HEALTHFIRST’S DONATION TO FEEDING WESTCHESTER

Healthfirst”™s donation to Feeding Westchester enabled the nonprofit to provide 44 pallets (or 88,000 pounds) of fresh, nutritious food to those in need.

One of the nation”™s largest not-for-profit health insurers, Healthfirst, made a generous donation to Feeding Westchester in Elmsford, which helped Westchester County”™s largest nonprofit hunger-relief organization provide nutritious meals for nearly 40,000 families (or 150,000 people) this holiday season. Its donation stocked Feeding Westchester”™s Mobile Food Pantry and Fresh Market Program with more than 88,000 pounds of food.

“The economic crisis caused by the pandemic has led to devastating consequences for those who were already struggling,” said Pat Wang, president and CEO of Healthfirst. “For many of our members, including one million Medicaid clients, food insecurity has always been an issue. Covid-19 has dramatically worsened the situation and laid bare how many of our neighbors lack the basic necessities to sustain a healthy life.”

Healthfirst is committed to reducing health disparities across its membership and member communities through the work it does every day. This holiday season, the company supported healthy communities by helping those struggling to put food on the table. 

Feeding Westchester”™s network of nearly 300 partner agencies and programs throughout the county are serving between 260,000 ”“ 300,000 residents who are hungry each month ”” more than twice as many as pre-Covid-19. The nonprofit has distributed nearly 20.4 million pounds of food or 17 million meals, in the last year compared to 10.1 million pounds in 2019. 

“Many families and individuals right here in Westchester County are facing unprecedented challenges this holiday season,” said Karen C. Erren, president and CEO of Feeding Westchester.

Healthfirst has earned the trust of more than 1.6 million members by ensuring access to affordable and high-quality health care. Sponsored by downstate New York”™s leading hospital systems, Healthfirst”™s unique advantage is rooted in its mission to put members first by partnering closely with its broad network of providers on shared goals.