Food For Free Delivers to Cambridge Health Alliance's Zinberg Clinic

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – As the costs of food, heating and transportation continue to rise, residents are struggling to afford basic needs. This has added to the difficulties faced by those living with complex health issues. Recognizing that reliable access to nutritious food is integral to overall health, Food For Free has launched a new partnership with the Cambridge Health Alliance’s Zinberg Clinic. Through the nonprofit’s Just Eats program, food is now being boxed and delivered to the clinic’s specialty care patients so that they can focus on their overall health and not where their next meal is coming from.

Developed during the pandemic to meet increased demand, Food For Free’s Just Eats program distributes 1,800 boxes of food every single week to food programs, such as schools, food pantries, low-income housing sites, and other community organizations, for safe, nutrition-focused distribution. Through the program, the nonprofit also distributes up to 75,000 pounds of bulk produce and shelf-stable food to community pantries and low-income housing sites. More than 3,000 Boston area families and individuals are served through Just Eats each week.

“Hunger in America is not only a lack of access to food, it’s a lack of access to nutrition,” says Mary Reid, Food For Free’s Associate Manager of Operations. “Many chronic diseases like diabetes, obesity and heart disease are linked to eating foods that are high in calories and low in nutrition. Our partnership with the Zinberg Clinic gives Food For Free another access point to meet those facing food insecurity where they are so that we can ensure everyone in the community – regardless of age, income, or ability – has consistent access to healthy eating.”

For decades, Cambridge Health Alliance has been one of Food For Free’s 115 distribution partners in which the nonprofit would transport donated food to its former food pantry, which closed during the pandemic. To meet today’s increased need at the Zinberg Clinic, the community health center contacted Food For Free to reimagine what the pantry could look like. In December 2022, the organizations launched a Just Eats pilot program in which Food For Free delivers one to two pallets of rescued food bi-monthly. On the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, clinicians and administrators of the Zinberg Clinic line up to receive up to 2,000 lbs. of fresh fruits and vegetables from Food For Free’s delivery truck. This food is then distributed to patients in bags donated by the local Market Basket. In February, Food For Free added animal protein options to the delivery per the request from patients. Up to 100 patients and their families are served weekly through the partnership.

“When you are living with a long-term chronic illness, having a balanced diet is critical to the whole continual care continuum,” says David Novak, Clinical Supervisor of Medical Case Managers at the Zinberg Clinic. “Many of our patients struggle with housing security and are living on a fixed income, which makes affording food in this economy that much harder. Food For Free has been a tremendous partner helping us to meet one of our patients’ most basic needs. All food delivered by the nonprofit is taken by patients; there is nothing left behind. They really enjoy being able to take home a fresh bag of produce after their visits.”

Food For Free is one of the oldest food rescue organizations in the nation. Founded in 1981, the nonprofit now serves more than 150,000 food insecure Massachusetts residents and rescues 7.5 million pounds of nutritious fresh and prepared foods annually. For more information, visit: www.foodforfree.org.

ABOUT FOOD FOR FREE

Food For Free is a Cambridge and Somerville-based, non-profit organization dedicated to providing Eastern Massachusetts with reliable access to fresh and nutritious food. Food For Free accomplishes its mission through food rescue, partnerships with schools, colleges, and community food programs, and our own direct service programs. In the last year, Food For Free distributed 7.5 million pounds of nutritious food to over 20 communities throughout Eastern Massachusetts and was named the 2020 Org Impact Award winner in the Fighting Hunger and Poverty category for its work improving access to healthy food within the Boston community. To learn more, visit us at www.foodforfree.org, or follow Food For Free on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @foodforfreeorg.

ABOUT CHA Zinberg Clinic

The Zinberg Clinic at Cambridge Health Alliance is a dedicated care center that uses a multidisciplinary approach to provide adult primary and specialty care for certain medical conditions. Services include integrated behavioral health care and case management. The multidisciplinary, multicultural, and multilingual team includes Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, psychiatrists, social workers, case managers, medical assistants, and secretaries. Cambridge Health Alliance is an academic community health system serving Cambridge, Somerville and Boston’s metro-north communities. It includes two hospital campuses, a network of primary care and specialty practices, and the Cambridge Public Health Department.

###