Working together to address nutrition security

Intermountain Health’s Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNAs) consistently highlight nutrition and food security as a shared need across our geography. This focus is evident in our 2024 Colorado CHNAs and continues in our upcoming 2025 Utah CHNAs where it remains a critical need.

As a social driver of health, food and nutrition security has a direct impact on individuals and communities. When individuals lack consistent access to healthy, safe, and affordable foods, their health and well-being are compromised — leading to increased risk of chronic disease and reduced quality of life.

At Intermountain Health, we recognize that addressing food and nutrition security requires collective action. By giving to community organizations, Intermountain invests in solutions that reflect our values as a nonprofit health system. Our intent is to increase the capacity of our community collaborators who are addressing this need across our geography.

Enterprise-wide commitment

In 2024, Intermountain contributed more than $995,000 to support nutrition and food security across our service area. This includes funding programs focused on nutrition education, distribution, and access to healthy food options in collaboration with food banks, pantries, schools and other nonprofits. Here are just few examples:

Colorado

Intermountain’s long-standing collaboration with Food Bank of the Rockies helped to launch the Food for Health program, which serves both the Front Range and Western Slope. This initiative provides weekly home-delivered nutritionally focused food boxes to community members managing chronic health conditions and experiencing food insecurity. Intermountain’s Community Health director Katie Koblenz, who liaisons with Food Bank of the Rockies, said, “We hear from community members who say because their food needs are met through the program, they can afford essentials like their medications.”

One example, Mitch, a participant from Lutheran Hospital, just outside of Denver, said, “It's hard to explain how much of a difference this makes in my life. Without it, I would probably survive, but not well. With it, it’s much more comfortable."

Utah

In collaboration with the Utah Food Bank, we support two emergency community food pantries located at Primary Children’s Hospital locations. In addition, we fund organizations like the Boys & Girls Club of Weber-Davis for afterschool meals and Elevate Utah with a focus on supporting culturally appropriate food resources for Latino families.

Amanda O., a parent of two Boys & Girls Club members, mentioned the direct impact that the Club’s afterschool meal program has on families served. “It has been such a tremendous help to our family, especially since my husband and I both work late,” she said. “Knowing that our kids are safe and cared for during those extra hours gives me so much peace of mind. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Montana

Intermountain contributes to local food drives and community meal programs, including support for the Custer County Food Bank, Butte Emergency Food Bank, and St. Vincent de Paul in Billings. We also helped launch the Education Foundation for Billings Public Schools' “Munch Machine”—a mobile food outreach program that provides summer meals to children. It also connects them with additional services and school district liaisons for continued support.

Southern Nevada

 Our contributions to Three Square, a nonprofit that partners with over 200 community organizations, helps provide food to those in need. In addition, we collaborate with The Obodo Collective, an urban farm and social care hub in the heart of Las Vegas that combines culturally relevant nutrition education with community resources and medical screenings.

“At Intermountain Health, supporting food security programs is one of the ways we live out our commitment to addressing the social drivers of health,” said Will Rucker, Intermountain Community Health director, Nevada. “These efforts are rooted in the priorities identified through our Community Health Needs Assessment and reflect our focus on creating healthier communities for all.”

“Leaning into our community ties and investing where we know it will have impact translates into real, measurable improvements in people’s lives,” added Doug Thomas, Intermountain Community Health director, Children’s Health. “We know we make a bigger impact working together than we could working alone.” Our commitment is part of a broader enterprise strategy to provide funding to local nonprofits aligned with our CHNA priorities. As we continue to listen, learn, and invest, our goal is to build a healthier future—one meal, one collaboration, one community at a time.