LOUISVILLE, Ky. ⁠— Pediatricians have special bonds with the families they care for. But sometimes, their relationship goes beyond prescriptions.

Many families in Louisville and southern Indiana struggle to provide healthy meals for children. This is due to many factors, including cost, “food deserts” and travel. Food insecurity has negative effects on a child’s health and lifelong well-being. 

Thanks to a $45,000 grant, Norton Children’s Associates are expanding their prescriptive food pantry model to select Norton Children’s Medical Associates pediatrician’s offices and Norton Community Medical Associates family practice offices.

Providers will screen patients for signs of hunger and food insecurity. Providers then are able to use the prescriptive pantry to provide families with nutritionally sound food as well as information on how to get the best nutrition with limited resources.

The pantries will be phased in at locations throughout May and June. The prescriptive pantries are made possible through grants by Norton Children’s Hospital Foundation and the Community Foundation of Louisville - One Louisville: COVID-19 Response Fund, and powered through Dare to Care Food Bank.

The food pantries are stocked with healthy options such as cereals low in sugar, brown rice, whole-wheat pasta, low-sodium pasta sauce, tuna, peanut butter, canned fruit in natural juices and canned vegetables with no added salt.