Local partnership addresses food insecurity, health equity

Nearly 100 Advocate South Suburban Hospital patients being treated for nutrition-related illnesses received a double dose of loving support on Dec. 9, during Advocate Health Care’s bi-weekly Healthy Living Food Farmacy food distribution at a Homewood-based church.

In addition to their regular care package filled with fresh fruits and vegetables, the food-insecure patients received a whole chicken, a recyclable shopping bag and a holiday note of cheer – all carried to their waiting cars by 32 volunteers of Old National Bank, in Hickory Hills.

“The Healthy Living Food Farmacy program greatly improves the access of nutritious foods to food-insecure communities. And this holiday season, the program will help even more patients, in addition to the broader community, thanks to the generous contributions from Old National Bank,” said Elizabeth Freyer, director of development, Advocate South Suburban and Advocate Trinity Hospitals.

Old National Bank also donated $15,000 to the Advocate Charitable Foundation to expand the Food Farmacy to include 50 more patients and help support upcoming Food Farmacy distributions to the local public.

“The Food Farmacy gives our patients access to healthier food choices without worrying about the cost which has helped improve their health and address food insecurity. We think of the program as ‘Food as Medicine,” said Melinda Harville, community health team lead for the Food Farmacy program.

Advocate Health Care patients with nutrition-related illnesses, such as hypertension and diabetes, are referred to the Food Farmacy by their physician. Twice a month, more than 160 patients receive fresh fruit and vegetables through the Food Farmacy, based out of Advocate South Suburban Hospital in Hazel Crest and Advocate Trinity Hospital in Calumet Heights.

“With food costs spiraling, achieving nutritional equity is a greater challenge than it was even a year ago,” said Bob Kelly, director of business banking at Old National Bank. “Old National is proud to work with an organization that is on the front lines helping those at greatest risk from food insecurity.”

The Healthy Living Food Farmacy is one example of Advocate Health’s Care’s multi-disciplinary efforts to minimize health equity gaps in Chicago’s Southland communities. The program began in 2018 at Advocate Trinity Hospital and expanded a year ago to Advocate South Suburban Hospital, thanks to partnerships with Michuda Construction, the Ackermann Foundation and Mi-Jack Products.