Teaming up with the American Cancer Society to deliver groceries to families in need

At Instacart, we understand that access to proper nutrition and fresh food is more than just a cornerstone of health, it’s a vital source of comfort and stability, especially for families facing extraordinary challenges. That’s why we’re proud to announce a new partnership with the American Cancer Society (ACS), the leading cancer-fighting organization dedicated to improving the lives of cancer patients and their families through advocacy, research, and patient support. 

Through this partnership, ACS will leverage Instacart Health Fresh Funds to support 1,000 families who are guests at an ACS Hope Lodge community in Lexington, KY; Birmingham, AL; or Rochester, NY. The program offers families a $100 Instacart Health Fresh Funds stipend to purchase groceries and essentials via Instacart — increasing their access through delivery, and providing them with both financial support and the dignity to choose the foods that nourish and comfort them in challenging times.

The ACS’s Hope Lodge locations across the country have long stood as beacons of care, providing free, temporary lodging to cancer patients and their families when receiving treatment that may be far from home — saving $55M in lodging costs per year.¹ In addition, ACS Hope Lodge communities provide a wide range of services to support both patients and their families. We’re proud to leverage Instacart Health Fresh Funds to enhance this catalog of resources at the Hope Lodge locations in Lexington, Birmingham, and Rochester.

Understanding the vital connection between nutrition and healing, our partnership with ACS aims to increase nutrition security to support cancer patients during treatment. Research shows a striking 17%-55% of those undergoing cancer treatment face food insecurity, a severe yet frequently overlooked factor that can impact their health outcomes.² Using Fresh Funds, we’re taking a step to help address this issue, offering targeted support by improving access to essential nutritional resources for these families as they navigate their treatment journey.

To learn more about Instacart Health Fresh Funds, visit https://www.instacart.com/freshfunds. 

1. American Cancer Society Hope Lodge, “Hope Lodge Program Impact,” https://www.cancer.org/support-programs-and-services/patient-lodging/hope-lodge.html  ↩︎
2. Patel KG, Borno HT, Seligman HK.. Food insecurity screening: a missing piece in cancer management. Cancer. 2019;125(20):3494-3501. doi: 10.1002/cncr.32291. [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] ↩︎

Laura Anderson

Author

Laura Anderson is the Director of Social Impact at Instacart. As part of her work, she supports the company’s Instacart Health initiative, overseeing strategic partnerships with nonprofits and foundations, as well as employee impact programs. Laura has 10 years experience building programs at the intersection of technology and social impact at both for profit and nonprofit organizations. Prior to Instacart, Laura spent five years at Airbnb.org, building the company’s nonprofit strategy, and identifying opportunities for nonprofits to use Airbnb's technology to book free, welcoming & safe accommodations for people in crisis.