Hunger Action Month: Fighting food insecurity to promote community health

Volunteers packing donations for Utah Food Bank
A nutritious diet is a critical foundation of good health. When people eat the right amount of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, their health improves while lowering the risk of diabetes and other chronic conditions. Unfortunately, not everyone has easy and affordable access to fresh, healthy foods. During Hunger Action Month this September, Regence is celebrating our nonprofit partners that help people and families eat and live well.
Double up food bucks at farmers markets
In Oregon, Regence sponsors the Double Up Food Bucks program through the Farmers Market Fund. The program provides additional funds for those with a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) card to buy locally grown fruits and vegetables at more than 75 farmers markets across Oregon. For every $20 of SNAP benefits someone spends, they get a match of up to $20 to spend on fruits and vegetables. When talking about the Double Up Food Bucks program, Regence vice president Andrew Over said, “Giving individuals more access to fresh fruits and vegetables will help give folks an opportunity to be healthier.”
Volunteering at local food banks
In Utah, Regence employees recently spent a volunteer day with the Utah Food Bank at the mobile food pantry at East Midvale Elementary. The volunteers packed and distributed items including apples, cheese, bread and essentials like laundry detergent to over 100 families.
Regence is a long-time supporter of several food banks across our four-state footprint, including:
- Food Lifeline (WA)
- Oregon Food Bank (OR)
- Second Harvest Food Bank (WA)
- The Idaho Foodbank (ID)
- Utah Food Bank (UT)
Employer match increases impact of employee giving
As part of our employee giving program, we encourage our employees to volunteer at Regence-sponsored events as well as on their own. If a Regence employee donates to a qualifying nonprofit like a local food bank, our corporate foundation also matches 50% of the donation. To find ways to support Hunger Action Month in your community, check out Feeding America’s suggested actions.
We’re here to help
Regence cares about the health of our communities and having access to nutritious food is an important part of having a healthy community. We also aim to improve the health of our members by encouraging them to take proactive steps to care for themselves, such as getting preventative care, staying up to date on vaccines and remembering that mental health is health.
If you need any assistance with understanding how to use your health care benefits to stay healthy, please contact Regence customer service. Our Customer Service team is also available to help by calling the number on the back of your member ID card, or by using live chat when signed into your account on regence.com.