An Increase in Food Insecurity
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans faced increased food insecurity as jobs were lost and schools closed. In addition to relief funding and extensive vaccine efforts, Arkansas Blue Cross and its Blue & You Foundation for a Healthy Arkansas invested in organizations that helped families and communities keep food on the table, donating $500,000 in support of immediate needs around food insecurity in the state. “Recognizing the tremendous health, economic, and social needs created by the pandemic, the Blue & You Foundation provided support to the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, Arkansas Food Bank, The Pack Shack and 17 United Way agencies statewide to address food insecurity directly, as well as providing $150,000 to the Arkansas Community Foundation, which reached out to Arkansas nonprofits with COVID-related grants,” said Rebecca Pittillo, executive director of the Blue & You Foundation. The funding allowed food banks and other outlets to stock shelves and make food boxes readily available to Arkansans statewide.Vaccines: Light at the end of the tunnel
The belief that every American deserves safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines has been at the heart of our commitment and is a critical component of our long-term strategy to drive health equity. Through our deep community presence, BCBS companies are playing a critical role in getting millions vaccinated. Together, we’ve:- Set up and supported mass vaccination events, staffed call centers to schedule appointments and helped get millions of shots in arms.
- Tapped our data and worked with community partners, like Feeding America, to focus efforts where they’re needed most, particularly in vulnerable populations and in communities of color.
- Committed millions of dollars to Lyft and United Way to provide access to free rides to vaccines and sent mobile vaccine units into underserved areas across the country.
- Educated millions nationwide about the safety and efficacy of vaccines and tackled vaccine hesitancy. Joined industry-wide and government initiatives, including the Vaccine Community Connector program, to help vaccinate more than 2 million seniors in America's most at-risk, vulnerable and underserved communities in under 100 days.