Meridian Health Plan of Illinois, Inc. (Meridian) and Centene Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), announced a strategic and timely investment aimed at addressing food insecurity across Illinois. This initiative comes as millions of Americans face increasing challenges in accessing nutritious food due to recent disruptions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The $300,000 donation will help support access to healthy, nutritious food in communities across Illinois, including:

• Beyond Hunger

• Brave Space Alliance

• Central Illinois Foodbank

• Food Pantry Network-Heart of Illinois

• Greater Chicago Food Depository

Meridian Health Plan of Illinois has also rolled out a number of initiatives to combat food insecurity across the state, including: 

• Eat Well, Be Well is Meridian’s new 2025 nutrition and wellness program designed to empower its members from all backgrounds to take control of their health through relevant, affordable, and nutritious meal options. The program recognizes that food choices are shaped by culture, health needs, and access. More recipe information can be found at ILmeridian.com/eatwell.

• Meridian at the Market is a program that works with farmers’ markets in communities with high food insecurities in central and southern Illinois. This initiative provides community members with access to fresh, affordable fruits and vegetables by offering vouchers to purchase fresh farm foods. 

For more information, visit www.ILmeridian.com.