CHICAGO (Chambana Today) — Meridian Health Plan of Illinois (Meridian) and Centene Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), announced on Thursday a strategic and timely investment aimed at addressing food insecurity across Illinois. The initiative comes as millions of Americans face increasing challenges in accessing nutritious food due to recent disruptions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
This support is a continuation of Meridian’s commitment to helping those most in need and advancing long-term solutions to hunger and nutrition challenges. The $300,000 donation will help support access to healthy, nutritious food in communities across Illinois, including the Eastern Illinois Foodbank.
“Food insecurity remains one of the most urgent health challenges facing our state. In August alone, almost 14.7% of our population needed extra help to feed their families. At Meridian, we see every day how hunger affects health, dignity, and opportunity. That’s why this investment is so important. By working alongside community partners, we’re ensuring families have access to healthy meals today while supporting long-term solutions that strengthen the well-being of communities across Illinois,” said Cristal Gary, plan president and CEO of Meridian Health Plan of Illinois.
Meridian’s support is part of a $1.5 million commitment from the Centene Foundation to organizations across the country, particularly food banks and other community-based groups that are typically preparing for winter but may already be experiencing critical shortages.
“Families across the country are facing unprecedented challenges as essential nutrition programs experience strain and demand for food assistance continues to rise. Local organizations have been working tirelessly to meet these needs, and this emergency funding will strengthen their efforts — helping ensure that children and families most at risk have access to healthy meals during this critical time,” said Centene’s chief health officer Alice Chen, MD. “Access to nutritious food is foundational to good health, and sustained investment in these programs is essential to reducing disparities and improving long-term outcomes for vulnerable communities.”
Centene has long championed the fight against food insecurity. With more than 95% of its Medicaid plans offering food or nutrition intervention programs, which help address the social factors driving 80% of health outcomes, access to nutritious food remains a vital health priority.
In 2024, Centene invested $77.1 million toward food security. Specifically, Centene’s efforts have spanned multiple states, leveraging innovative, community-based partnerships to combat food insecurity and chronic disease – from Fresh Food Pharmacies in Michigan to farmers market produce vouchers in Illinois, grocery support for diabetic members in Nebraska and maternal care food programs in Arkansas – reinforcing Centene’s long-standing commitment to food as a critical driver of health.
These investments reflect Centene’s broader mission to transform community health through locally driven solutions, addressing drivers like access to nutritious food and promoting long-term sustainability by integrating food access with healthcare services.