RELEASE
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan awards Mid-Michigan clinic grant for food pantry
Erica Stamatoulakis
| 2 min read
DETROIT, December 17, 2020 – Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is helping Mid-Michigan residents gain access to quality health care and healthier food options with a $10,000 grant to Genesee County Free Medical Clinic. The clinic will work in partnership with the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan to establish a food pantry program within the clinic designed to meet the needs of patients by increasing access to healthy food. The Flint-based clinic also received a Strengthening the Safety Net program grant of $25,000 from Blue Cross to support and expand its services for the uninsured. In the Safety Net program’s 16th year, Blue Cross awarded 47 clinics statewide grants totaling more than $866,000, and over $16 million since the program began in 2005. “Blue Cross is proud to support Genesee County Free Medical Clinic and clinics across the state dedicated to building healthier communities,” said Lynda Rossi, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan executive vice president of Strategy, Government and Public Affairs. “Increasing access to affordable, quality health care and addressing food insecurity for those in need, led by local health centers like the Free Medical Clinic, is core to our mission of improving the health of Michigan residents.” “The GCFMC feels fortunate to provide a healthy meal and recipe to patients through our pantry. It provides inspiration and becomes a tool for chronically ill patients to make necessary meal changes to improve health outcomes,” said Stacey Doyle, Genesee County Free Medical Clinic executive director. The Free Medical Clinic was established in 1991 to provide quality health care (excluding emergency care and obstetrics) to the uninsured without regard to race, creed and ethnicity, in a safe environment and respectful manner. The clinic provides integrated care and recovery support for over 1,700 patients yearly, in addition to helping residents enroll in health care coverage and receive other medical assistance. ### Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit mutual insurance company, is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. BCBSM provides health benefits to more than 4.7 million members residing in Michigan in addition to employees of Michigan-headquartered companies residing outside the state. The company has been committed to delivering affordable health care products through a broad variety of plans for businesses, individuals and seniors for 80 years. Beyond health care coverage, BCBSM supports impactful community initiatives and provides leadership in improving health care. For more information, visit bcbsm.com and MiBluesPerspectives.com.
