The Food Bank of Northern Nevada (FBNN) is receiving a grant of $450,000 from the Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation. This is a multi-year grant to support the FBNN prescription pantry program called "Food is Medicine".
They've been implementing the "Food is Medicine" program for for about five years, and the FBNN told us they're seeing great results from it.
“We’re seeing that people are eating more fruits and vegetables, we’re seeing downward trends in A1C levels and really proving what we already know and that food is so important for health," said Jocelyn Lantrip, the Director of Marketing for the FBNN.
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shields grant will help support the non-profit for three full years, helping them to continue expanding the program and reach as many people as possible.
“Nutritious food is so important for health outcomes, it’s something we know in our hearts but we need the data to prove it and that’s what this helps us do," Lantrip said.
To make the program work, the FBNN works with multiple medical providers and health clinics, who will offer prescriptions for those who screen for food insecurity who have a diagnosis.
“[The program] connects them to a participating pantry who has this healthy food that is really perfect for their diagnosis, and then we look at different data points like A1C levels to see what’s happening over a certain period of time so it’s really an exciting program.” Lantrip said.
If you would like to learn more about the FBNN program "Food is Medicine" you can click the link here.
