Giving Back to Our Communities

Fidelis Care Presents Brady Market with $5,000 Food Insecurity Grant

In observance of National Nutrition Month, Fidelis Care presented a $5,000 grant to support Brady Market’s programs to combat food insecurity in the Syracuse region. The grant is part of $315,000 in donations by Fidelis Care to nonprofit organizations on the front lines of fighting hunger across New York State. Food insecurity impacts about one in 10 New York households.

“Nutrition is healthcare,” said Fidelis Care Sales and Marketing Director Shannon Lombardo. “Fidelis Care is committed to promoting health and well-being in Syracuse and communities across New York State. That begins by partnering with organizations like Brady Market to help families and individuals gain access to healthy, nutritious foods.”

Brady Market in Syracuse, operated by not-for-profit Brady Social Enterprises, Inc., is a grocery store with retail and wholesale operations, deli and catering, job training, and wraparound support services. It was inspired by the 70-plus year history of Brady Faith Center’s engagement with generations of individuals and families in some of the community’s most impoverished neighborhoods.

“Brady Market is very grateful for this Fidelis Care grant,” said Brady Faith Center Director Kevin Frank. “We absolutely can’t do what we do without wonderful partners. For many who live in the community, Brady Market is the only place to get fresh fruits and vegetables. We plan to use the Fidelis Care funding to take the lead in collaborating with 20 neighborhood organizations to deliver meals for 220 families. One of the wonderful things about this program is that our partner organizations know who needs food support the most. It’s just one of the ways that we are more than a market in this community.”

Lombardo added, “We know that one meal is not going to solve a family’s food insecurity, but these grants give us an opportunity to connect people with agencies and organizations like Brady Market to help them find the resources they need for long-term solutions.”

Fidelis Care takes pride in supporting the vital work of Brady Market and the other food insecurity grant recipients across New York State because no one should suffer from hunger. Click here to see the full list of Fidelis Care food insecurity grant recipient organizations.

Screener Program Provides Support to Families Impacted by Social Determinants of Health

SDoH-chart

Fidelis Care’s innovative SDoH screener program was launched two years ago as a grassroots health equity initiative to address conditions in the environments where people are born, live, work, and play that affect their health, well-being, and quality of life. Social Determinants of Health can affect a wide range of health risks and outcomes – particularly among vulnerable populations and in underserved areas.

The screener enables trained Fidelis Care representatives to assess an individual’s immediate needs and challenges related to SDoH through a brief series of questions covering areas such as access to transportation, food, and secure and safe housing. More than 450,000 Fidelis Care members have participated to date.

Click here to learn more about the different Social Determinants of Health and find available resources.

Learn how Fidelis Care impacts the communities we are privileged to serve.

More News:

Fidelis Care Partners with Schools in New York State to Participate in National No One Eats Alone Day

2/19/2021 • Posted by Fidelis Care in Children's Health, Corporate News, HR Events, In The Community, Member News

February 18, 2021 (Long Island City, NY) – No One Eats Alone® Day (NOEAD), a positive prevention initiative to promote inclusion among students, was celebrated virtually this year on February 12 with the local help of Fidelis Care, a health plan serving more than 2.3 million members across New York State.

More than 230 students from Big Cross Street Elementary School in Glens Falls (Warren County) participated in fun and engaging activities led by Fidelis Care representatives and local educators. The program focused on teaching students about social isolation and the negative impact it can have on health and academic performance. Across the country, more than 2,500 students participated in similar NOEAD events.

Fidelis Care is also partnering with Roosevelt Middle School and Milton L. Olive Middle School in Long Island to host virtual No One Eats Alone Day events on March 5 and March 8, respectively.

Created by the nonprofit Beyond Differences™, No One Eats Alone Day underscores the impact social isolation can have on students – especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through No One Eats Alone Day, students have shown that if they are given the tools, they will stand up for others as empathetic and caring activists - not passive bystanders.

“Fidelis Care is committed to supporting the health and well-being of children of all ages across the state,” said Pam Hassen, Chief Member Engagement Officer. “We’re proud to work with local schools on this important initiative, and grateful for the opportunity to impact the lives of students, families, and communities.”

"The pandemic has given us all a taste of social isolation and the desire to feel connected,” said Laura Talmus, co-founder and executive director of Beyond Differences. “Students and teachers need No One Eats Alone - now more than ever - to continue changing the culture in middle schools to be a more welcoming place for everyone regardless of their differences.”

Beyond Differences is sponsored by the Centene Charitable Foundation.

About Fidelis Care:
Fidelis Care is a mission-driven health plan offering quality, affordable coverage for children and adults of all ages and at all stages of life. With more than 2.3 million members statewide, Fidelis Care believes that all New Yorkers should have access to affordable, quality health insurance. For more information, call Fidelis Care at 1-888-FIDELIS (1-888-343-3547) or visit fideliscare.org.

Contact: MediaInquiries@fideliscare.org