The MolinaCares Accord Increases Access to Proper Nutrition for Virginia Youth Through Healthy Kids Bucks Program

Ben Jackey, Ben.Jackey@MolinaHealthcare.com, 502-377-9484

RICHMOND, VA – July 6, 2023 – The MolinaCares Accord (“MolinaCares”), in collaboration with Molina Healthcare of Virginia (“Molina”), is creating healthier eating habits for Virginia’s youth with over $50,000 in grants under its Healthy Kids Bucks initiative. This statewide program provides children between the ages of 2 and 17 with vouchers redeemable at produce stands in local farmers markets, encouraging proper nutrition. This comes as the federal P-EBT program for K-12 is phased out following the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.

The program, which began in 2019, will distribute over $50,000 to organizations across Petersburg, Roanoke, Lynchburg, Greene County, Russell County and Washington County, localities where food deserts and the high costs of fresh produce present difficulties for children in sustaining proper nutrition. Across Virginia, nearly 10% of children are considered food insecure due to limited access to nutritious food.

“Cost-burdened families across the state are struggling to feed their children healthy meals,” said Darrin Johnson, plan president of Molina Healthcare of Virginia. “Molina seeks to ease the burden by providing a free, fun and impactful program promoting community wellbeing throughout Virginia.”

Here is how the program is being implemented in each area of the state:

The River Street Market in Petersburg will distribute 1,500 produce vouchers to children.
Operating with local preschool programs and summer youth programs, Friends of the Lynchburg Community Market will issue 900 vouchers to area children.
Greene Commons Group will distribute 240 vouchers near Stanardsville.
Roanoke’s Local Environmental Agriculture Project, Inc. will work with the West End Farmers Market to provide 715 vouchers to low-income communities in the area.
The Russell County Health Coalition will work with the Russell County Farmers Market to provide 1,500 vouchers to youth in the area.
Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Family Nutrition Program will provide 1,600 vouchers to youth throughout nine SNAP accepting farmers markets in southwest Virginia.

“Children from all over Virginia are vulnerable to preventable health disparities due to food insecurity,” said Andrea Wann, extension agent for the Virginia Cooperative Extension. “This is especially true in the summer months when children are away from school, which many rely on for two meals per day. MolinaCares’ generous donation will help bridge this gap, enable children to gain a valuable education in healthy food preparation, and support families and local farmers in traditionally underserved regions of the state.”

In 2022, Molina funded the Healthy Kids Bucks program at six farmers markets in southwest Virginia, serving over 625 kids.

Learn more about the community-based organizations supported by Molina here.

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About The MolinaCares Accord:

Established by Molina Healthcare, Inc., The MolinaCares Accord oversees a community investment platform created to improve the health and well-being of disadvantaged populations by funding meaningful, measurable, and innovative programs and solutions that improve health, life, and living in local communities. The MolinaCares Accord funds such measures through The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation, a 501(c)(3) established in 2020 by Molina Healthcare, Inc.

About Molina Healthcare of Virginia:

Molina Healthcare of Virginia has been providing government-funded, quality health care since 2017. The Company serves members through Medicaid and Medicare programs throughout Virginia. Molina Healthcare, Inc., a FORTUNE 500 company, provides managed healthcare services under the Medicaid and Medicare programs and through the state insurance marketplaces. Molina Healthcare served approximately 5.2 million members as of June 30, 2023, located across 19 states. For more information about Molina Healthcare, please visit molinahealthcare.com.