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Anthem Targets Food Insecurity

Published Thursday Jun 18, 2020

Anthem Targets Food Insecurity

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in New Hampshire and its philanthropic arm, the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation, has committed $415,000 to address food insecurity and other recovery efforts in NH.

Anthem is working with nonprofits to provide funds supporting emergency response, access to food, protective and medical equipment, and mental health services. Highlights of Anthem and the Foundation’s COVID-19 response in NH include:

  • $35,000 to the NH Food Bank, which will provide 70,000 meals for Granite Staters via the Food Bank’s 425 partner agencies. Anthem also donated $5,000 to End 68 Hours of Hunger to provide 840 weekend meals and snacks to 20 schoolchildren in Manchester and $5,000 to Gather NH to support its Pantry Market, Meals 4 Kids program, and Mobile Pantry Fresh Markets on the Seacoast.
  • $35,000 distributed among five Boys & Girls Clubs in Manchester, Nashua, Salem, Concord/Lakes Region, and the North Country to support club food pantries and continue healthy living programming such as Triple Play and Positive Action.
  • $30,000 to Granite United Way, to provide access to food, transportation and financial assistance to over 5,000 people in need, and helping 58,000 others connect to medical assistance, unemployment benefits, and housing though the 211 NH hotline.
  • $30,000 to United Way of Greater Nashua for its community relief fund, which is providing targeted relief grants to 51 local nonprofits, more than 72,000 school breakfasts and lunches, food assistance to more than 120 families, and PPE to hospitals, local agencies, and the general public.
  • $20,000 to Easterseals NH to support case management and meet the emergency financial needs of 1,000 veterans.
  • In April and May, Anthem also partnered with ConvenientMD, a local urgent care facility and medical services provider, to open a drive-thru COVID-19 testing site at Pease International Tradeport in Portsmouth.

“Already, one in nine men, women, and children in New Hampshire don’t know where their next meal is coming from, and we’re seeing increased demand for hunger relief assistance all over the state due to the pandemic. We’re grateful for Anthem’s generous support, which will greatly aid our efforts to provide more food to our local partner agencies,” said Eileen Luponis, executive director of the NH Food Bank.

“The COVID pandemic has greatly impacted our kids and their families, and we have been working to provide nutritious meals that they can pick up and bring home. This grant from Anthem will help us to continue to serve our kids as we recover from this pandemic. We cannot thank Anthem enough for supporting our members, our Club, and our community, not only in these challenging times but over the last several years,” said Diane Fitzpatrick, CEO, Boys & Girls Club of Manchester.

“Many families across New Hampshire are struggling with the effects of COVID-19, including access to nutritious food. We’ll continue to support local efforts that are providing relief for our neighbors, businesses, nonprofit partners, and health care workers as we recover from this pandemic,” says Lisa Guertin, president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in NH. 

Anthem associates also continue to be engaged in their communities. So far this year, Anthem’s associates in NH donated more than 500 hours of volunteer time and, combined with a $1:$1 match from the Foundation, more than $49,000 to nonprofit causes.

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