Hackensack Meridian Health Committing Nearly $7 Million to Combat Food Insecurity Across New Jersey

Hackensack Meridian Health, New Jersey's largest and most comprehensive healthcare network, today announced a multi-pronged commitment totaling almost $7 million to expand its fight against hunger and food insecurity. This significant funding initiative will support a network-wide food drive, enhance grocery and meal programs, and launch a new school-based initiative to provide nutritious food to children. These efforts will impact more than 30,000 lives, transforming dollars into direct, tangible community benefits.

The action comes at a critical time, as interruptions and uncertainty surround the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, which more than 800,000 New Jerseyans depend on for food security.

“At Hackensack Meridian Health, our commitment to building healthier communities extends beyond the walls of our hospitals. 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," said Robert C. Garrett, FACHE, CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health. “This nearly $7 million investment is a critical step in our mission. By ensuring our most vulnerable residents, including the more than 800,000 families who rely on SNAP benefits, have consistent access to healthy food, we are investing in a healthier, more resilient New Jersey for all.”

The cornerstone of this investment is the new $2.3 million HMH Healthy Connections Nutrition Pack Program. In New Jersey, approximately 1 in 7 children, totaling around 270,000, face food insecurity. This program will extend the benefits of the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program by providing healthy, easy-to-prepare meals for weekends and school breaks. The initiative will launch in at least thirteen schools and after-school programs in communities served by HMH, specifically targeting schools where 40% or more of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.

The comprehensive commitment is strategically allocated across several key areas of the network's Healthy Connections program, which connects individuals to non-medical resources for needs such as food, housing, and transportation. Since June 2021, this program has conducted over 2.7 million screenings for social needs and made more than 7 million referrals:

• $4.2 million for grocery programs, including the Fresh Match initiative, launched in 2024, which helps SNAP recipients purchase fresh produce. Fresh Match provides a dollar-for-dollar match on fresh fruits and vegetables for customers using SNAP benefits at participating stores. Customers can receive one dollar for every dollar spent by using a store loyalty card and their Families First card. A full list of participating stores is available at HackensackMeridianHealth.org.
• $2.3 million to launch the HMH Healthy Connections Nutrition Pack Program.
• $125,000 to support the Healthy Connections Meals medically tailored meals program, which provides customized, healthy meals to patients who screened positive for food insecurity before they were discharged from the hospital.
• $400,000 for the HMH Cares program, providing social impact dollars for community relief efforts. The funds provide much-needed support for residents in homeless shelters.

The HMH Healthy Connections Nutrition Pack Program will be a collaborative effort with established partners, including the Community Food Bank of New Jersey (CFBNJ) and Fulfill. Students will receive either a Nutrition Box or a reusable HMH-branded bag filled with shelf-stable, kid-friendly meals and, through a partnership with The Common Market, fresh produce.

"We are dedicated to creating sustainable solutions that make a tangible difference in people's lives. This initiative is about more than just providing food; it's about providing security, improving health outcomes, and showing our communities that we are here for them," said Nicole Harris-Hollingsworth, EdD, MCHES, Senior Vice President, Social Impact & Population Health for Hackensack Meridian Health. "By partnering with expert organizations like Feeding America-affiliated food banks and leveraging our network's resources, we are ensuring that our investments have the maximum impact, reaching the people who need it most."

The backpack program is scheduled to launch in November 2025 and will run through June 2026, with ongoing evaluation to measure its impact and guide potential expansion. In conjunction with these programs, HMH will facilitate a food drive across its entire network, encouraging its team members and the community to contribute to the fight against hunger.

More information and resources can be found here.