Molina Healthcare of Ohio Supports New and Expectant Mothers in Need with $10,0000 Grant to the Southeast Ohio Foodbank
Ben Jackey, Ben.Jackey@MolinaHealthcare.com, 502-377-9484
Eva Bloom, eva.bloom@hapcap.org , 740-767-1022
LOGAN, Ohio, June 9, 2023 – Molina Healthcare of Ohio (“Molina”) today presented a $10,000 grant to Southeast Ohio Foodbank (“SEOFB”), in support of programs addressing food insecurity for Ohioans during pregnancy and postpartum. The donation will fund SEOFB initiatives, including the Bringing Healthy Home program, which aims to improve physical and mental health outcomes for new and expectant families that identify as low-income or food insecure.
A program of Hocking Athens Perry Community Action (“HAPCAP”), SEOFB is a member of Feeding America. An estimated 1 in 6 individuals in southeast Ohio faces hunger. Bringing Healthy Home serves the majority of counties in SEOFB’s territory, including Hocking, Athens, Perry, Gallia, Jackson, Meigs and Vinton Counties. Families in the program receive home delivery of nutritious food boxes, home visits, comprehensive case management, and opportunities for educational workshops and activities.
“Food insecurity and education are two significant social determinants of health and it’s important that Molina supports efforts to address them,” said Ami Cole, plan president for Molina Healthcare of Ohio. “SEOFB’s commitment to alleviating the effects of poverty and hunger positively impacts not only those they serve, but community health as a whole.”
“We are so grateful to Molina for their support of this impactful program,” said Kelly Hatas, executive director for HAPCAP. “Bringing Healthy Home provides resources to the whole family, addresses food insecurity and other social determinants of health while supporting families during a time that is both exciting, and physically and emotionally demanding.”
Amanda, a resident of Vinton County, is a Bringing Healthy Home participant. A mother of one, with a daughter due this summer, she says the home visits are a major benefit. Neither she, nor her partner, own a car and the nearest Walmart is 30 miles away.
“When our new baby comes, I won’t have to go out to get food,” said Amanda. “It’s hard to get a ride to the store and it’s tough to take a newborn shopping. We are grateful for this program.”
Amanda says perhaps the greatest benefit of the program is the community health worker and case manager, Katherine, who guides the family on how to access needed resources and supports them in making healthy choices.
In addition to the Bringing Healthy Home program, the Molina grant will support other aspects of SEOFB’s health equity and outreach work, including SNAP application assistance, Medicaid Connect, and the SE Ohio Community Health Worker Coalition.
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About Molina Healthcare of Ohio
Molina Healthcare of Ohio has been providing government-funded, quality health care since 2005. The Company serves members through Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare-Medicaid (Duals) and Health Insurance Exchange programs throughout Ohio. Through its locally operated health plans, Molina Healthcare, Inc., a FORTUNE 500 company, served approximately 5.3 million members as of March 31, 2023.For more information about Molina Healthcare of Ohio, visit MolinaHealthcare.com.
About The Southeast Ohio Foodbank
The Southeast Ohio Foodbank is a program of Hocking Athens Perry Community Action (HAPCAP), a private nonprofit dedicated to alleviating the impacts of poverty, and a member of Feeding America. Headquartered in Logan, Ohio, the Southeast Ohio Foodbank serves 10 counties, including Athens, Gallia, Hocking, Jackson, Lawrence, Meigs, Morgan, Perry, Vinton, and Washington. Through the work of dedicated staff and volunteers and contributions from generous financial supporters, the organization supplies 70 member food pantries and provides more than four million meals annually. In addition to providing emergency food assistance, the Southeast Ohio Foodbank works to find innovative solutions to the challenges of food insecurity through the HAPCAP for Health program.
For more, visit www.hapcap.com, follow @FoodbankSE on Twitter, @se.ohio.foodbank on Instagram, or like SE Ohio Foodbank on Facebook.