Former Awardees

The Central Vermont Council on Aging (CVCOA) is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of older adults by increasing access to nutritious food and high-quality nutrition education. Through the Medically Tailored Meals Training Video Project, CVCOA is creating professional video modules that train nutrition program staff and volunteers in the preparation of medically tailored meals. These resources ensure consistent, sustainable, and accessible education for meal providers across Central Vermont and beyond. The project includes filming and distributing a series of training videos, offering technical support to nutrition sites, and collecting feedback to continuously improve the materials. By strengthening the knowledge and skills of those who prepare meals for older adults, CVCOA is helping communities address food insecurity, promote better health outcomes, and expand the reach of food-as-medicine practices throughout Vermont.

Healthy Roots Collaborative , a program of Feeding Champlain Valley & CVOEO, is dedicated to strengthening local food systems and improving community health by connecting families to fresh, locally grown produce. Through the Northwest Farmacy CSA Expansion and Education Program, Healthy Roots is expanding its successful produce prescription program in partnership with the Northern Tier Center for Health (NOTCH). This initiative will increase the number of community-supported agriculture (CSA) shares available to patients, add a new farm pickup site in Grand Isle County, and host two nutrition education events in collaboration with local farms. By addressing transportation barriers and expanding access to healthy food, the program helps ensure more community members can benefit from fresh, nutritious produce while also providing valuable data on participant health through surveys and clinical metrics. In addition to improving food access, the project strengthens partnerships with area farms, ensuring that investments in health also support the local agricultural economy. With this work, Healthy Roots continues to advance its mission of building a healthier, more resilient community through food and farm connections.

Greater Bennington Community Services (GBCS) is committed to improving health and food access for underserved community members. Through the Grateful Hearts Bennington – Medically Tailored Meals Pilot, GBCS is launching an innovative program in partnership with the Dr. G. Richard Dundas Free Clinic and Grateful Hearts Bennington. This pilot will provide medically tailored meals for patients living with diabetes and hypertension, with recipes designed by a licensed nutritionist and meals prescribed directly by medical providers. By integrating nutrition into clinical care, GBCS is working to address food insecurity, support chronic disease management, and improve overall health outcomes. The project includes designing clinic-based workflows for meal prescriptions, developing nutrition-informed recipes, distributing meals to patients, and collecting feedback from both patients and providers. Over the course of the year, GBCS will monitor the impact of the program, refine operations based on community input, and create a sustainability plan to integrate medically tailored meals into local and regional health systems.

Mountain Community Health (MCH) , Food is Health: Expanding Screening, Referral, and Outreach. Through the Food is Health project, Mountain Community Health is integrating standardized food-insecurity screening, referral, follow-up,and patient education into everyday care. With updates to the electronic medical record, staff training, enhanced data tracking, and partnerships with local food access organizations, MCH will connect patients who screen positive to practical supports (e.g., nutrition counseling, community resources). The aim is a sustainable, replicable model for rural clinics, so patients get the nutrition support they need to thrive.

Vermont Farmers Food Center (VFFC) is launching a new project to strengthen the link between health care and healthy, local food. In partnership with Community Health Centers of the Rutland Region, Health Is Wealth Consulting, and Culinary Rehab, VFFC is exploring how Community Health Workers (CHWs) can help Farmacy participants access fresh foods, nutrition education, and the extra support they need to thrive. This pilot will explore how CHWs can bridge the gap between clinics and community food programs, making it easier for patients to connect with local resources that support their health and well being, and help shape a statewide model for integrating CHWs into Food Is Medicine programs across Vermont.

Food Farmacy Expansion Little Rivers Health Care is expanding its Food Farmacy program to strengthen nutrition access for patients facing food insecurity and chronic diet-responsive conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hypertension. Through this initiative, LRHC is transforming its in-house food shelves into curated “Food as Medicine” resources that integrate clinical care with high-quality, nutrient-dense foods. The expanded Food Farmacy will include improved sourcing systems, patient-centered referral pathways, enhanced nutrition education, and new evaluation tools to track the impact of food access on health outcomes. This work advances LRHC’s commitment to equitable, comprehensive care, and to a future where nutritious food is a core part of healing.

