Ascension Saint Thomas works with community organizations to address food insecurity

Access to nutritious food is a vital part of overall health and well-being. For Ascension Saint Thomas, addressing food insecurity is an important part of supporting our communities beyond the walls of the hospital.

Across Ascension Saint Thomas hospitals and outpatient settings, more than 20,000 patients reported needing help with at least one everyday social need, such as access to food, transportation or other resources. Food access consistently ranked among the top needs identified through these screenings. Reliable access to nutritious food can make it easier to manage chronic conditions, support healthy pregnancies and child development, and take medications as prescribed. By connecting patients with food and other community resources, healthcare organizations can help address the everyday factors that shape health and well-being.

Ascension Saint Thomas teams are working with food banks such as Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, local health departments, community clinics, faith-based organizations, and philanthropic organizations to connect individuals and families with nutritious food and resources that support their health. These efforts are tailored to the needs of local communities and may include on-site food pantries, medically tailored meal and produce programs, emergency food box distributions, and transportation assistance to access nutrition resources.

Driven by an accredited Community Health Worker (CHW) workforce, Ascension Saint Thomas addresses the social factors that affect health by bringing together direct investments, clinical screening, and community-based efforts across the community to connect patients with the resources and support they need.

Connecting food and health with Second Harvest Food Bank

A key part of this work is Ascension Saint Thomas' collaboration with Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. Ascension Saint Thomas committed $300,000 from 2026 to 2028 to support Second Harvest's facility expansion and strengthen food distribution across 46 counties. When federal SNAP benefits were temporarily paused in November 2025, Ascension Saint Thomas also provided emergency support to help families maintain access to food.

The collaboration also brings food support directly into healthcare. Through the Second Harvest Food is Medicine pilot, CHWs and care teams at five Ascension Saint Thomas clinics connect patients with hypertension or type 2 diabetes to food navigators. The pilot is helping patients overcome barriers to accessing nutritious food by connecting them with food resources that support their health and well-being.

In rural communities, Ascension Saint Thomas also supports Second Harvest partner food pantries across six counties, reaching 3,750 children, adults, and seniors with fresh and shelf-stable food. At Ascension Saint Thomas Hickman Hospital, this work has helped distribute more than 600 food boxes through the Rural Health Clinic.

By combining its CHW workforce, community-based efforts, and direct investment, Ascension Saint Thomas is helping patients access the food and resources they need to live healthier lives.