Hackensack Meridian Health is announcing this morning a multi-pronged commitment
totaling almost $7 million to expand its fight against hunger and food insecurity.
HMH officials say this significant funding initiative will support a network-wide food drive,
enhance grocery and meal programs and launch a new school-based initiative to
provide nutritious food to children. These efforts will impact more than 30,000 lives,
transforming dollars into direct, tangible community benefits.
The action comes at a critical time, as interruptions and uncertainty surround the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, which more than 800,000 New
Jerseyans depend on for food security.
HMH CEO Bob Garrett said the gesture demonstrates the system’s commitment to
building healthier communities that extend beyond the walls of its hospitals.
“There is no more fundamental need than access to nutritious food, which is why we are
turning dollars into impact by addressing the root causes of hunger,” he said. “This
nearly $7 million investment is a critical step in our mission. By ensuring our most
vulnerable residents, including the more than 800,000 families who rely on SNAP
benefits, have consistent access to healthy food, we are investing in a healthier, more
resilient New Jersey for all.”
The cornerstone of this investment is the new $2.3 million HMH Healthy Connections
Nutrition Pack Program.
In New Jersey, approximately 1 in 7 children, totaling around 270,000, face food
insecurity. This program will extend the benefits of the National School Lunch and
Breakfast Program by providing healthy, easy-to-prepare meals for weekends and
school breaks. The initiative will launch in at least thirteen schools and after-school
programs in communities served by HMH, specifically targeting schools where 40% or
more of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.
HMH officials note the comprehensive commitment is strategically allocated across
several key areas of the network’s Healthy Connections program, which connects individuals to non-medical resources for needs such as food, housing, and
transportation. Since June 2021, this program has conducted over 2.7 million
screenings for social needs and made more than 7 million referrals:
● $4.2 million for grocery programs, including the Fresh Match initiative, launched in
2024, which helps SNAP recipients purchase fresh produce. Fresh Match provides a
dollar-for-dollar match on fresh fruits and vegetables for customers using SNAP benefits
at participating stores. Customers can receive one dollar for every dollar spent by using
a store loyalty card and their Families First card. A full list of participating stores is
available at HackensackMeridianHealth.org.
● $2.3 million to launch the HMH Healthy Connections Nutrition Pack Program.
● $125,000 to support the Healthy Connections Meals medically tailored meals
program, which provides customized, healthy meals to patients who screened positive
for food insecurity before they were discharged from the hospital.
● $400,000 for the HMH Cares program, providing social impact dollars for community
relief efforts. The funds provide much-needed support for residents in homeless
shelters.
The HMH Healthy Connections Nutrition Pack Program will be a collaborative effort with
established partners, including the Community Food Bank of New Jersey and Fulfill.
Students will receive either a Nutrition Box or a reusable HMH-branded bag filled with
shelf-stable, kid-friendly meals and, through a partnership with The Common Market,
fresh produce.
Nicole Harris-Hollingsworth, SVP, Social Impact & Population Health, said the impact
will be huge.
“We are dedicated to creating sustainable solutions that make a tangible difference in
people’s lives,” she said. “This initiative is about more than just providing food; it’s about
providing security, improving health outcomes, and showing our communities that we
are here for them.”
“By partnering with expert organizations like Feeding America-affiliated food banks and
leveraging our network’s resources, we are ensuring that our investments have the
maximum impact, reaching the people who need it most.”
The backpack program is scheduled to launch in November 2025 and will run through
June 2026, with ongoing evaluation to measure its impact and guide potential
expansion. In conjunction with these programs, HMH will facilitate a food drive across
its entire network, encouraging its team members and the community to contribute to
the fight against hunger.
The effort is another milestone moment for what has been a tremendous year for HMH,
one of the state’s two large, comprehensive and integrated health networks (18
hospitals, more than 500 patient care locations).
Hackensack University Medical Center is the first-ever New Jersey hospital to be
ranked a Top 20 hospital in the nation. It is also ranked #1 in New Jersey and the New York metro area by U.S. News & World Report, 2025-26.
Hackensack Meridian Health is proud to be home to New Jersey’s #1 children’s hospital
and the state’s only nationally-ranked cancer center, the John Theurer Cancer Center.
A team of Hackensack leaders were ranked No. 1 in the BINJE’s Best Health Care
leaders section.