WEBINAR! Small Grants, Big Impact: Transforming Health with Food Across Vermont Communities June 17, 2025

This webinar spotlights a range of innovative, community-rooted food access and health care projects funded through the Food Access in Health Care grant program. From medically tailored meals to nutrition education, food security screenings, and cross-sector partnerships, each project offers a unique approach to improving health through food. Learn directly from grantees about their work, challenges, and early outcomes, and how these efforts are advancing health in communities across the state. Presentation Slides.

Vermont’s Giving Fridge in collaboration with the Parent Child Center and the John Graham Shelter in Middlebury was awarded $19,333. The Giving Fridge will be installed at the Parent Child Center and stocked with fresh, nutritious medically tailored meals prepared by local chefs and restaurants. Families and individuals at both the Parent Child Center and the John Graham Shelter who are experiencing food insecurity that have a special health need may be prescribed a prescription to access up to four medically tailored meals per week. The Giving Fridge not only addresses food insecurity and health, it supports local food systems and the economy by hiring local chefs and restaurants to prepare the meals using ingredients primarily from local farms.

Sheldon Methodist Church Food Shelf The SMC Food Shelf was awarded $19,333 and in collaboration with Northern Tier Center for Health (NOTCH) will identify patients with chronic, diet-related conditions who could benefit from improved nutrition and dietary help. Meals kits will include healthy staples as well as other shelf-stable food items. NOTCH will distribute to patients during clinic visits and will monitor chronic care management encounters. Patients will have access to ongoing in-person educational opportunities at various sites through NOTCH such as nutrition education, cooking classes, and food demonstrations.

Neighborhood Connections was awarded $19,888 to expand their Community Meals program in Windham county. Currently serving over 120 older Vermonters each month, Neighborhood Connections is integrating health screenings, tailored nutrition options and transportation support to ensure everyone can access the food and care they need. Through partnerships with NorthStar Health and the Mountain Town Connector they are enhancing their kitchen with new appliances to improve meal quality and variety, screening participants for food insecurity and connecting them with resources, providing tailored meals like heart healthy and low sodium, offering education from health professionals, and ensuring transportation.

UVM Medical Center Culinary Medicine in collaboration with Network Primary Care Mental Health Integration was awarded $13,734 to expand their Food & Mood program to Washington County. This initiative brings hands-on, food-based experiences to communities, using a mobile teaching kitchen to connect food choices with mental health. Participants engage in interactive sessions focused on the connection between diet and mental well-being, with plant-based snacks, mindful eating exercises, and group reflection. Designed to be accessible, community-driven, and adaptable, this program aims to reduce barriers to healthy eating while fostering social connection and wellness.

Green Mountain United Way  was awarded $19,950 to expand their food access programming for Vermont’s essential workforce, primarily serving Washington county and the Northeast Kingdom. Through CSA shares, free prepared meals, and grocery cards, the program offers affordable, high-quality, locally produced food and food support that is delivered directly to workplaces, eliminating barriers like cost, time, and transportation. By offering significant food subsidies, participants are able to make healthier food choices without sacrificing financial stability. This initiative is part of the Working Bridges program, which partners with local employers to support their workforce with financial counseling, resource connections, and food assistance. The impact goes beyond individuals’ benefit to a healthier, more secure workforce, and Vermont’s local food system gains stronger support as well.

Attune2Food in collaboration with Northwestern Counseling and Support Services were awarded $20,000 to address food insecurity and nutrition equity for children with medical and feeding challenges and their families in Franklin and Grand Isle counties. This initiative focuses on providing medically tailored meals and snacks to pediatric patients diagnosed with conditions such as PFD, ARFID, food allergies, and GI complexities. By improving access to nutritious foods and enhancing oral motor skills, the project aims to positively impact children’s overall health, including their neurological, immune, and digestive systems. Families participating in the program will receive support from qualified pediatric feeding therapists and dietitians, who will develop personalized food prescriptions to meet each child’s unique needs. The project also seeks to reduce mealtime stress and anxiety for both children and caregivers by increasing the variety of foods available and providing practical feeding solutions.