One in five people in Philadelphia experience food insecurity, which means they don’t consistently have enough food for an active and healthy lifestyle. Without a healthy diet, children’s overall health and development is at risk.
The Food Pharmacies aim to increase access to healthy foods and promote nutrition for families experiencing food insecurity. Through one-on-one resource navigation and direct grocery delivery to our families’ homes, we aim to connect our families to the food and financial resources they need to thrive. By partnering with grocers, caterers, and community organizations, we can offer an array of programming ranging from grocery delivery, financial planning, and free produce markets. As a participant in the Food Pharmacy, families receive groceries one a month for 6 months.
How we serve you
As part of care provided by the Healthy Weight Program, all patient families are asked about food insecurity at every visit. If you need food, you are not alone — and the Food Pharmacy can help.
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Meet your team
Our Food Pharmacy is led by Saba Khan, MD, and includes support staff to help families dealing with food insecurity.
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Food Pharmacy resources
There are several local, regional and national resources for families who need support accessing nutritious food.
How do I qualify for the Food Pharmacy?
At select primary care visits families are presented with a survey asking the following two questions:
- Within the last 12 months, we worried whether food would run out before we got money to buy more
- Within the last 12 months, the food we bought just didn’t last and we didn’t have money to buy more
Families can also be referred by social work at our operating locations, as well as other community related programs
About our pharmacies
Healthy Weight Program
Located at 3550 Market Street, the Healthy Weight Food Pharmacy was the first pharmacy launched in 2018, and provides every family at the clinic the opportunity to be part of the Food Pharmacy program
Karabots Primary Care
Located at 48th and Market, Karabots was the first expansion site launched in 2020, allowing the Food Pharmacy to expand into a grocery delivery model where groceries are delivered directly to a families home
In-patient Services
Located at the Main hospital, our in-patient pilot program was our first experiment with providing prepared meals to families post-discharge. This pilot program provides prepared meals to families who experienced an in-patient hospital stay once they return home
Cobbs Creek Primary Care
Located at Cobbs Creek Primary Care, the Cobbs Creek Pharmacy launches in 2024 bringing food access opportunities to our families in Cobbs Creek
Norristown Primary Care
Located at Norristown Primary Care, the Norristown Pharmacy launches in 2024 bringing food access opportunities to our families in Norristown
Your donation changes lives
A gift of any size helps us make life-saving breakthroughs for children everywhere.
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