Chicago IL – (HINA) – To help ease the increased needs of Illinoisans during the COVID-19 pandemic, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) awarded the Little Village Community Foundation – Cocina Rx a $20,000 grant as part of BCBSIL’s $1.5 million COVID-19 Community Collaboration Fund.
“Black and brown communities most affected by COVID-19 will now be able to be experience Lifestyle Medicine recommendations such as “food as medicine” chef prepared meals and fresh local groceries available for delivery or pickup.
The groceries come with recipe cards, cooking videos and bilingual telehealth chef coaching for preparing nutritional meals at home for better health and chronic disease reversal,” says Cocina Rx Founder and Director Javier Haro. BCBSIL selected 75 organizations across Illinois with missions focused on access to care, hunger and shelter to receive $20,000 grants to rapidly address the current crisis.
“We know COVID-19 is challenging the resources that allow local organizations to provide a safety net for people most in need,” said Steve Hamman, President of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois. “While we continue to help ensure our members have access to the care and coverage they need, these grants allow us to broaden our impact and make a difference in the lives of so many.”
Blanca Soto, Executive Director of the Little Village Community Foundation, states “We applaud our partner, CocinaRx, for their heroic effort in serving our most vulnerable workers. Our partnership leverages the overlapping needs of local businesses, workers and families to provide nutritional meals that support health and immunity while our community continues their essential work.”
The Little Village Community Foundation supports and encourages economic growth, educational opportunities and vibrant wellness for the future of Little Village. Cocina Rx offers food-as-medicine as a service (meals, telehealth, education) to black and brown communities.
For a full list of grantees go to https://www.bcbsil.com/newsroom/category/community-health/covid19- community-grant-awards About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) is committed to expanding access to quality, cost-effective health care to as many people as possible in Illinois. BCBSIL is dedicated to innovation and exploring, nurturing and activating future possibilities to make the health care system work better for our members and our communities.
