NEWARK, N.J., May 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Due to the COVID-19
pandemic, people across New Jersey
are facing challenges that extend beyond medical care. These
challenges include basic daily needs such as access to food and
other essential supplies. In response, WellCare of New Jersey, a subsidiary of Centene
Corporation, a leading multi-national healthcare company, is
helping to increase access by supporting community-based
organizations and programs across the state.
Social determinants of health are non-medical barriers to
achieving quality health outcomes. They include socioeconomic and
environmental factors such as food accessibility, employment,
education and more. Research shows medical care accounts for
approximately 10 to 20% of health outcomes, while the other
80 to 90% is affected by social determinants of health.
"The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are far-reaching and have
extended beyond medical care to affect access to food and
essentials, employment, connectivity, and other critical resources
across our state," said John Kirchner WellCare's Plan President and
CEO in New Jersey. "These social
determinants of health have a significant impact on overall
wellbeing, especially among vulnerable populations, and WellCare of
New Jersey wants to ensure we're
supporting the needs of our communities during this challenging
time."
Hunger and Food Insecurity
The demand on food banks
has significantly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Feeding
America, a national hunger relief nonprofit, estimates these
organizations will need an additional $1.4
billion in funding during the next six months to provide
food assistance to people facing hunger. In partnership with
Feeding America, Centene and WellCare will coordinate a donation of
1 million meals a month for the next 12 months to feed those in
New Jersey and across the
country.
In addition, WellCare of New
Jersey donated $70,000
directly to local food pantries across Bergen, Hudson, Union, Mercer, Middlesex, Passaic and Camden counties – areas of high need in
New Jersey. The donation will help
increase access to food support initiatives and newly developed
delivery services that serve vulnerable populations in high-need
areas due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Food is necessary for growth, development, and healing, but it
is often forgotten until times of crises. The pandemic has
presented uncertainty for many – especially for those who face
financial instability. We appreciate WellCare's generous donation,
which will lift this burden for many households across New Jersey," said Dr. Anniesha Walker, Executive Director of Mercer
Street Friends.
"Support from partners like WellCare is critical during times
like these," said Patricia Espy,
Executive Director of Center for Food Action. "This gift will allow
us to purchase nutritious food and distribute it to more people,
including those who are ill or homebound, at a time when it is
needed most."
"We at Jewish Family Service of Central NJ are incredibly
grateful to WellCare for this most generous grant, which will
enable us to serve an additional 400 individuals with emergency
food during this crisis," said Tom
Beck, Executive Director of Jewish Family Service of Central
NJ.
"WellCare's donation will help sustain our food outreach to
individuals and families who are struggling with poverty and food
insecurity in Camden and
surrounding communities. Due to the pandemic, Cathedral Kitchen has
had to suspend meals and social services in our dining room and
instead serve to-go meals from our front doors. Thanks to
WellCare's support, we can continue to serve an average of 1,700
meals per week to adults, seniors, and children in New Jersey," said Carrie Kitchen-Santiago, Executive Director,
Cathedral Kitchen of Camden
County.
"On behalf of Team AngelaCARES, we are very thankful to our
amazing partner WellCare," said Angela
McKnight, Founder and CEO of AngelaCARES. "Their generous
support will help us continue serving the community, especially our
most vulnerable population – senior citizens – during the COVID-19
pandemic."
"I am truly grateful for this donation by WellCare. Currently,
at SMILE we are pushing the limit to serve our communities who have
been severely affected by the pandemic. We have families who have
lost their jobs, can't access their local supermarkets, or are
immunosuppressed and can't afford to go outside. SMILE has over 500
deliveries of bagged groceries that go out each month to families
across New Jersey. This is a huge
increase from the 100 families we were serving before the pandemic.
Now, with WellCare's assistance, we will be able to continue
supporting these families and many more who come our way. I would
like to thank everyone at WellCare who made this possible," said
Syed Ahmed, SMILE Food Pantry
Manager.
"Buddies of NJ has been working tirelessly to ensure our clients
have all of the food and supplies they need for themselves and
their families. This donation from WellCare will help guarantee our
continued support to our clients and alleviate the stress they are
feeling at this time. The WellCare donation will enable us to serve
an additional 500 nutritional packages to those in need and
continue our work as a valuable resource in the community," said
Richard Miles, Executive Director,
NJ Buddies.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) & Essentials
Supplies
As New Jersey's
frontline workers continue to face severe shortages of PPE,
WellCare has donated more than $100,000 to help the Home Care & Hospice
Association of New Jersey
distribute PPE to nearly 50 home healthcare firms, hospice and home
health agencies across the state.
WellCare also purchased nearly $18,000 worth of Walmart gift cards for use on
essential supplies. Each gift card holds a value of $35 and can be used to purchase essential items
like diapers, over-the-counter medicines, and cleaning supplies.
WellCare is partnering with the following local community-based
organizations and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) to
distribute the gift cards to essential workers and other vulnerable
populations, including the homeless and those with substance use
disorders:
- City of Newark &
Department of Health and Community Wellness
- Project H.O.P.E. (Camden)
- Hogar Crea (Perth Amboy, Newark and Jersey
City)
- Zufall Health Center (multiple counties)
WellCare is committed to supporting its members and local
communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. To learn more, visit
www.wellcare.com/NewJersey.
About WellCare of New
Jersey
WellCare of New
Jersey provides government-sponsored managed care services
to families, children, seniors and individuals with complex needs
primarily through Medicaid, Medicare Advantage and Medicare
Prescription Drug Plans across the state. WellCare is a wholly
subsidiary of Centene Corporation, a leading multi-national
healthcare enterprise committed to helping people live healthier
lives. For more information, please visit
www.wellcare.com/newjersey.
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SOURCE WellCare Health Plans, Inc.