Houston Food Bank and Wellpoint Strengthen Community Health Through “Food as Medicine” Partnership – MARCH 31, 2026
HOUSTON … Food is a powerful tool for better health, especially as people facing hunger experience higher rates of chronic illness and higher health care costs.
For 30 years, Wellpoint (formerly Amerigroup) has been helping improve healthcare access and quality for more than 500,000 Texans who participate in the state’s Medicaid programs. During National Nutrition Month in March, Houston Food Bank (HFB) has joined the Wellpoint Foundation and Feeding America® to highlight how health starts with what’s on your plate.® Over the past three years, Wellpoint has donated $450,000 to Houston Food Bank to support these initiatives.
Launched in 2017, Houston Food Bank’s “Food as Medicine” program helps neighbors facing hunger access dietitian-designed meals with culturally relevant foods that match their tastes and medical needs, including medically tailored foods for diet-related illnesses. These supports are especially important as many families are forced to make impossible choices between food and healthcare that make it harder to maintain their health.
“It’s a simple but powerful idea. Healthcare providers screen their patients for food insecurity and for those patients who do screen positive, the providers prescribe nutritious food and education,” says Brian Greene, president/CEO of Houston Food Bank. “The ‘Food as Medicine’ program, which is a Feeding America initiative funded by the Wellpoint Foundation, is helping Houston Food Bank strengthen community well-being.”
Together with Harris Health, Houston Food Bank screens neighbors for food insecurity with a pre-existing condition or at risk for a diet-related chronic health conditions, provides referrals to nutritious meals, and delivers resources in ways that help remove barriers and respect choice. Neighbors enrolled in the program can redeem their produce prescription at onsite food pantries at the healthcare site or at any Houston Food Bank Food for Change markets which are designed with nutritional nudges, education and access to other social services resources. In addition, Harris Health refers their participants to the food bank’s referral program, FIRST Link, which connects participants to federal benefits application assistance such as SNAP and other social services.
“Good health starts with nutritious food and many Houstonians are struggling to access fresh, healthy options,” said Greg Thompson, president of Wellpoint Texas. “Our years-long partnership with Houston Food Bank and Feeding America reflects our commitment to a Food as Medicine approach that fosters long-term health and well-being for Houston area families.”
Food and Health programs across the Feeding America network are showing encouraging signs that these interventions can support improved health for families. By offering neighbors consistent access to nutritious foods, Houston Food Bank is helping lay the groundwork for better health outcomes and greater stability for households in the Greater Houston Area.
For more information on Houston Food Bank and its programs, visit HoustonFoodBank.org.
About the Wellpoint Foundation
The Wellpoint Foundation is a philanthropic arm of the Elevance Health Foundation. The Foundation works to improve the health of the socially vulnerable through partnerships and programs in our communities with an emphasis on maternal-infant health; behavioral health; and food as medicine. Additionally, the Foundation also responds to disasters when our communities need us the most. To learn more about the Wellpoint Foundation, please visit www.elevancehealth.foundation and its blog at www.medium.com/elevancehealthfoundation.
About Houston Food Bank
Serving Houston and southeast Texas since 1982, Houston Food Bank’s mission is to provide food for better lives. We provide access to 140 million nutritious meals in 18 counties through our 1,600 community partners of food pantries, soup kitchens, social service providers and schools. Filling gaps on plates, we have a strong focus on healthy foods and fresh produce. In collaboration with our community, we advocate for policy change and racial equity, and promote dialogue on ways to increase access to food and to improve the lives of those in our communities, including services and connections to programs that address the root causes of hunger and are aimed at helping families achieve long-term stability: nutrition education, health management and help with securing state-funded assistance. We are a resource for individuals and families in times of hardship. Houston Food Bank works alongside our partner food banks in Montgomery County, Galveston County and Brazos Valley. Houston Food Bank is a certified member of Feeding America, the nation’s food bank network, with a four-star rating from Charity Navigator for the 14th consecutive year.
Website houstonfoodbank.org; Social media: @houstonfoodbank (Instagram and X), @thehoustonfoodbank (Facebook)
About Feeding America ®
Rooted in the voices of neighbors facing hunger, Feeding America unites the country to ensure
everyone has access to food and a thriving future. We support tens of millions of people as part of a nationwide network of 250+ food banks, 20+ statewide food bank associations, 10+ regional co-ops and 60,000+ agency partners, food pantries and meal programs. Powered by leaders and volunteers embedded in local communities, we are one of the nation’s most effective food distribution systems to drive immediate impact today and a catalyst for long-term change through advocating for legislation that improves food security and work to address its factors. We partner with people experiencing food insecurity, policymakers, organizations and supporters, acting united with unwavering commitment to provide nourishing food and work to end hunger at its roots so everyone can live fuller, healthier lives. Visit FeedingAmerica.org to learn more.