Making Food as Medicine Programs Possible: Food Connect

Food Connect continues to accelerate impact in the food distribution space by partnering with community-based organizations to get food to where it is needed most. Recently, the team expanded its partnership with Just Food, rescuing and redistributing nearly 7,000 pounds of food each week since January 2026. This effort has deepened their impact, improving access to fresh, nutritious food in Douglas County.

That same focus on food access is also helping participants in Vibrant Health’s Food 4 Life program, where Food Connect supports weekly food deliveries alongside nutrition education and cooking classes. Participants with diabetes have seen average A1C levels decrease by three points so far as Cohort 2 nears completion of its nine-month program. Families have also reported a reduction in food insecurity and appreciate the variety of food offered in weekly kits.

For Talia Heredia, a community health worker at Vibrant Health who leads the Food 4 Life sessions, the impact goes beyond simply providing food. “They’re not just getting the food,” she said. “They’re learning what to do with it. Someone might get mushrooms and say they’ve never used them before. Then they try them, learn why they’re good for them, and start adding them into meals at home.”

Together, these efforts show a meaningful approach to improving food access and health outcomes for individuals and families across our region.