UGK Community First partners with VCU Health on food care
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A bag of groceries eligible patients could get through the new partnership. Image: Courtesy of Underground Kitchen Community First
Local nonprofit The Underground Kitchen Community First has launched a new partnership with VCU Health, expanding its food-is-medicine work within the health care system.
Why it matters: Under the program, eligible patients who are food or nutrition insecure can get a "prescription" for fresh food, prepared meals or cooking classes.
The big picture: Food-is-medicine is a growing clinical approach in health care that embraces the idea that healthy food can help promote overall wellness and fight chronic conditions.
- For UGK-CF CEO Micheal Sparks, it's a continuation of the mission of the nonprofit arm of his 13-year-old, luxury supper club, The Underground Kitchen.
- Sparks launched the nonprofit, UGK-CF, in 2020 and since then has served more than 1.2 million meals to food-insecure locals who need them.
- UGK-CF's new partnership with VCU Health builds on two pilot projects it ran last year, the Prescription Produce Program with VCU School of Nursing and a food is medicine initiative with Massey Cancer Center.
Zoom in: All of UGK-CF's programs emphasize fresh, healthy ingredients that are "culturally appropriate" — a key focus, Sparks says, given that people of color are disproportionately affected by heart disease, diabetes and other chronic conditions.
- "We hope to not only change what people are eating, but also change their relationship with food and nutrition," Sparks said, noting that healthier versions of familiar foods are critical to that shift.
- All of the programs also embrace UGK-CF's' mission of "food with dignity," which means the packaging and quality of the ingredients is intentional and thoughtful.
How it works: Under the new partnership, VCU Health patients could get a prescription for one of UGK-CF's programs: healthy prepared meals through From Scratch; cooking classes via Smart Soul Food; or grocery bundles with Nourish Provisions.
- Each plan is medically tailored to individuals' health needs and are open to VCU Health patients who are food insecure — meaning they can't reliably afford food — or are nutrition insecure, meaning they can't afford or don't have access to nutrient-dense foods.
- The programs are grant-funded for now because food-is-medicine isn't covered by insurance (or Medicaid or Medicare) in Virginia — yet.
Yes, but: Legislation is working its way through the state legislature that could change that, Sparks tells Axios.