AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina Donation Helps Fund Inter-Faith Food Shuttle School Food Pantries

According to Feeding America, more than 448,000 North Carolina children Opens a new window face food insecurity. This can negatively impact their performance in school Opens a new window and puts them at higher risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer Opens a new window later in life.

As one of the state’s Medicaid health plans, AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina works to address social determinants of health, including hunger, among its members and the larger community. In collaboration with Inter-Faith Food Shuttle Opens a new window, AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina is making healthy food options more readily available to children and families through school-based food pantries.

Inter-Faith Food Shuttle operates 51 pantries at schools in Chatham, Durham, Edgecombe, Johnston, Nash, Orange, and Wake Counties, providing children and families in need with access to food in a convenient location. In addition to making a $50,000 donation to Inter-Faith Food Shuttle in late 2024 to support the school pantry program, AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina will work with Inter-Faith Food Shuttle to support family education and events at schools with pantries.

“Community-based organizations, like Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, are crucial partners in our work to improve the health of North Carolina Medicaid beneficiaries,” said AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina Market President Heidi Chan. “By working with Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, we can bring healthy food and other resources to more North Carolina children and families in need.”

Inter-Faith Food Shuttle is a member of the Feeding America National Network of Food Banks. In addition to distributing food, it provides programs designed to empower people with skills to meet their own food needs through culinary job training, beginner gardening, and cooking healthy on a budget.

 “We are proud to team up with AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina to help combat food insecurity and improve the health and well-being of children and families across the state,” said Inter-Faith Food Shuttle President and CEO Ron Pringle. “Through this collaboration, we can provide nutritious food to students and ensure they have the resources they need to thrive, both in the classroom and beyond. Together, we are making a lasting impact on the lives of those who need it most."

The two organizations plan to expand their relationship in 2025 to include volunteer activities for the more than 200 Triangle-based AmeriHealth Caritas associates.