CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A pilot program designed to help "food deserts" in Chicago is ending after next month.
The food delivery program foodQ began a pilot program in over two dozen Chicago ZIP codes about a year ago, offering low-cost, healthy, prepared meals to areas without easy access to grocery stores.
FoodQ was developed by Blue Cross Blue Shield.
The theory was that limited healthy food options may be contributing to more ER visits and hospital stays.
Residents of the 25 ZIP codes, who go to the foodQ site, now get a message that tells them the pilot program will come to a close on March 31.
One subscriber WBBM Newsradio spoke with Monday night said she had not been notified and was not happy to learn the program was ending.
"There are other ZIP codes that are waiting for them to come," she told us.
WBBM Newsradio reached out to Blue Cross Blue Shield for comment. A spokesperson responsed with the following statement:
"The foodQ program began as a six-month pilot to test a solution to serving people living in nutrition deserts in Chicago and Dallas. During this period, more than 35,000 healthy and affordable meals were delivered and we gained valuable insights to further enhance and improve food and nutrition delivery programs. We greatly value the support we received from community organizations and the loyal customers who contributed to its success."
