Fresenius Medical Care North America donated $250,000 to the Food is Medicine Coalition.
The Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance, or MANNA, is an affiliate that benefits from the donation.
The funding will provide the nutrition needed for MANNA clients such as those suffering from kidney failure.
"We really want to advocate that when folks are prescribed a diet, that anyone who is prescribed a diet has access to that," said MANNA CEO Sue Daughtery. "You know we say that MANNA is access to your prescription diet. And we truly believe now more than ever it is truly being recognized. And certainly with COVID, I think people are seeing the importance of keeping sick folks nourished at home and safe."
There was an 80% decrease in MANNA volunteers during the pandemic, and a 40% increase of chronically ill patients in need of the special meals for medicine.
Nevertheless, 150,000 meals were provided in April alone.
The funding will not only help prevent a waiting list for the meals, but will also draw awareness to the need for policy change when it comes to making food as medicine accessible for all.