Food Support for Patients
At NWMS, we understand that access to nutritious food is essential for your health and well-being during treatment. Through our Health Equity Food Access Program, we connect patients with the food resources they need through:
How We Help:
✅ Passive Referrals – We provide easy access to food resources, including a list of local food banks and meal programs. (View Resources)
✅ Active Navigation – Our team helps patients apply for food assistance programs like SNAP and connects them with community food services.
✅ Food Provision – We work with partners to provide direct food support, including food deliveries and grocery gift cards.
What We’ve Done So Far:
- Hosted three mobile food markets with FareStart.
- Provided gift cards to FareStart Mobile Market to patients in need.
- Connected patients with food banks and meal delivery services.
- Participated in the Food Insecurity Screening in Cancer Care ECHO Program
As part of our commitment to improving patient support, we participated in the ECHO program, which helps health systems systematically screen for food insecurity and connect patients with vital resources. Through this initiative, we’ve enhanced our screening tools, strengthened community partnerships, and integrated food support into our cancer care model.
How to Get Help
If you are struggling to afford food, let us know. Our team can help you find the right support. Talk to your care team or contact 253-428-8700
for assistance.
Expanding Food Support Through Community Partnerships
We are proud to collaborate with The Journey Fund and Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Center for Cancer Care (VMFH) to expand food support for cancer patients. Thanks to a Community Health Improvement Grant from VMFH, we are working with these organizations to provide more direct food assistance to patients facing food insecurity.
If you or someone you know is struggling to access food, we’re here to help. Talk to your care team or contact us at 253-428-8700 to learn more about available food resources.
Together, we’re making sure that no patient has to go through treatment hungry.