CAMDEN, NJ — Cooper University Health Care has been awarded a $19,300 grant through the Camden Food Security Collective, supported by the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and administered by the Food Bank of South Jersey. This funding will enhance Cooper’s ongoing efforts to combat food insecurity and address related social needs in Camden through its Community Health Worker (CHW) program.
As part of this initiative, Cooper’s CHW team will provide on-site support at eight corner stores across Camden in partnership with The Food Trust, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit organization working to ensure access to healthy, affordable food in urban communities, including Camden. CHWs will be present on a rotating schedule to connect residents with essential resources, provide real-time assistance, and enroll eligible individuals into long-term support services. Using the CooperUnite digital platform, CHWs will help residents access resources such as SNAP, food pantries, housing services, employment opportunities, and health care navigation.
“Through this grant, we’re able to deepen our reach into the Camden community and provide meaningful, person-centered support right where people live and shop,” said Elizabeth Nice, MS, vice president of Cooper Care Alliance and Population Health. “Our community health workers play a vital role in addressing food insecurity by identifying challenges and helping individuals connect to resources that promote long-term well-being.”
Danielle Santiago-Roach, MS, manager of social determinants of health initiatives in Cooper’s Community and Population Health department, added, “This grant strengthens the foundation of our community-based approach. Our CHWs are trusted messengers who not only connect residents to services but also empower them to take steps toward lasting health and stability. We’re grateful to the Food Bank of South Jersey and the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation for investing in this critical work.”
“For 40 years, we’ve worked to advance food equity across South Jersey, knowing that lasting impact comes from person-centered, community-based programs like Cooper’s Community Health Worker model,” said Chris Luebbe, senior manager of programs and services at the Food Bank. “We’re proud to administer this grant through the Camden Food Security Collective and grateful to the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation for supporting programs like this that meet people where they are.”
Cooper’s CHW program provides culturally responsive, population-specific support to address both social and systemic barriers to care. CHWs collaborate with primary care providers, specialists, and local organizations to build care plans tailored to each person. Once enrolled, patients complete a screening that identifies social determinants of health – such as housing, food access, transportation, and employment – and helps connect them with the right resources and health care services.
CHWs will support the designated hub site for the duration of the project, with additional support provided by a Cooper Community Health Assistant to help with resource navigation.
This grant strengthens Cooper’s long-standing commitment to addressing food insecurity and advancing health across Camden.