All Faiths Food Bank (AFFB) has been awarded a grant of $300,000 from the Florida Blue Foundation. The grant will enhance the food bank’s pediatric hunger screening efforts, initiate a new Food Rx program, and support evaluation. The funds will be distributed over a three-year period.

In 2019, AFFB initiated a three-year pilot partnering with health care providers to screen families with children. Using the validated screening tool Hunger Vital Sign, the health care partner screens families with children for food insecurity. Positive screens are referred to All Faiths Food Bank and clients are contacted by one of the organization’s benefits specialists for additional assessment, connection with food resources, benefits assistance, and referrals for other community services. The grant from the Florida Blue Foundation will fund expansion of the pediatric hunger screening program to mental health providers, implement on-site Food Rx (food provided at nonprofit partner locations), and enable All Faiths to evaluate the impact of the pediatric hunger initiative.

AFFB is one of 12 organizations selected by the Florida Blue Foundation to receive a portion of its recent $3.8 million investment to address food security in the state.