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A nonprofit organization will grant a charitable pharmacy in Cincinnati funding for its nutrition program.
Through this initiative, they will have the opportunity to expand or launch their nutrition-centered programs. These programs combine medical care with practical dietary support.
In a news release dated November 24, 2025, Direct Relief announced that five organizations will receive $150,000 each. They are to implement or expand innovative nutrition programs that address social determinants of health in underserved communities.
Funding and partners
The Baxter Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Baxter International, funds the six-year initiative. Direct Relief manages the program, distributing a total of $750,000 in grants.
Both organizations emphasize the growing need for nutrition-focused care models. This is especially important in communities facing entrenched social and economic barriers. The partnership seeks to support programs that extend healthcare beyond the clinic and into patients’ daily lives.
Direct Relief is a global humanitarian organization that provides medical aid, disaster relief, and healthcare support. They assist people affected by poverty, emergencies, and crises. It operates in all 50 U.S. states and over 100 countries.
Cincinnati and Kentucky grantees
In Cincinnati, St. Vincent de Paul Charitable Pharmacy is the grantee. This pharmacy offers medication to uninsured and underinsured patients, advances health equity by creating an educational program. This program is tailored to fit the unique cultural and economic realities of each patient.
In Newport, Kentucky, Faith Community Pharmacy is also a grant recipient. This pharmacy collaborates with multiple partners. Together, they remove barriers preventing patients from adopting healthy habits, such as transportation gaps, food insecurity, and limited access to nutrition education.
Other grantees across the US
Additional awardees include:
- Tampa Family Health Centers (Tampa, Florida): A lifestyle medicine program focused on weight loss, nutrition education, physical activity planning, and emotional wellness.
- Aaron E. Henry Community Health Services Center (Clarksdale, Mississippi): The Healthy Weight and Wellness Program blends nutritional counseling, treatment access, and broader health education to improve chronic disease management.
- NeoMed Center (Gurabo, Puerto Rico): The Integrated Nutrition Prescription Program targets patients with chronic conditions, food insecurity, and behavioral health concerns. Its mobile health services expand access in rural areas.
Impact on community health
Moreover, Direct Relief notes that community health centers serve over 36 million people in medically underserved regions. These patients face elevated risks for chronic conditions. These include diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and mental health challenges.
“Nutrition is fundamental to managing chronic disease, yet many people face significant barriers in accessing healthy food and nutrition education,” said Maris Steward, program manager and regional analyst at Direct Relief.
“These awards enable safety-net providers to develop innovative, culturally appropriate programs that address health disparities in their communities,” Steward added.
Nutrition innovation in Cincinnati
The St. Vincent de Paul Charitable Pharmacy program illustrates how Cincinnati can lead in nutrition innovation. By combining medication access with education and mental health support, the program fosters equity in healthcare. It also helps residents manage chronic disease more effectively.
Subsequently, Cincinnati continues to expand health equity initiatives, and programs like this align with the city’s public health goals. For additional context, readers can explore coverage of Cincinnati food insecurity trends or local health disparities in Hamilton County. Nationally, official data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provide a broader context on public health and nutrition programs.
Government nutrition programs in Cincinnati
Cincinnati also supports residents through government-backed nutrition initiatives, such as:
- WIC Program: Offers nutrition counseling, breastfeeding support, and monthly food packages to pregnant women, postpartum mothers, and children under five.
- Healthy Communities and Food Equity Program: Focuses on reducing disparities through policy and environmental changes to improve access to healthy foods.
- Cincy Freeze & Feed: Provides free, ready-to-eat meals from surplus food at community recreation centers in partnership with nonprofits.
- REACH Program: CDC-funded initiatives that support child nutrition, physical activity, and produce prescription programs.
- SNAP: Federal assistance helping thousands of Hamilton County households access food, including at farmers’ markets.
- EFNEP (Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program): OSU Extension program teaching families how to budget, cook nutritious meals, and practice food safety.
Together, these programs provide food, education, and long-term solutions, helping families thrive while reducing broader health disparities.
Transformative innovation awards
Direct Relief’s 2025 Transformative Innovation Awards fund five projects focused on nutrition access, health equity, and preventive care. These initiatives demonstrate how community clinics can integrate nutrition counseling, chronic disease management, and mental health services to improve long-term outcomes.
While no 2024 awards were publicly announced, Direct Relief continued to prioritize its Fund for Health Equity, awarding $7 million to programs addressing systemic barriers to healthcare.
Read more:
Development Boom in Cincinnati: Who Benefits and Who’s Left Behind?
Cincinnati food insecurity: Why hunger is increasing and how the city plans to fix it
