We're thrilled to announce a generous $90,000 grant from the Anthem Blue Cross Foundation, which will support our sustainable food rescue program in San Francisco. Our expansion into San Francisco is a crucial step in our mission to bridge the gap between those who have excess food and those who need it most.
A Shared Commitment to Community Health
Through this grant, ExtraFood will bolster our efforts to rescue surplus and unused food from businesses, schools, backyards, and farms, delivering it directly to people facing food insecurity in San Francisco. This initiative is not just about redistributing food; it's about enhancing the overall health and well-being of our community.
Will Dittmar, Executive Director of ExtraFood, expressed our collective gratitude:
"We are deeply grateful to the Anthem Blue Cross Foundation for their generous $90,000 grant, which will significantly boost our efforts to rescue excess fresh food and deliver it to people in need. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to increasing equitable access to healthy fresh food and improving the health and well-being of our community. With Anthem Blue Cross Foundation's support, we can expand our reach and impact, ensuring that more nutritious food reaches people who need it most."
Addressing Food Insecurity
Food insecurity affects more than 33 million people in the United States, increasing the risk for diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure. In Marin, one in five people, including over 10,000 children and 12,000 seniors, face food insecurity. In San Francisco, the number is even higher, with one in four people struggling to access nutritious food.
Dr. David Pryor, Medical Director at Anthem Blue Cross in California, emphasized the importance of our collaboration:
“We are thrilled to be working with and supporting like-minded community partners, like ExtraFood, to improve access and availability of nutrient-rich foods throughout the Bay Area. We believe that food is medicine, and increasing access to nutritious foods is one of the many steps we are taking to improve the overall health and wellbeing of individuals and families right here in the Bay Area.”
The Impact of Nutritious Foods
Nutritious foods play a vital role in bolstering the whole health of a community. By ensuring access to fresh, healthy food, ExtraFood helps reduce the risk of chronic diseases and supports the overall well-being of those we serve. This grant will enable us to reach more food-insecure individuals and families, providing them with the nourishment they need to thrive.
About Anthem Blue Cross Foundation
The Anthem Blue Cross Foundation, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Association, is the philanthropic arm of the Elevance Health Foundation. The Foundation addresses health equity by focusing on improving the health of the socially vulnerable through strategic partnerships and programs, emphasizing maternal child health, mental health, and food as medicine. The Foundation also responds to disasters and coordinates the company's year-round Dollars for Dollars program, Volunteer Time Off, and Dollars for Doers community service programs. Learn more at Elevance Health Foundation and its blog at Medium.
We are excited about the positive impact this grant will have on our community and look forward to sharing more updates as we continue to expand our efforts to end hunger and reduce food waste in the Bay Area. Thank you for your ongoing support!
Anthem is the first sponsor on our all-electric refrigerated food recovery van!
