About NourishRx:
Good health begins with access not just to any food, but to nutritious, culturally meaningful food – a foundation of both health and well-being. Across Eastern Wisconsin, many neighbors face barriers to the foods that help prevent and manage chronic illness. NourishRx exists to change that.
NourishRx is Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin’s approach to addressing access to nutritious food, bridging hunger relief and health. By centering food with community systems and healthcare, we help people access healthy food, build knowledge for long-lasting wellness, and strive to reduce health disparities.
When nutritious food is treated as essential to healthcare, not an afterthought, people are more far more likely to lead healthier lives. Hunger is not just a social issue, it’s a health issue.
Our Vision:
A healthier Eastern Wisconsin where food is treated as central to health, empowering every eligible person with reliable access and the education to use it well.
NourishRx advances health by:
- Provide reliable and convenient access to nutritious food for individuals experiencing chronic health conditions
- Intentionally intersect health systems, community partners, and the hunger relief network to achieve better health outcomes
- Provide education to participants on healthy eating, in partnership with health systems and nutrition experts
How NourishRx Works:
STEP 1:
Partner Inquiries
Community-based organizations, health systems, or philanthropic partners inquire to participate in NourishRx programs, then work with our internal team to select the intervention that works best for the population they are serving.
STEP 2:
Referral and Enrollment
Individuals are referred and enrolled into the program through or by community partners.
STEP 3:
Food Access
Participants are provided nutritious groceries through convenient pickup options such as mobile distributions or food lockers.
Click HERE to fill out a partnership interest form for the NourishRx program.
Partnership and Impact:
Individuals and families experiencing food insecurity
Clinics, hospitals, and care coordinators
Community-based organizations, food pantry partners
Philanthropic corporations, foundations, individual donors
Advocates, elected officials, and media amplifying the message
Efforts In Action:
NourishRx is not just about food access – it’s about improving health outcomes and advancing equity. By aligning food resources with healthcare pathways and community-driven solutions, NourishRx works to remove barriers to access, provide culturally-specific nutrition, and empower individuals and families to make lasting, healthy choices. Together, these efforts strengthen the link between food security and overall wellness.
Ongoing Food as Medicine interventions include (expand to learn more):
Get Involved:
Healthcare Providers and Payers: Partner with us to encourage your patients and members towards healthier outcomes
Funders, Sponsors, Corporations: Help us scale this innovative approach to solving hunger
Community Organizations: Connect with us to provide your participants with nutritious and convenient food options
Partnership Opportunities: To learn more about partnering with us or how your organization can support NourishRx, click HERE
Michelle L. Ford, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin’s Director of Health System Partnerships, has over 20 years of experience in executive leadership and healthcare transformation across corporate, nonprofit, healthcare, and foundation sectors.
Ford’s career includes executive leadership roles at several nonprofit organizations. As Executive Director of the United Neighborhood Centers of Milwaukee, she oversaw operations, financial management, and community engagement, while advancing the organization’s mission and outcomes. She also held multiple leadership positions at the American Cancer Society, Midwest Division, where she built statewide community health worker networks and developed diversity training programs at regional and national levels.
Prior to Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, Ford served as a national thought leader and principal consultant. She has advised health ecosystem stakeholders – including managed care organizations, state and local governments, community-based organizations, and health systems – on healthcare transformation projects. As the National Director of Health and Well-Being for the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities and the Council on Accreditation, Ford led efforts to advance health and strengthen the community health worker workforce.
Ford holds a bachelor’s degree in business and management from Alverno College and a master’s degree in Business Administration from Cardinal Stritch University, where she served as an adjunct instructor in the College of Business and Management. Ford was recently awarded an honorary doctorate in humanities from the Medical College of Wisconsin, in recognition of her contributions to the field.
A dedicated servant leader, Ford has been actively engaged in several national advisory roles, including the Social Interventions Research Network (SIREN), Morehouse School of Medicine’s National Resiliency Network, and Camden Coalition’s National Center for Complex Health and Social Needs. Locally, she serves as President of the Board of America’s Black Holocaust Museum, supports the African American Women’s Fund, the Cinderella Project, and is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Upsilon Mu Omega Chapter.
To connect with Michelle L. Ford directly, email [email protected].
"Food is one of the most powerful tools we have to improve one’s health. NourishRx is not a new concept, it reflects years of collaboration with our healthcare and community partners, now united under a formal name.”
Michelle L. Ford, Director of Health System Partnerships
