Feast Down East has received a grant from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation (Blue Cross NC Foundation) to expand local efforts that improve access to healthy food, helping people better manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension and reducing health care costs overall. Data released last week highlights how efforts like these deliver meaningful savings and improve health.

The funding is part of the Blue Cross NC Foundation’s $4 million statewide investment supporting organizations across North Carolina that are integrating food into health care. By partnering with trusted local organizations like Feast Down East, the Foundation is helping bring practical, effective solutions directly into communities.

“Access to healthy food is foundational to good health,” said Colleen Briggs, President of the Blue Cross NC Foundation and Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility at Blue Cross NC. “By investing in community-led Food Is Medicine programs like Feast Down East, we’re supporting proven strategies that help people manage chronic conditions, strengthen local food systems, and lower health care costs.”

Funding from the Food is Medicine initiative supports the Food Rx program at Feast Down East. A program that has been in partnership with Novant Health since 2023. With this support, Feast Down East partners with medical providers from the local health system to fulfill food prescriptions for individuals identified as food insecure with fresh food from (often small) local, traditionally disadvantaged farmers seeking new outlets for their products. Distributing local, healthy food at public housing communities, after-school programs, community centers, senior centers, and community-based health care locations through the organization’s mobile farmers markets.

"Our approach to Food is Medicine focuses on providing access to healthy, locally grown foods to those who are food insecure," says Susannah Spratt, Mobile Market Manager at Feast Down East. "We believe that strengthening and connecting the food system is one of the best ways to build and strengthen communities, and we strive to achieve this through working with our local farms and partners."

Food Is Medicine approaches connect North Carolinians to nutritious food through health care and community partnerships, addressing diet-related chronic conditions while supporting local food systems. Programs funded through this initiative range from produce prescriptions and nutrition education to prepared meals and medically tailored groceries, tailored to meet the needs of each community.

To learn more about Food Is Medicine efforts statewide, visit https://ncfoodismedicine.org/