In a major push to address hunger and health disparities across Middlesex County, RWJBarnabas Health announced a $500,000 investment in the Puerto Rican Action Board (PRAB). The funding will expand access to nutritious foods, bilingual health navigation, and essential social services for local residents.
As part of the initiative, RWJBarnabas Health is relocating its New Brunswick-based Food Farmacy from the RWJ Fitness & Wellness Center to PRAB’s facility at 287 Townsend Street. Co-locating the Food Farmacy with PRAB’s existing community programs creates a single hub where residents can access both healthy food options and broader social support.
“Our commitment to New Brunswick and Middlesex County is strengthened by partnering with local organizations, like PRAB, who can help us reach deeper into the communities we serve,” Mark Manigan, president and chief executive Officer of RWJBarnabas Health. “The relocation of our Food Farmacy will put healthy foods and nutritional supports within easier reach for those who need it.”
Integrating nutrition with wrap-around services
PRAB serves as Middlesex County’s federally designated Community Action Agency, supporting more than 25,000 residents annually through early childhood education, housing assistance, youth development, and family wellness services.
By housing the Food Farmacy at PRAB’s Townsend Street center, the partnership will streamline care coordination between Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, RWJBarnabas Health’s Community Health Workers, and PRAB case managers.
“For many families, putting nutritious food on the table is one of several challenges they are managing at the same time,” Joel Torres, Chief Executive Officer of PRAB, said. “Welcoming the Food Farmacy to our Townsend Street location will strengthen our ability to serve as a resource for families throughout New Brunswick and Middlesex County.”
Hospital leadership emphasized that patient care extends beyond clinical settings into daily living conditions—often referred to as the social determinants of health.
“Bringing the Food Farmacy to PRAB’s Townsend Street location will allow us to work more closely with a trusted community partner and better connect nutrition support with the other services our patients and their families rely on,” Bill Arnold, CEO of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and President of the Southern Region for RWJBarnabas Health, added.
The initiative drew broad praise from county, municipal, and state leaders who highlighted the value of centralized services.
- Middlesex County Board of Commissioners: Director Ronald G. Rios praised the collaboration for bringing together corporate health resources and established grassroots relationships to strengthen the county’s social safety net.
- City of New Brunswick: Mayor James Cahill noted PRAB’s multi-generational legacy in the city, stating that integrating food assistance into a familiar neighborhood setting will deliver immediate benefits to local families.
- 17th Legislative District Representatives: State Senator Bob Smith and Assemblymembers Joe Danielsen and Kevin P. Egan commended the initiative for removing bureaucratic hurdles, allowing families to access bilingual navigation and nutritional support under one roof.
The PRAB grant forms part of RWJBarnabas Health’s broader Our Healthy Communities initiative, funded in part through New Jersey state appropriations targeted at underserved populations.
“At RWJBarnabas Health, we recognize that access to nutritious food and coordinated community-based services are essential to building healthier communities,” Balpreet Grewal-Virk, PhD, Senior Vice President of Community Health at RWJBarnabas Health, said. She credited state support for enabling targeted health equity investments across New Jersey.
