The Heinz Endowments awards $80,000 grant to Healthy Food Center at AHN Jefferson Hospital

Jefferson Hills, Pa. - Allegheny Health Network's (AHN) Center for Inclusion Health (CIH) today announced it has received an $80,000 grant from The Heinz Endowments to support increased access to CIH's Healthy Food Center at AHN Jefferson Hospital for residents in Allegheny County's South Hills and lower Mon Valley.

Employing a "food as medicine" model, the Healthy Food Center's (HFC) six locations across the AHN footprint provide free, nutritious foods and nutrition counseling to patients facing food insecurity, many of whom also struggle to manage chronic health conditions.

While participation in the HFC program has historically required a referral from an AHN physician, the Endowments' funding will enable Jefferson Hospital's HFC to accept referrals from non-AHN practices in the area, including eight independent physician practices and a Federally Qualified Health Center with multiple sites near Jefferson Hospital.

Since its opening in 2020, the hospital's HFC has served as a vital community resource, providing more than 120,000 nutritious meals to patients and their families, yet the need for increased access is evident.

Nearly 16% of households (approximately 15,000 families) within Jefferson's footprint are recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) - a rate exceeding the 13% countywide average. In communities such as Clairton, Duquesne, Elizabeth borough, Homestead, McKeesport and West Elizabeth, more than 25% of households rely on SNAP.

"Access to healthy food is essential to overall health, and the Healthy Food Center continues to demonstrate the meaningful impact a 'food as medicine' approach can have on individuals and families across our communities," said Liz Cuevas, MD, division chief, AHN Center for Inclusion Health. "We are extremely grateful to The Heinz Endowments for their support, which will allow us to extend our services to more individuals and families, ensuring that those who need access to fresh, healthy food and nutrition support can receive it."

At the HFC, patients and their families receive nutritious food choices in a dignified shopping-like environment, along with access to cooking classes, nutrition education, recipes, and connections to essential wrap-around services.

Upon referral, patients undergo a comprehensive assessment of their needs related to nutrition, food insecurity and social determinants of health. They can then visit the HFC monthly to select healthy, medically tailored and culturally appropriate food items such as fresh fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy products, lean meats, whole grains and plant-based proteins.

The program specifically focuses on providing education for those managing chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. Last year, across all HFC locations, patients in severe risk ranges saw significant health improvements, including an average decrease of 1.2% in hemoglobin A1-C levels and an 83.5 mg/dL reduction in cholesterol over six months.

The HFC also connects patients with valuable community resources, provides transportation assistance for HFC visits, and offers cooking utensils, recipes and 'Prescription Produce' coupons redeemable at local grocery stores, farmers' markets and corner stores.

To date, the HFCs have collectively supplied more than 730,000 nutritious meals to more than 73,000 patients and their families. Additionally, the program operates community gardens on five AHN hospital campuses, which supplied nearly 3,000 pounds of fresh produce to patients last year.

"At The Heinz Endowments, we are committed to advancing solutions that improve health outcomes while improving the region's food systems. The work by AHN and its partners represents an important and vital step toward integrating food and nutrition into health care in a way that is sustainable, equitable and impactful," said Andrew McElwaine, senior advisor to The Heinz Endowments.

The HFC at Jefferson Hospital is also supported by its many local partners, including PNC Bank, the Bhutanese Community Association of Pittsburgh, Squirrel Hill Health Center, Jefferson Community Collaborative and the Clairton Produce Market Place, as well as 412 Food Rescue, Gateway Health, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Highmark, The Food Trust and Travelers Aid of Pittsburgh.

To learn more, visit https://www.ahn.org/center-for-inclusion-health.

###