Hunger to Health Collaboratory (H2HC)

Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. (KDP), an H2HC Leadership Council member, has released their 2023 Corporate Responsibility Report. As a leader in the beverage industry, KDP strives to create a positive impact for its consumers, employees, everyone with whom they do business, and most importantly the communities served and the environment as a whole. KDP has furthered their health and well-being goals through their partnership with H2HC. Together, H2HC and KDP have collaborated to catalyze and accelerate integrated solutions advancing food, nutrition, and health equity. https://lnkd.in/eaMvbEKh

The Greater Boston Food Bank, an H2HC Leadership Council member, recently joined a diverse group of stakeholders across Massachusetts to launch the Make Hunger History Coalition. The ambitious statewide initiative was created in response to the 2022 White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health with the goal of making Massachusetts the first state in the nation to end hunger and guarantee nutritious food access for all residents. The coalition brings together partners committed to advocating for and implementing policy solutions that address the root causes of hunger. At H2HC applauds GBFB and fellow Coalition members for their dedication to driving positive change and their pivotal role in creating a more equitable food system. https://lnkd.in/ePCHvbsp

Boston is fortunate to have Boston Medical Center (BMC) advancing nutrition and health equity through initiatives like their rooftop farms, as well as forward-thinking companies like Stop & Shop (an H2HC Leadership Council Member) to generously support these innovative efforts.

Last call for nominations for the 2024 H2HC Prizes for Innovation. The Prizes identify and highlight innovative food and nutrition work that offers promising, upstream models and replicable, scalable solutions that significantly advance health equity in communities throughout the U.S. The two winning organizations will be announced at the H2HC Fall Summit on November 21 in Boston, and each will receive $100,000 to uplift their work. Nominations must be submitted by THIS FRIDAY, June 14, at 5:00 PM (EDT). Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eknNa8zM

The Greater Boston Food Bank, an H2HC Leadership Council member, recently released their fourth annual report on food equity and access in Massachusetts. The statewide study found that over 1 in 3 adults in the Commonwealth were food insecure in 2023, a slight increase from 2022. The report centers lived experiences with food insecurity and community-based solutions to tackling the issue. Individuals surveyed reported that high inflation and rising food costs were the primary barriers to adequate food access, and that solutions should be focused on tackling these systemic obstacles. H2HC applauds GBFB for keeping the pervasive challenge of food inequity, exacerbated by economic instability, at the forefront of the national conversation. https://lnkd.in/gPpNxeMK

H2HC 2023 Prize for Innovation winner DC Central Kitchen reached a significant milestone in May when they served their 50 millionth meal to the DC community. For 35 years, DC Central Kitchen has used an upstream, root cause approach to tackling food, nutrition, and health inequities. As Mike Curtin, Jr., CEO, explains, “We’re never going to feed our way out of hunger... food, when used as a tool to create pathways to opportunity and living wage jobs, not only strengthens bodies, but it empowers minds and builds communities. Behind every one of the 50 million meals we have served is a training and career opportunity that empowered someone to change their life while nourishing our city.” (https://lnkd.in/gXJkbVzE) Congratulations to our DCCK friends Mike Curtin, Jr., Beverley Wheeler, Ed.D., Jasent Brown, Alexander Moore https://lnkd.in/gGzaFtcV

Research has shown that Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) programs can have a myriad of positive outcomes for working-class families, including improved food and housing security, greater economic stability, and improvements in mental health due to reduced financial stress. H2HC's Fall 2023 Summit included a panel on exploring the role of basic income in advancing health equity. The panel, featuring content experts (Marybeth Mattingly, Megan Curran) and leaders piloting GBI programs locally (Geeta Pradhan, Marybeth Campbell), highlighted the significant impact these programs can have on health and wellbeing. Read about the GBI panel in the 2023 Fall Summit report (bit.ly/H2HCReport2023) and learn more about how local communities are benefiting from these innovative pilot programs in the Boston Globe Media piece below: https://lnkd.in/e2Sswyvm

Throughout the school year, nearly 30 million children benefit from free or reduced school meals, but when summertime comes, far fewer options for nutritious foods are available. In response to these food and nutrition inequities, the Biden-Harris Administration has announced the launch of a suite of summer nutrition programs that are expected to benefit 21 million children and their families, and will include grocery benefits, free meals, and food delivery options. USDA research shows that these types of summer food programs can reduce child hunger by as much as 33%. H2HC applauds the Administration for these much needed advancements to further our national health and wellbeing.

ONE MONTH REMAINING: Nominate an organization for the H2HC Prizes for Innovation by Friday, June 14, 2024 at 5 PM EDT. The Prizes identify and highlight innovative food and nutrition work that offers promising, upstream models and replicable, scalable solutions that significantly advance health equity in communities throughout the U.S. H2HC will award two $100,000 prizes, and Prize winners will be introduced at the H2HC Fall Summit on November 21 in Boston. To learn more and submit a nomination, please visit: https://lnkd.in/eknNa8zM

More than 9 million children in the U.S. are currently facing hunger, and 59% of children from low-income households go to school hungry. Armed with this knowledge, Stop & Shop, an H2HC Leadership Council member, recently launched its Feed It Forward campaign to spotlight its commitment to eliminating hunger in every neighborhood served across its Northeast footprint. A key aspect of Stop & Shop's hunger relief efforts is its long-running School Food Pantry Program. Karen Mitchell, Chief Marketing Officer at Stop & Shop and an H2HC Leadership Council Co-Chair, recently discussed the success of the pantry program and the grocer's ambitious hunger relief goals in an interview with Progressive Grocer. To learn more and read the interview, visit: https://lnkd.in/giw63-BY