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WOODBURY, NJ (July 24, 2024) – New Jersey General Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin and Legislative District 5 Assemblyman, William “Bill” Spearman visited Inspira Health’s Food Farmacy+ facility in Woodbury, New Jersey, to shine a light on the vital role legislative support plays in addressing food insecurity and enhancing community health. Inspira Health also highlighted its efforts to alleviate food insecurity across its service region which includes Cumberland, Salem, and Gloucester counties.
Inspira Health’s ‘Food Farmacies+’ are food pantries located within Inspira Health Centers in Woodbury and Bridgeton. Food is available to food-insecure Inspira patients needing nourishment and opportunities for nutritional counseling in an effort to improve health outcomes. Inspira has teamed up with the Food Bank of South Jersey and the Community Food Bank of New Jersey to supply its Food ‘Farmacies+’ at its health centers in Bridgeton and Woodbury. The Food ‘Farmacies’ also offer delivery services to individuals without access to transportation through its partnership with Door Dash.
“Inspira’s Food Farmacy+ program, has become a cornerstone in tackling the region's unique healthcare challenges by providing nutritious food and nutritional counseling to those in need,” said Amy B. Mansue, Inspira’s President and CEO. “Our region of Southern New Jersey faces significant barriers to accessing nutritious food, and we are grateful for the Speaker’s anti-hunger efforts for working families. We welcome any effort to address food insecurity, which is deeply intertwined with housing and income instability and has profound effects on health outcomes.”
“The pain of being food insecure is very real and a top priority of our legislative initiatives. I am grateful to Inspira Health for being a great partner in our collaborative efforts to improve the quality of life for residents-- supporting them where it matters most: putting food on the table, ensuring that no NJ resident goes to bed hungry or have fear for lack of their next meal. We continue to work together to provide food and resources that lead to better health outcomes,” said New Jersey General Assembly Speaker, Craig Coughlin.
Inspira Health's most recent Community Health Needs Assessment revealed significant challenges related to food access, with many community members depending on convenience stores and dollar stores, where healthy food options are limited. Among the findings:
- More than one in five residents in Cumberland and Salem counties expressed concerns about affording nutritious food.
- Approximately one in three community members from Inspira Health's service areas reported relying on programs designed to alleviate food insecurity.
- Obesity rates in these areas also exceed state and national averages, further demonstrating the need for improved food access and health care interventions.
New Jersey Assemblyman, William “Bill” Spearman echoed the importance of such legislative efforts. "Inspira Health’s commitment to addressing food insecurity through their Food Farmacy+ program demonstrates the potential for health care systems to impact community health beyond traditional medical care. This program is an excellent model for integrating social drivers of health into health care services," said Spearman.
Inspira's Food Farmacy+ has expanded from serving 50 patients in its first year to assisting 391 new patients in the first half of 2024, reflecting a 683% increase in referrals. This program exemplifies how strategic health care initiatives can address social determinants like food insecurity to improve overall community health. In 2023 alone, Inspira provided support to 1,846 individuals across 713 households, with further reach anticipated through partnerships and expanded services.
For more information about Inspira Health’s Food Farmacy+ and its impacts, visit Food Farmacy+ | Inspira Health.
