Island Harvest receives $250K grant from National Grid

Island Harvest Food Bank has received a $250,000 grant over two years from National Grid in support of its Nutrition Pathways program.

The nonprofit recently announced the grant at the Northwell Health Family Health Center in Huntington Station during February’s American Heart Month.

Launched in 2018, the Nutrition Pathways program was the first hospital-based food insecurity initiative of its kind in New York State and has helped make food insecurity screening a standard practice across much of Northwell Health’s system. Made possible through support from National Grid, the program is part of the food bank’s approach to addressing the root causes of hunger and food insecurity and to improving patient outcomes and overall health

“The long-term partnership we have with National Grid and Northwell Health is yielding tangible results in improving the health outcomes for people at risk of food insecurity, and we are grateful for their continued support and generosity,” said Randi Shubin-Dresner, president and CEO of Island Harvest. “Addressing the growing public health crisis of food insecurity will not be solved by merely giving someone a can of food, but by getting to the root cause of the issue by providing programs and services that help transition people from uncertainty to stability.”

In addition to its Nutrition Pathways Program, Shubin-Dresner cited other Island Harvest initiatives, including its Workforce Skills Development Institute and Healthy Harvest Farm program that enable people to become more self-sufficient. 

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), food insecurity and the lack of access to affordable, nutritious food are associated with poor dietary quality and an increased risk of diet-related diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. 

“Every day, we see how closely food access and health are connected,” said Lee Raifman, AVP of operations at the Northwell Health Family Health Center. “Working alongside National Grid and Island Harvest allows us to meet patients where they are, inside the doctor’s office and beyond – by connecting clinical care with nutrition education and reliable access to healthy food. That kind of coordination is essential to helping families manage chronic conditions and build lasting heart-healthy habits.”