Today, Ascension took part in the White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities by committing to end hunger, improve nutrition and increase physical activity by 2030. Ascension is one of 141 partners to make this commitment which will contribute over $1 billion dollars towards ending hunger. Chief Executive Officer Joseph Impicciche, joined stakeholders from various sectors, including health, technology and retail, at the White House to celebrate the launch of this challenge, demonstrating a commitment to bold and impactful change.
"Considering our long-standing commitment to addressing food insecurity and health disparities, Ascension is honored to join this important effort alongside other impact leaders," Impicciche said. "We want more people to know that having Ascension in your community means having a resource and a partner. From hospitals to food pantries to reducing health disparities, our Mission of caring for all compels us to embrace the unique challenges communities face and rise with innovative solutions.”
Ascension is no stranger to working with partners outside of healthcare to address issues like hunger and other social determinants of health. In Texas, for instance, Ascension patients have access to "Produce Prescriptions" through our valuable partnership with the Central Texas Food Bank. By utilizing existing AscensionRx Warehouse space, Ascension efficiently stores and distributes fresh produce provided by a dedicated food and nutrition service team.
"Our goal is to close nutritional security gaps and reduce health disparities by addressing food insecurity at its root," Dr. Stacy Garrett-Ray added. "Our approach to addressing hunger has always gone beyond traditional healthcare delivery."
Ascension operates food pantries and provides wraparound social services in high-poverty areas in Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, and Texas. Ascension serves over 200,000 meals annually at Seton Center in Kansas City; offers free groceries to over 700 families a month at drive-thru pantries in New Orleans; and provides food boxes, formula and diapers in San Antonio, while also partnering with food banks in rural areas like Southeast Arkansas.
The commitments Ascension made today align with Pillar Two: "Integrating nutrition and health" within the Five Pillar National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition and Health framework. Specifically, Ascension has pledged to:
- Expand social determinants of health screenings (SDoH) and training, integrating data into electronic health record platforms and enhancing community access to resources. This includes advancing the use and impact of our SDoH screening and assessment efforts to foster partnership, engagement and investment strategies across our vast network of care.
- Implement the Maternal Health Social Systems Initiative in five additional sites of care.
- Double emergency food pantry access and establish a new food access point in New Orleans.
- Address nutritional security gaps, particularly impacting mothers and babies in areas of extreme poverty, through the Ascension Foundation for Health Equity.
- Aid associates in accessing curated food resources offering food retail, enhancing healthy eating habits and piloting closed-loop SDoH referrals.
For more information about Ascension's commitment to ending hunger and promoting healthy communities visit https://about.ascension.org/about-us/community-impact.
