ModivCare Solutions, LLC (“ModivCare”), formerly LogistiCare Solutions, LLC, the nation’s largest non-emergency medical transportation company and the contracted transportation vendor for New Jersey Medicaid participants, has partnered with Trenton Health Team (THT) and Snipes Farm and Education Center to deliver free nutritious, fresh produce to Trenton residents living with diabetes while also facing challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lack of healthy food options can contribute to diabetes, which affects Trenton residents at rates exceeding state and national levels. Recognizing the need, THT is teaming up with ModivCare to make weekly home deliveries of fresh produce free of charge to participants through contracts with its local transportation providers, helping to maintain and further sustain jobs within the local community.

ProduceRx, a program of the Capital City Diabetes Collaborative, is funded by the Merck Foundation’s Bridging the Gap: Reducing Disparities in Diabetes Care and addresses major issues identified with treatment of and support for individuals living with diabetes in Trenton, such as lack of access to healthy foods. While access is a longtime challenge for city residents, the COVID-19 pandemic has both increased the need for free food and greatly impacted its distribution.

ModivCare’s participation in this initiative aligns with the expansion of its contract with the New Jersey Department of Human Services to include the delivery of food, groceries, and now fresh produce to Trenton residents.

“This partnership highlights the need to tear down barriers that prevent access to healthy and nutritious food because we know how it can significantly impact the health of our communities,” said Kenneth W. Wilson, Chief Operating Officer for ModivCare. “We are thrilled to work with innovative partners like Trenton Health Team and Snipes Farm and Education Center in addressing the social factors that affect health outcomes, while leveraging our transportation network to deliver food, so that together we may better serve those in need.”

“We know people with diabetes are at higher risk of COVID-19 complications and we know the pandemic has increased the need for emergency food in Trenton,” said THT Director of Population Health Natalie Terens. “This partnership addresses both concerns by delivering free, healthy, fresh produce to individuals living with diabetes right to their homes.”