Hackensack Meridian Health Launches $7M Program To Combat Food Insecurity

Hackensack Meridian Health unveiled a $7 million project on Nov. 10 to fight hunger statewide. More than 30,000 residents who struggle with food insecurity will get help.

The Edison-based health system split the money between two main areas. A $2.3 million school-based meal project will give kids nutritious food during weekends and school breaks. The rest, $4.7 million, will fund grocery programs, medically tailored meals, and assistance for people living in homeless shelters.

"At Hackensack Meridian Health, our commitment to building healthier communities extends beyond the walls of our hospitals," said Chief Executive Officer Robert Garrett in a statement per NJBIZ. "There is no more fundamental need than access to nutritious food, which is why we are turning dollars into impact by addressing the root causes of hunger."

The new HMH Healthy Connections Nutrition Pack Program starts this month. At least 13 schools and after-school programs will participate. The system picked locations where 40% or more of students get free or reduced-price lunch.

Students receive either a nutrition box or reusable bag packed with shelf-stable meals. Fresh produce comes through a partnership with The Common Market, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit food distributor.

The backpack program runs through June 2026, and HMH will track results to see if expansion makes sense.

Community FoodBank of New Jersey and Fulfill are among the partners working with the health care network. The project also includes a network-wide food drive across 18 hospitals and more than 500 patient care locations.

The remaining funds support several programs under HMH's Healthy Connections umbrella. Fresh Match gets $4.2 million. This project provides dollar-for-dollar matches on fresh fruits and vegetables for shoppers using SNAP benefits at participating stores. A medically tailored meals program receives $125,000 to provide customized meals to patients who screened positive for food insecurity before hospital discharge. Another $400,000 supports residents in homeless shelters.

HMH founded Healthy Connections in 2021 to connect people with non-medical resources for needs like food, housing, and transportation. Over the past four years, the program has conducted over 2.7 million screenings for social needs and made more than 7 million referrals.

The announcement comes as states face unclear guidance on future SNAP funding. As of Nov. 7, SNAP recipients in New Jersey received their full payment for this month, according to Gov. Phil Murphy's office. More than 800,000 families in the state depend on SNAP benefits.