For many years, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey (Horizon) has been a dedicated supporter of CFBNJ, volunteering and funding important hunger-relief initiatives. As a Visionary Impact Partner, Horizon has continuously stepped up to fight food insecurity and improve the health of our neighbors in need.
This year, Horizon committed to a new multiyear signature initiative, “Growing Healthy Pantries,” with New Jersey’s five food banks – CFBNJ, Food Bank of South Jersey, Fulfill, Mercer Street Friends, and NORWESCAP.
Through this initiative, food banks will develop a toolkit to provide the local food pantries with the resources and framework they need to develop nutrition policy, increase healthy food options, and provide essential services that address the factors that lead to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity. This initiative is made possible by the generous $200,000 investment from Horizon through its philanthropic arm, The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, to help build the capacity of food pantries throughout the state and address the need for food distribution in New Jersey to focus on choice and nutrition.
“A healthier New Jersey starts with good and healthy food. The tens of thousands of New Jerseyans who rely on the nearly 1,000 food pantries across the state that are served by these five food banks will now have new resources, information, and tools to help them become healthier and more food secure,” said Jonathan R. Pearson, Horizon’s Director of Corporate Social Responsibility and the Executive Director of The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey.
In addition to increasing access to nutritious food, this initiative will focus on growing the number of choice-style pantries to provide our neighbors with the dignity that comes with choice, particularly in underserved communities and amongst vulnerable populations – children and their families, people with chronic health conditions, and seniors.
“By focusing on health and choice, we can help our neighbors in need live active lives while affording them the dignity of being able to shop the way they would in a grocery store,” said Carlos Rodriguez, President & CEO of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. “New Jersey’s food banks are grateful for the Horizon Foundation for New Jersey’s partnership and commitment to addressing the social determinants of health.”