Gift will be utilized to open a fourth CHOP
Food Pharmacy serving the Norristown community
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 9, 2023
/PRNewswire/ -- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) announced it has
received a $1 million gift from The
GIANT Company to fund the expansion of its Food Pharmacy
program, which provides nutritious food and better health outcomes
for families experiencing food insecurity. This donation will bring
CHOP's Food Pharmacy program to the Nicholas and Athena Karabots
Primary Care Center in Norristown,
PA and deliver much-needed services directly to families'
doorsteps. The offering will be virtual and families will order
their food online, and with the help of a resource navigator, the
items will be delivered directly to their homes. Additionally,
there will be a small in-person pantry at the center in
Norristown that will store dry
food and serve as another resource for families. The pharmacy is
scheduled to open this fall.
"More than 120,000 Philadelphia
children live below the poverty line and one in five people in
Philadelphia experience food
insecurity, which means they don't consistently have access to
enough food for an active and healthy lifestyle," said Saba Khan,
MD, attending physician with the CHOP Care Network and Director of
Food Pharmacy. "Each year, we deliver thousands of pounds of fresh
produce to patient families through our Food Pharmacy program. The
GIANT Company provides food, staff and materials to deliver on the
promise of a healthier life for those in the community. With this
most recent grant, we can serve more children and their families
with another Food Pharmacy in Norristown."
In 2018, The GIANT Company provided an initial gift to establish
a Food Pharmacy as part of CHOP's Healthy Weight Program, launching
the first pediatric hospital-based food bank in the country. The
program expanded in 2020 thanks to additional funding from The
GIANT Company.
"The GIANT Company first became involved with Children's
Hospital of Philadelphia's Food
Pharmacy Program in 2018 because the need was clear, and we knew we
could help," said Joanna Crishock,
vice president of marketing and commercial planning, The GIANT
Company. "Increasing access to healthy foods and promoting
nutrition is a priority of ours every day, both in and outside our
stores, as is reducing food insecurity. We're grateful for the
opportunity to support the expansion of the Food Pharmacy in
Norristown, and we look forward to
seeing the positive impact this life-changing program will have on
families."
Efforts to address food insecurity often neglect city suburbs,
and many areas in need are sandwiched between wealthier ones,
creating overlooked pockets with limited access to resources. The
COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated this issue, with many populations
experiencing food insecurity for the first time. Additionally,
there are many disparities affecting access to optimal nutrition
and without a healthy diet, children's overall health and
development is at risk. CHOP's Food Pharmacy program aims to
increase access to healthy foods and promote nutrition for families
experiencing food insecurity.
The GIANT Company's donation will increase access by bringing
nutritious food where families reside and further bolster resources
available at the Karabots Primary Care Center in Norristown. As part of the Food Pharmacy
program, families work with a multidisciplinary team of providers
to learn how to make healthy lifestyle changes and receive
educational resources on healthy foods, recipes and age-appropriate
programming for children.
The GIANT Company is one of CHOP's largest corporate sponsors
and has been a Children's Miracle Network (CMN) partner since
1995. Through The GIANT Company's CMN round-up campaigns, more than
$22 million has been donated to CHOP
to support the Child Life, Education and Creative Arts Therapy
Department and Food Pharmacy programming. In addition to
these campaigns, The GIANT Company has philanthropically supported
key capital projects, such as the Buerger Center for Advanced
Pediatric Care and the King of Prussia Specialty Care Center.
To learn more about CHOP's Food Pharmacy program, visit
chop.edu/centers-programs/food-pharmacy.
About Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
A non-profit, charitable organization, Children's Hospital of
Philadelphia was founded in 1855
as the nation's first pediatric hospital. Through its long-standing
commitment to providing exceptional patient care, training new
generations of pediatric healthcare professionals, and pioneering
major research initiatives, the 595-bed hospital has fostered many
discoveries that have benefited children worldwide. Its pediatric
research program is among the largest in the country. The
institution has a well-established history of providing advanced
pediatric care close to home through its CHOP Care Network, which
includes more than 50 primary care practices, specialty care and
surgical centers, urgent care centers, and community hospital
alliances throughout Pennsylvania
and New Jersey, as well as an
inpatient hospital with a dedicated pediatric emergency
department in King of Prussia. In
addition, its unique family-centered care and public service
programs have brought Children's Hospital of Philadelphia recognition as a leading advocate
for children and adolescents. For more information, visit
https://www.chop.edu.
About The GIANT Company
The GIANT Company believes
that no matter where or how, when meals happen, families
connect, and when families connect meaningfully, good
happens. Guided by its brand platform, For Today's
Table®, the omnichannel retailer proudly serves millions
of neighbors across Pennsylvania,
Maryland, Virginia, West
Virginia, and New Jersey.
With more than 35,000 talented team members supporting 193 stores,
132 pharmacies, 107 fuel stations, and over 180 online pickup hubs
and grocery delivery service in hundreds of zip codes, The GIANT
Company is changing the customer experience and connecting families
for a better future. Founded in 1923 in Carlisle, Pa., The GIANT Company family of
brands includes GIANT, MARTIN'S, GIANT Heirloom Market, GIANT
Direct and MARTIN'S Direct. The GIANT Company is a company of Ahold
Delhaize USA. For more
information, visit the GIANT or MARTIN'S websites.
PR CONTACT:
Kaitlyn Tivenan
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
M: 610-618-0542
tivenank@chop.edu
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SOURCE Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
