Partnership for a Healthier America

With the federal government now shut down, millions of Americans could soon face disruptions to essential food, nutrition, and health services. Here’s what’s at stake: - Funding for WIC could run out within a week, leaving mothers and babies without access to food and formula. - SNAP and school meal programs are funded only through October, creating uncertainty for millions of families. - The Emergency Food Assistance Program, which provides food for food banks, may be unable to deliver supplies on time as demand for these services surges. - The FDA’s Human Foods Program is operating at minimal capacity, halting routine inspections and slowing responses to foodborne illness outbreaks. If the shutdown lasts past October 31, states may be forced to suspend key nutrition programs altogether. Read the full article to learn more: https://lnkd.in/eM_nh6PP

We're excited to share that PHA’s Healthy Hunger Relief 3.0 launched earlier this month! In partnership with Instacart, we're awarding the Kansas Food Bank and the Food Bank of the Rockies with $25,000 grants to help integrate nutrition into their programming this holiday season to increase access to fresh, frozen, and canned fruits and vegetables for families who need them most. Through Instacart Health’s Fresh Funds, food banks will be able to deliver nutritious foods directly to the people they serve, making healthy eating more accessible and convenient. This next phase of our initiative also includes participation in our Healthy Hunger Relief Index, helping food banks measure and strengthen their nutrition impact well into 2026. To learn more about our Healthy Hunger Relief Index, check out this blog: https://lnkd.in/gNQPxG9G

Happy World Food Day! Each year on October 16, we recognize World Food Day established by the United Nations to celebrate the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 1945 and to honor the shared commitment to ending hunger and ensuring good food for all. This day reminds us that access to healthy, affordable food shouldn’t be a privilege, but a human right. At PHA, we’re proud to carry this mission forward every day through partnering with community organizations, corporations, foundations and governments, building equitable food systems to ensure everyone has access to the nutritious foods they need to lead healthy lives.

Last week, the entire PHA team came together in Clarksdale, Mississippi, for our annual All Staff Retreat. It was a week of connection, learning, and seeing our work in the Mississippi Delta come to life. We spent time visiting several of our incredible partners, starting with Robbie Pollard of Happy Foods Projects and Start 2 Finish Farms, who received a GROW grant to purchase a refrigerated truck that’s helping expand local food access. We also toured the Alcorn State University Vegetable Processing Plant, a key part of the purple hull pea project, and visited Rev. Bennie Brown and the Swan Lake Association to see ongoing work in Jonestown, where PHA has provided GROW funds and helped develop a mobile market. In the afternoon, we visited George H. Oliver Elementary, where the school murals were created in partnership with Griot Arts Inc. We also heard from a few elementary students about how seeing the murals every day during lunch inspires them. We ended the day with a visit to J’s Grocery, a neighborhood market we helped renovate to offer more fresh produce for the community. The retreat was a powerful reminder of why we do this work: to build connections, strengthen partnerships, and see firsthand how collaboration drives change in communities.

We’re concerned by the USDA’s decision to discontinue the annual Household Food Security Report. For 30 years, this survey has provided valuable insights that help shape policies to address hunger and food insecurity. Losing this data source will make it harder to: - Understand how many families lack access to adequate nutrition - Measure how changes to federal food policies affect families - Make informed food policy decisions Learn more about what this change means for families: https://lnkd.in/gQ7_34RY

Exciting news from the "Nourishing People, Planet, and Our Future" summit! Experts highlighted how regenerative school meals can create positive ripple effects across the entire food system. From improving children's nutrition to supporting local economies and reducing environmental impact, these programs offer a powerful solution to multiple challenges. We're inspired by the potential of regenerative school meals to build healthier communities and a more sustainable future. Read more in Food Tank's article below. #FoodEquity #SchoolMeals #Goodfoodforall https://lnkd.in/e3VnpYP3

The celebration continues in Chicago! We were so excited to launch the Good Good Food campaign with a vibrant community block party in the Austin Neighborhood, in conjunction with the Austin Town Hall Farmers Market. The event was a celebration of healthy eating and featured live cooking demos from Chef Sebastian White, live music with DJ LipGloss, a food budgeting hub featuring Amazon Access and RXBAR, and free better-for-you beverages provided by Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. This launch is part of our work to double produce consumption in Chicago and other cities across the country. The Good Good Food campaign is all about empowering nutritious food choices in an inclusive way. We extend our deepest gratitude to our incredible sponsors: Keurig Dr Pepper Inc., Amazon Access, and Novo Nordisk for their support. A special thank you to our community partners, Austin Town Hall Farmers Market and Forty Acres Fresh Market, for their dedication to bringing fresh, affordable food to the community. This is just the beginning! We are excited to continue this work with our partners across Chicago, Denver, and our other Good Food Cities to expand this important program and drive better health for all. To learn more about Good Good Food in Chicago read our press release here: https://lnkd.in/eeZaKuMU #GoodGoodFood #Chicago #PartnershipforaHealthierAmerica #AustinNeighborhood #HealthEquity #CommunityImpact #NutritionSecurity #GoodFoodforAll