Foodshare Columbia receives funding from Molina Healthcare of South Carolina
June 22, 2016
Wednesday, June 22, at Katherine E. Bellfield Cultural Arts Center, Molina Healthcare of South Carolina donated $23,000 to FoodShare Columbia. Molina’s donation will be used to hire a community outreach employee from the local neighborhood who will actively engage members of the community to increase access to FoodShare program.
“FoodShare Columbia is an example of how we are reaching beyond the walls of our medical practices to help our community,” said Les Hall, M.D., Executive Dean of USC School of Medicine, CEO of Palmetto Health-USC Medical Group. “We are particularly proud of this program.”
FoodShare is a program in the internal medicine department at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine and partners with the Center for Research in Nutrition and Health Disparities and Palmetto Health-USC Medical Group. FoodShare Columbia launched in April 2015 to increase access to fresh produce in low-income communities and to address chronic health conditions. Food demonstrations are done regularly and fresh food boxes are ordered every two weeks at $20 for area residents. Those with SNAP or EBT benefits purchase the boxes at a reduced rate and receive a $10 healthy bucks incentive through SNAP. Orders are picked up at Katherine E. Bellfield Cultural Arts Center every other Wednesday from 12 to 6 p.m.
“Molina Healthcare of South Carolina is proud to partner with FoodShare Columbia and support their efforts to help get fresh food to individuals and families in need,” said Tom Lindquist, president of Molina Healthcare of South Carolina. “We are committed to building a long-term partnership with FoodShare as their incredible work to help improve the lives and overall health of our community members closely aligns with Molina’s ongoing mission of serving the underserved.”
Since its launch, FoodShare has provided more than 1,000 families with more than 40,000 pounds of fresh food. Fifty-five percent of the families served receive SNAP or EBT benefits. FoodShare partners include the City of Columbia Parks and Recreation Department, Columbia Housing Authority, Richland Library and EdVenture Children’s Museum.
Funding for FoodShare has come from Palmetto Health and USC School of Medicine. Molina Healthcare of South Carolina is the first health insurer to donate funds. All donations are welcome and can be sent to USC Educational Foundation, c/o FoodShare, 2 Medical Park, Suite 502, Columbia, S.C. 29203.
About Molina Healthcare of South Carolina
Since 2013, Molina Healthcare of South Carolina has been providing government-funded care for low-income individuals. From the beginning and through today, our mission has been to bring high quality and cost-effective health care to kids, adults, seniors, families and people with disabilities. As of March 2016, the company serves approximately 102,000 members through Medicaid and Medicare-Medicaid (Duals) health programs across South Carolina. Molina’s state Provider Network includes 2,087 primary care physicians, 7,293 specialist physicians and 74 hospitals.
About USC School of Medicine
The University of South Carolina School of Medicine demonstrates excellence in medical education, pioneering research and humanistic patient care. Since welcoming the first class in 1977, the school maintains a commitment to provide high-quality and personalized education through graduate and professional programs. The School of Medicine leads the way as the first medical school in the nation with a four-year integrated ultrasound curriculum. For more information, visit www.med.sc.edu.
About Palmetto Health-USC Medical Group
The Palmetto Health-USC Medical Group is a not-for-profit company that brings together health care providers from two of South Carolina’s most respected organizations – Palmetto Health and the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. With more than 500 providers and 2,200 team members in more than 80 practices and nearly 100 locations, we form the largest multispecialty medical group and provide the broadest range of health care services in the Midlands region. For more information, visit PHUSCMG.org.
