As we reflect on 2025, one theme stands out clearly at Project FoodBox: adaptation with purpose. This past year brought meaningful program updates, evolving managed care priorities, and new operational challenges. Through it all, our Community Outreach team remained focused on what matters most—meeting people where they are, strengthening access to nutritious food, and building partnerships that last.
The result was a year defined not only by growth but by resilience, collaboration, and measurable impact across the communities we serve.
2025 Impact at a Glance
In 2025, Community Outreach scaled its efforts across California, deepening relationships and removing barriers to enrollment through hands-on, community-driven engagement:
- 1,430 organizations engaged
- 820 activated partners
- 1,570 community events attended
- 7,890 patient intakes completed in communities
- $35,000+ reinvested directly into communities
These outcomes reflect a deliberate shift toward streamlined access pathways and sustainable referral models—ensuring members can enroll quickly and confidently with trusted local partners.
Advancing Food as Medicine Through Partnerships
A cornerstone of 2025 was the expansion and formalization of Food as Medicine partnerships across clinical, community, and social service settings. Outreach focused on embedding Project FoodBox into existing care and referral workflows—making nutrition support a seamless extension of care.
Key highlights included:
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Golden Valley Health Centers
Project FoodBox was embedded across all GVHC clinics through provider training, in-clinic promotion, and direct integration into clinical referral workflows—creating a sustainable, provider-driven enrollment pathway. -
Primary Care Provider Referrals (Kern County & Inland Empire)
Outreach teams led hands-on enrollment trainings and live portal walkthroughs, helping clinic staff navigate MCP-driven changes and increasing confidence in the referral process.
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PearSuite Community Health Worker Enablement
Collaboration with PearSuite strengthened referral tracking and follow-through while laying the groundwork for reimbursable CHW services and scalable expansion in 2026. -
Imperial Valley Food Bank
A consistent presence at more than 50 monthly distributions generated steady enrollments and deepened trust with community members. -
Venice Family Clinic & Saban Community Clinic
Through Food as Medicine pilots and grant-funded medically tailored meal programs, Project FoodBox further integrated into chronic disease management—supporting nutrition education and improved health outcomes. -
Orange County & Statewide Engagement
Partnerships with AltaMed, Delhi Center, Families Forward, MISI Community Solutions, and UDW expanded the regional reach and opened the door to future statewide collaboration.
Real Impact, Shared by Our Partners
The impact of this work is best reflected through the voices of those closest to it.
“Project FoodBox has been an outstanding partner in supporting patients with chronic conditions… Beyond convenience, we’ve even seen reductions in A1c levels. By removing the guesswork from meal planning, Project FoodBox empowers patients to make lasting nutritional changes and take control of their health.”
— Jared Friedman, Director of Quality Improvement, Saban Community Clinic (LA County)
Community partners echoed this sentiment, highlighting strong satisfaction and organic referrals driven by positive participant experiences.
Members themselves shared life-changing outcomes, including improved diabetes management and greater confidence in preparing nutritious meals at home—reinforcing the importance of Food as Medicine.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The momentum built in 2025 positions Project FoodBox to expand into new markets, deepen strategic partnerships, and continue advancing Food as Medicine across California. With a strong foundation established over the past two years, the Outreach team enters 2026 ready to scale what works—while staying grounded in community trust, collaboration, and impact.
This progress reflects a collective effort across leadership, internal teams, and community partners. Together, we are continuing to build a healthcare future where nutritious food is not a luxury—but a core component of care.