Food Lion Feeds Grant Supports UNC Health Nash Inpatient Food Pantry as Program Nears Five-Year Milestone

To advance its mission of improving patient outcomes beyond the hospital’s walls, the UNC Health Nash Foundation relies on funding provided by individual donors and philanthropic organizations. The UNC Health Nash Foundation has received a $3,400 grant from the Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation to support the UNC Health Nash Inpatient Food Pantry, which provides disease-specific food boxes to eligible patients transitioning from hospital care to home.

The award comes as the pantry approaches five years of operation. Since opening in August 2021, the program has helped address food insecurity by providing nutritious, easy-to-prepare foods selected to support patients’ recovery needs.

Patients are screened for food insecurity during their hospital stay by case management and nursing staff. When a need is identified, the patient’s care team collaborates with the Food Pantry Coordinator who assigns them one of three box options—diabetes-friendly, heart-healthy, or healthy choice—based on dietary plans developed by nutrition staff.

“Some of our most vulnerable patients leave the hospital with dietary restrictions they may not be able to manage because of financial constraints or limited access to the foods they need,” said Kathleen Fleming, Executive Director of the UNC Health Nash Foundation. “This grant from Food Lion Feeds, as well as funds from our generous donors throughout the community, helps ensure the pantry can continue providing food, education and resources that support recovery beyond the hospital’s walls.”

The pantry was established after the Foundation raised more than $60,000 for construction, equipment and initial supplies. In 2022, support expanded to eligible patients receiving services through the UNC Health Nash Cancer Center. The pantry distributed its 1,000th food box in September 2023 and continues to serve around 50 patients monthly.

In addition to generous other donors, Food Lion Feeds has helped sustain the program through grants in 2023, 2024 and 2026. The latest award will help provide shelf-stable foods, recipes and community resource information.

For some patients, that assistance removes an immediate barrier. One patient shared that receiving a food box made it possible to purchase needed medication rather than choosing between medication and food.

“When patients do not have reliable access to nutritious food, they face additional barriers to recovery and long-term health,” Fleming said. “This grant from Food Lion Feeds, along with every contribution to the Inpatient Food Pantry, helps us remove one of those barriers. We are deeply grateful for Food Lion’s continued investment in the health of our patients and community.”

For those interested in supporting the Inpatient Food Pantry and being a part of its impact in the community, visit the UNC Health Nash Foundation’s website at www.unchealthnashfoundation.org or contact Kathleen Fleming at kathleen.fleming@unchealth.unc.edu or 252-962-8583.

About The Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation
The Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Food Lion, based in Salisbury, N.C. Established in 2001, the Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation provides financial support for programs and organizations dedicated to eliminating hunger. The charitable foundation has provided more than $25 million in grant funding, helping to nourish communities with fresh food for backpack programs, Kids Café’s and other hunger-relief programs as well as funding for long-term programs to help shorten the lines at food banks. The charitable foundation partners with Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger-relief agency, in addition to local food agencies serving the 10 Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states in which Food Lion operates. For more information, visit foodlion.com/pages/food-lion-feeds.