In a new effort to address food insecurity, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia opened a Healthy Weight Food Pharmacy Jan. 23, according to The Inquirer.
The pharmacy is a food bank and education unit in the hospital's childhood nutrition and anti-obesity unit. It has fresh produce and nonperishable items.
The program will screen patient families to see if they are having problems getting food. If eligible, they will be referred to the pharmacy for a free three-day supply of food. Pharmacy staff will also help connect families to food resources and education.
"Families who indicate that they experience food insecurity will be able to leave this office with healthy perishable and nonperishable food," said Doug Hock, chief operating officer at the hospital. "They will also be given resources so they can access healthy food on a regular basis."
Establishment of the pharmacy was funded in part by a $174,000 grant from Giant Food Stores.