Healthfirst Donates 150,000 Meals to Feeding Westchester

Healthfirst, one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit health insurers, has made a generous donation to Feeding Westchester. The funds will help Westchester County’s largest nonprofit hunger relief organization provide nutritious meals for nearly 40,000 families (or 150,000 people) this holiday season by stocking their Mobile Food Pantry and Fresh Market Program with more than 88,000 pounds of food.

“The economic crisis caused by the pandemic has led to devastating consequences for those who were already struggling,” said Pat Wang, president and chief executive officer of Healthfirst. “For many of our members, including one million Medicaid clients, food insecurity has always been an issue. COVID-19 has dramatically worsened the situation and laid bare how many of our neighbors lack the basic necessities to sustain a healthy life.”

“Facing hunger is very stressful. It impacts a person’s emotional and mental well-being and can weaken the body making it more vulnerable to illness and worsen chronic conditions,” said Errol Pierre, senior vice president of State Programs at Healthfirst. “We felt it was important to support Feeding Westchester to help address this fundamental need because it is more important than ever that people stay strong. No one should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from.”

Healthfirst is committed to reducing health disparities across its membership and member communities through the work it does every day. This holiday season, the company is also supporting healthy communities by helping those struggling to put food on the table.

Wang continued, “Healthfirst will continue its commitment to addressing the nutrition needs of New Yorkers as part of our ongoing efforts to battle disparities and to help improve health outcomes in the communities we serve. We enthusiastically support the efforts of Feeding Westchester, which is dedicated to combating food insecurity where many of our members live and work.”

Feeding Westchester’s network of nearly 300 partner agencies and programs throughout the county are serving between 260,000 – 300,000 residents who are hungry each month — more than twice as many as pre-COVID-19. The nonprofit has distributed nearly 20.4 million pounds of food, or 17 million meals, in the last year compared to 10.1 million pounds in 2019.

“Many families and individuals right here in Westchester County are facing unprecedented challenges this holiday season,” said Karen C. Erren, president & CEO of Feeding Westchester. “From those who are struggling to make the holidays special for their children, to seniors who are spending the holidays alone, the impact of hunger is pervasive in our community. This generous donation from Healthfirst will help provide 150,000 nutritious meals to those in need throughout our communities.”

Feeding Westchester is located at 200 Clearbrook Road, Elmsford, NY 10523. They can be reached at (914) 923-1100 or by visiting feedingwestchester.org. For the latest news and updates, follow @FeedingWestchester on Facebook and Instagram and @FeedWestchester on Twitter.

About Feeding Westchester

Feeding Westchester is the county’s leading nonprofit hunger-relief organization at the heart of a network of nearly 300 partners and programs. With a mission to end hunger in Westchester County, the organization sources and distributes good, nutritious food and other resources to every community in Westchester – from Mount Vernon to Mohegan Lake. In the last year, Feeding Westchester delivered more than 20.4 million pounds of food or 17 million meals to our neighbors through soup kitchens, food pantries, schools, shelters, residential programs, and mobile distributions. For more information, visit feedingwestchester.org.

About Healthfirst

Healthfirst is one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit health insurers, earning the trust of more than 1.6 million members by ensuring access to affordable and high-quality healthcare. Sponsored by downstate New York’s leading hospital systems, Healthfirst’s unique advantage is rooted in its mission to put members first by partnering closely with its broad network of providers on shared goals. Healthfirst is also a pioneer of the value-based care model, now recognized as a national best practice. For nearly 30 years, Healthfirst has built its reputation in the community for top-quality products and services New Yorkers can depend on. It offers market-leading products to fit every life stage, including Medicaid plans, Medicare Advantage plans, Long-Term Care plans, Qualified Health plans, and individual and small group plans. Healthfirst serves members in New York City and on Long Island, as well as in Westchester, Rockland, Sullivan, and Orange counties. For more information on Healthfirst, please visit healthfirst.org.

http://www.feedingwestchester.org – Feeding Westchester