Grant program unites multiple regional agencies to provide healthy meals to those in need

CINCINNATI, Ohio (CareSource) - CareSource, The Cincinnati Health Department (CHD), Hamilton County ReSource, the Cincinnati Recreation Commission (CRC), and La Soupe have teamed up to create Cincy Freeze & Feed, a program allowing Cincinnati residents to easily access free, nutritious meals for their families. This collaboration shows how healthcare organizations, along with public and private entities, can work together to make a real difference. It’s a great example of how organizations can deepen their impact by joining forces to benefit the communities we serve. 

The Cincy Freeze & Feed program made its public debut in Millvale on Wednesday, Apr. 9 and in Avondale on Thursday, Apr. 10 after a soft launch in late March. The programs early success is due to the partners who are excited to achieve the shared goal of reducing wasted food while tending to the needs of Cincinnati residents. In the three weeks Cincy Freeze & Feed has been operating since late March, more than 2,600 meals have been distributed and over 3,100 pounds of food has been diverted from landfills.

“As a local resident and someone deeply committed to the well-being of our communities, I am thrilled about the Cincy Freeze & Feed Program,” said Judith Davis, Ph.D., Vice President, Clinical Operations for CareSource Ohio. “This initiative helps reduce food waste and creates a crucial food access point in two neighborhoods providing essential resources to those who need it most.”

Hamilton County ReSource provides grant funds to local businesses, communities, nonprofits, schools and churches that are working to reduce landfill waste and/or increase recycling while providing valuable services to the community. ReSource provided a $15,000 Waste Reduction Innovation Grant to the City of Cincinnati Health Department’s Healthy Communities Program. This program partnered with CareSource, a nonprofit managed care organization, who purchased and maintains two large freezers. These freezers will help preserve donated meals from La Soupe, ensuring that those in need have access to healthy meals.

“The Cincy Freeze & Feed project is a unique collaborative effort, years in the making, between multiple organizations with a united goal of improving access to healthy foods while simultaneously reducing food waste,” said Tiffany White, MPH, RD, LD, CLC, Healthy Communities Programs Manager, Cincinnati Health Department.

“The Waste Reduction Innovation Grant program is designed to prioritize landfill waste reduction programs that makes the best use of resources,” stated Resource’s Cher Mohring, Resource Recovery Senior Specialist. “When it comes to surplus food, donation and upcycling is the most preferred method, making this project an ideal grant recipient. We are all proud of what has been accomplished.”