Expanding Access: Supporting Families Facing Food Insecurity in Chicago’s West Side

We believe that everyone should have access to nutritious food, but in too many communities across the country, people still struggle to get the nourishment they need. Take Chicago, for example, where nearly 500,000 residents live in food deserts, the vast majority of them on the South and West Sides, research shows. 

That’s why Instacart is partnering with Wellness West, a coalition of Chicago’s health and safety-net institutions. We recognize the importance of working directly with health systems and community partners in order to address the need for increased access to nutritious foods in communities across the country. Wellness West addresses the health equity needs of up to 200,000 uninsured and Medicaid-insured patients diagnosed with at least one of six specific medical conditions who live in 10 West Side zip codes. Together, we will assist individuals on the West Side of Chicago who are experiencing food insecurity and have a chronic medical condition.

Through the partnership, Wellness West is launching a new “Food Connections” program that will offer eligible members a monthly grocery stipend of $79 using Instacart Health Fresh Funds, which can be used to purchase nutritious foods like fresh and frozen produce for delivery via Instacart. The digital stipend can be combined with additional food benefit programs, like SNAP or other eligible supplemental health benefits. This will allow members to complete their full shop in one order, creating a more convenient and accessible grocery shopping experience. 

Increasing nutrition security is a core focus for Instacart Health because we know nutrition and health are deeply intertwined. In 2022, the USDA reported that more than 100 million people in the United States suffer from diet-related disease, which can be caused or made worse by a lack of key nutrients. Instacart can help bridge the gap and deliver nutritious foods to more people in support of their health and well-being.

That’s why, over the course of the last year, we’ve worked with nonprofit and healthcare organizations across the country to implement nutrition security programs using Instacart Health Fresh Funds. We’re excited to continue to expand this model in order to connect more families and individuals in need with access to fresh, nutritious foods.

We’re also committed to ensuring families have dignity of choice, including access to multiple sources of fresh, nutritious foods in their local communities. So we will also be working closely with Wellness West to identify and engage small, local grocery stores on the West Side of Chicago to help them launch online grocery ordering and delivery through Instacart. For Wellness West members, this can mean more local shopping choices, and for small grocers on the West Side, this can mean new potential revenue streams to help them thrive and grow.

Support from government leaders is instrumental in maximizing the impact of this type of public-private partnership and ensuring they lead to more successful, thriving communities. We’re proud to have the support of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who said: “For too many Chicagoans, choices about what to eat are limited by access and affordability. My administration is committed to advancing innovative solutions and supporting public-private partnerships to address these food inequities. It’s inspiring to see Wellness West and Instacart partnering to address these challenges and ensure more West Side residents can access and afford the nutritious food they deserve.”

By working together with local nonprofits, health care leaders and local officials, we have an incredible opportunity to make nutritious foods more accessible and more affordable for families who need it most. 

Sarah Mastrorocco

Author

Sarah Mastrorocco is Vice President and General Manager of Health for Instacart. A longtime Instacart veteran and leader, Sarah today oversees Instacart Health, designed to support businesses, nonprofits and consumers across three key areas: Nutrition Security, Making Healthier Choices Easier, and Food as Medicine. Sarah has played an integral role at Instacart since joining as the first member of the company’s business development team in 2014. During her tenure at Instacart, she’s taken on various leadership positions across Business Development, Account Management, and Catalog. Prior to this current role, Sarah oversaw and scaled Instacart’s Pickup business.