FIGHTING FOOD INSECURITY
Bearcats Pantry at the Cancer Center
SUPPORTING HEALTHIER OUTCOMES WITH BETTER NUTRITION
At the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, we know that a cancer diagnosis carries a lot of unknowns, but where our patients might get their next nutritious meal should never be in question.
That’s why in early 2024 we partnered with the UC Bearcats Pantry and Resource Center to support the growing number of patients we see who are also battling food insecurity. Through this newly formed partnership, our patients receive to-go bags of nutritious groceries and basic hygiene items as part of their treatment plan.
This in-house offering has become a critical resource for our cancer patients who often have specific nutritional needs and risk weakened immune systems, infection and impaired healing if they can’t access adequate nutrition.
As part of our mission to provide whole-patient support that extends beyond clinical care, it is our vision to expand this service to every patient in need by opening a satellite resource center and market at the Cancer Center.
With dedicated support from our grateful patients and community leaders, we can ensure all Cancer Center patients have access to healthy food, nutritional counseling, cancer care packages and survivorship and supportive services navigation.
The harsh reality of cancer and food insecurity
• Up to 50% of patients with cancer don’t have access to healthy foods—five times higher than the national rate of food insecurity.
• Cancer patients face higher levels of financial hardship, often forced to choose between affording healthy food, supporting their families and covering essential treatment costs.
• Cancer patients often face two to three times higher food costs due to specialized dietary needs, medical foods and potential challenges in accessing or preparing food.
• For cancer patients, the average additional costs of maintaining a nutritious diet can be significant—sometimes between $450 to $1,000 per month—depending on their diagnosis, the specific treatments involved and additional dietary needs, including supplements, special foods and higher-quality proteins.
Since launching a year ago—we have served more than 200 patients in need, but we know the true need is higher due to the stigmas surrounding food insecurity, which prevent individuals who need support from asking for help.
“The cancer journey involves more than surgery
or chemotherapy.
Every
aspect of an individual’s health—emotional, physical, nutritional, occupational, social and financial—impacts their outcome. Providing additional food sources for the people we serve reinforces our support for them through their entire cancer journey and hopefully lessens at least one burden in a meaningful way.”
LEEYA F. PINDER, MD, MPH Associate Professor Director, Center for Global Cancer Control UC College of Medicine
INVEST IN THE CANCER CENTER FOOD PANTRY
We invite you to join us in bringing to life our vision to create a self-service food pantry for our cancer patients that promotes well-being and reduces the stigma around food insecurity. With your philanthropic support, we can expand access to healthy meal options and nutritional counseling to more Cancer Center patients. Your investment can:
• Create a market: Fund the opening of a satellite market where our patients can receive healthy groceries and additional support services needed as they embark on their healing journey.
• Lasting support: Establish lasting support to expand our partnership with the Bearcats Pantry and Resource Center to provide nutritious meal options, including fresh fruits and vegetables and gift cards to local grocery stores, to our patients.
• Dietitian counseling: Support the work of a full-time oncology-trained dietician to work with our patients battling food insecurity to create a nutrition plan specific to their treatmentrelated needs.
THANK YOU
Now, more than ever, philanthropy has the power to remove food insecurity for every Cancer Center patient. Together, we can provide life-changing support to ensure our cancer patients have all they need to give their journey all they’ve got.
Thank you for helping us make this breakthrough happen.
CONTACT
Tiffany Shabazz Director of Development
University of Cincinnati Cancer Center
Tiffany.Shabazz@foundation.uc.edu
513-556-8010
To make a difference at the Cancer Center food pantry scan the QR code or visit giveto.uc.edu/cancerfoodpantry to donate today.