UAMS partners with local food pantries in Food Is Medicine program
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Little Rock, Ark.
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) is demonstrating the powerful impact of its Food Is Medicine program. From 2020-2024 UAMS Institute for Community Health Innovation worked alongside five regional food pantries to provide medically-tailored groceries and culturally-informed nutrition education to adults managing diabetes. The program facilitated delivery of weekly food boxes and multilingual educational materials designed with direct community input. During the program’s duration, UAMS found nearly 60% of participating adults experienced improved blood sugar outcomes.
These results were strengthened by partnerships with Harps Food Store, United Way of Northwest Arkansas and DoorDash’s Project DASH to ensure reliable delivery and access for participants facing transportation or food insecurity challenges. “Our findings show that bringing medically tailored groceries directly to people’s homes can lead to clinically significant improvements in diabetes outcomes, particularly for those experiencing food insecurity and transportation barriers,” said Eliza Short, Ph.D., RDN, research scientist at the Center for Nutrition & Health Impact. The participating food pantries — which collectively serve large Hispanic and Marshallese/Pacific Islander communities — played a crucial role in shaping culturally relevant materials. Reflecting on the collaborative groundwork, the research team emphasized that integrating nutrition support with community partnerships not only reduces clinical risk factors but also empowers families to better manage chronic conditions.