participants will receive three meals daily for their entire household. Participants, who are referred by health care providers or insurers and meet food insecurity guidelines, also receive nutrition education. The program serves households in Albany, Rensselaer, Schenectady, and Saratoga counties.
Today’s announcement took place at the Altamont Program in Menands, which prepares meals under the direction of a registered dietitian from The Food Pantries for the Capital District. Meals include nutrient-rich dishes such as spinach and Swiss cheese frittata; grape tomatoes with ranch dressing; whole wheat bagel with margarine; milk; and fresh seasonal melon.
“Hannaford has long been a generous and reliable partner to The Food Pantries for the Capital District. This investment in our ‘Food As Medicine’ program is transformational, taking our relationship to a new level,” said The Food Pantries for the Capital District Executive Director Natasha Pernicka. “We are honored that our friends at Hannaford see the real impact this work will have in people’s lives—not just over the course of the next year, but well into the future.”
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 intervention 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.
“Hannaford’s generous investment in Food as Medicine programming provides opportunities for members of our community to experience health through nutrition,” said Dr. Renee Rodriguez-Goodemote of Saratoga Community Health Center. “As a physician, it is one of the best prescriptions I can recommend for a patient. We are fortunate to share this vision of health and wellness.”
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 food pantries at schools 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/747247546.
For more information about Hannaford’s community efforts and charitable giving initiatives, visit Hannaford.com/HannafordHelps.
About Hannaford Supermarkets
Hannaford Supermarkets operates 184 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.