Meridian Health Plan of Illinois Commits $1.15 Million to Expand St. Louis Area Foodbank Mobile Pantry Program
Meridian Health Plan of Illinois (NYSE:CNC) will provide a $1.15 million grant over three years to Food On The Move, the St.
Rhea-AI Summary
Meridian Health Plan of Illinois (NYSE:CNC) will provide a $1.15 million grant over three years to Food On The Move, the St. Louis Area Foodbank's mobile pantry program, to expand healthy food access across Illinois.
The grant will support more than 300 mobile market distributions across Metro East and Southern Illinois and aims to help the program serve an anticipated 60,000 community members by 2028. Meridian will also add health resources and begin select vaccine and screening services with local providers starting in 2026.
Positive
- $1.15M grant committed over three years
- 300+ mobile market distributions supported across Illinois
- Program aims to reach 60,000 people by 2028
Negative
- None.
Details
News Market Reaction – CNC
On Dec 2, the day this news came out, CNC closed 2.43% above the previous close.
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Key Figures
- Community grant size
- $1.15 million
- Meridian grant to Food On The Move over three years
- Grant duration
- 3 years
- Duration of Meridian’s commitment to Food On The Move
- Mobile distributions
- 300+ events
- Mobile market distributions across Metro East and Southern Illinois
- Food insecure Illinois residents
- 1.6 million
- Estimated statewide food insecurity, about one in eight residents
- St. Clair food insecure
- 34,520 people (13.5%)
- Estimated food-insecure population in St. Clair County, Illinois
- Individuals served 2024
- 12,000 people
- Food On The Move support across 4,300 households in 2024
- Individuals by May 2025
- 18,700 people
- Food On The Move reach across 6,500 households by May 2025
- Projected reach
- 60,000 community members
- Anticipated people served through 2028 with Meridian’s support
Historical Context
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Three-year $1.15M grant to expand Illinois mobile food pantry reach.
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Over $1.4M in 2025 investments to offset SNAP disruptions in California.
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Reported 18M+ meals and Harvest Bucks program to address nutrition gaps.
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Three national events on biosimilars adoption and specialty pharmacy readiness.
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$1.1M to California Association of Food Banks across 12 counties.
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
"Food On The Move" aligns with Meridian's Eat Well, Be Well initiative to increase access to healthy food and nutrition awareness to underserved populations, food deserts, and rural areas in
The three-year grant will support more than 300 mobile market distributions throughout the Metro East and
More than 1.6 million
"We're committed to improving access to healthy food and to making a difference in people's lives," said Cristal Gary, Meridian Plan President and CEO. "Through this partnership with the St. Louis Area Foodbank, Food On The Move creates a vital pipeline to combat food insecurity and improve health outcomes. Together, we can deliver critical food and health resources directly to those who need them most."
In 2024, Food On The Move provided support to roughly 12,000 individuals across 4,300 households. By May 2025, the program reached nearly 18,700 people in more than 6,500 households. With Meridian's support, the initiative is positioned to serve an anticipated 60,000 community members through 2028.
Recipients say the program provides dignity and stability during challenging times. One mother shared that after a major life change, she struggled to feed her children. But thanks to Food On The Move, she can now provide healthy meals. Another caregiver said the program helped her support a household that grew from eight to thirteen family members. Stories like these underscore the importance of the program's mission to fight food insecurity and strengthen communities across
"This program is invaluable because it allows neighbors to maintain dignity while meeting their needs. Anyone in need is welcome — whether seniors, families, individuals, or people with disabilities — and each mobile pantry stop can serve up to 100 families. Having the ability to choose the foods that best fit their household, along with access to essential grocery staples, creates a reliable and respectful resource for the community," said Rachel Jones, St. Louis Area Foodbank Director of Partners and Programs.
Meridian joined Food On The Move events in January 2025, offering health and nutrition resources, engaging additional community partners, and providing hands-on support with food distribution. Starting in 2026, Meridian will partner with trusted local healthcare providers to deliver vaccines and health screenings for diabetes, high blood pressure, and other conditions associated with food insecurity at selected Food On The Move events.
For a full schedule and more information, visit STLfoodbank.org/find-food. To learn more about Meridian's community impact and whole-health approach, visit ILmeridian.com/IL-first.
About Meridian Health Plan of Illinois
Meridian Health Plan of
About St. Louis Area Foodbank
Everyone deserves access to food and the promise of a healthy diet, which is why the St. Louis Area Foodbank is committed to ensuring access to the foods and resources our neighbors need to thrive. Through our network of partners and programs across 26 counties in
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SOURCE Meridian of
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