The Salem Pantry Launches Medically Tailored Food Box Pilot Program

SALEM, MA — The Salem Pantry is launching a pilot program designed to deliver medically tailored food boxes to those in need who are managing chronic health conditions.

The Greater Boston Food Bank is partnering with The Salem Pantry on the initiative.

Medically tailored food boxes are customized packages created to meet the specific dietary needs of patients living with chronic diseases. Curated by expert dietitians at GBFB, these packages aim to improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs by addressing nutritional requirements directly tied to medical conditions.

The Salem Pantry is one of five organizations piloting the program.

With food provided directly from GBFB, The Salem Pantry arranges the distribution of these specialized grocery boxes to community members throughout the North Shore. Each box contains a variety of nutritious foods tailored to specific health conditions, with 90 percent of them delivered directly to individuals by members of The Salem Pantry team.

"GBFB dietitians have designed ten boxes for specific health conditions that contain produce and shelf-stable staples known to support the needs of different patients with different chronic health challenges," said Cheryl Schondek, Chief Operating Officer at The Greater Boston Food Bank. "This program is an extension of GBFB's overall commitment to empowering our community with a consistent supply of healthy food to promote positive health outcomes."

Each box includes pantry items, such as rice and grains, beans and other proteins, fresh eggs, and a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. The food is intendedto support healthy eating patterns, helping families maintain a nutritious diet at home.

The program specifically targets common chronic conditions including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, renal, lung and liver disease, and high-risk pregnancy.

"We at The Salem Pantry have long recognized the role food plays in the health of our neighbors, especially those battling chronic conditions," said Mike Lilley, Director of Programs and Partnerships for The Salem Pantry. "We are proud to play a role in getting this important resource to those who need it."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)