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CHKD Receives Grant from Rite Aid Healthy Futures to Improve Food Access for Patient Families

Contact: Alice Warchol at (757) 668-9049 or Alice.Warchol@CHKD.org

HAMPTON ROADS, Va. – CHKD has received a $50,000 Connecting Communities grant from Rite Aid Healthy Futures to provide patient families with healthy, shelf-stable food and assistance with referrals for other needs.

Working in collaboration with the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, CHKD will use the grant for a family nutrition program based at its General Academic Pediatrics practice, located in Norfolk.

The grant comes as part of Rite Aid Healthy Futures’ Connecting Communities program, which directs funding to anchor institutions, such as hospitals, that nurture and promote health equity for children, especially those who may already be receiving medical care or living with a serious illness.

“Children’s hospitals are on the front lines seeing and treating the profound effects of hunger, food apartheid and systemic racism in communities across our nation every day,” said Matt DeCamara, executive director of Rite Aid Healthy Futures. “Treating food as medicine and engaging communities in programs that stabilize food access, reduce disease prevalence and create local sovereignty builds healthier and more resilient children, families and neighborhoods. It is imperative to act with purpose and urgency to address the food insecurity crisis. We are proud to partner with so many leading health care systems to ensure pathways to many healthier tomorrows.”

CHKD is one of 40 hospitals that is receiving funding to support work in children’s health and wellness. Grants are made possible by the generosity of customers who round up their purchase through Rite Aid’s KidCents program.

“Food insecurity is a significant issue that can have a negative effect on the overall wellbeing of our patients and families,” said Kate Ryan, philanthropy officer at CHKD. “We are excited to partner with Rite Aid Healthy Futures and the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore to further the reach of our family nutrition program.”

About Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters

CHKD is the only freestanding children’s hospital in Virginia and serves the medical and surgical needs of children throughout greater Hampton Roads, the Eastern Shore of Virginia, and northeastern North Carolina. The not-for-profit CHKD Health System operates primary care pediatric practices, surgical practices, multi-service health centers, urgent care centers, and satellite offices throughout its service region. In 2019, CHKD broke ground on Children's Pavilion, a 60-bed, 14-story hospital and outpatient center to address the mental health crisis facing our youth. The new tower opened for inpatient care in October 2022 and for outpatient care in April 2022. 

About Rite Aid Healthy Futures

Rite Aid Healthy Futures is a public charity dedicated to driving change in communities, with an emphasis on underserved neighborhoods, focusing on the areas of health, wellness, race and equity. Together with our donors, Rite Aid associates, community partners and neighbors, we help lift up local neighborhoods by donating more than $15 million a year to causes, initiatives and organizations that make a difference in people’s lives. Healthy Futures is proud to be affiliated with Rite Aid, which provides an array of whole-being health products and services for the entire family through over 2,000 retail pharmacy locations across 17 states.