Advocate Condell's pantry program Is nourishing communities and connections

Food insecurity, long recognized as a critical social driver of health, is a persistent health challenge in many communities. In Libertyville, Ill., Advocate Condell Medical Center is tackling this issue through their innovative Rx Mobile Food Pantry Program, delivering fresh, nutritious food directly to neighborhoods in need.

Advocate Condell, part of Advocate Health Care, first launched the Rx program in nearby Round Lake in 2019. The initiative gained traction and a permanent food pantry market was eventually established. Building on that success, the program expanded to Lake Villa in 2022. Since then, the program has served more than 9,000 families and over 30,000 individuals through September of 2025.

Each pantry visit, now once a month, provides participants with staples like fresh milk, eggs, fresh fruit, vegetables and meat. Advocate Condell also partners with the University of Illinois Extension to provide recipe cards and periodic food samples, tailored to that month’s selection of food.

But Advocate Condell’s Rx Mobile Food Pantry Program provides more than food — it also provides community. Their resource hub connects patrons with essential services including social support, nutrition education, financial assistance, help enrolling in Medicaid and other community services. Beyond feeding people, the program helps to build healthier, more connected communities, one pantry day at a time.

This organization participated in the 2025 AHA Dick Davidson NOVA Award application process.