MedStar Health Expands Food Rx Program to Fourth Baltimore Location

Food Rx opens at the Franciscan Center to help address food insecurity and improve community health.

BALTIMORE — MedStar Health has expanded the innovative Food Rx program to a fourth site at The Franciscan Center, (101 W 23rd St, Baltimore, MD 21218) through a long-standing collaborative partnership with MedStar Union Memorial Hospital. Focused on improving health and food security for Baltimore residents, the Food Rx program connects community members with nutritious meals, health education, and access to clinical support. It builds on the program’s success at MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital, MedStar Harbor Hospital, and MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center.

Food Rx is an evidenced-based program that helps patients stabilize blood sugar levels and improve long-term health outcomes through a comprehensive Food as Medicine approach. Qualified patients who are living with diabetes receive customized food prescriptions, including fresh produce and whole grains, along with nutrition counseling and support from care teams. This approach not only meets immediate needs but also helps patients make sustainable lifestyle changes that support better health.

For more than 50 years, The Franciscan Center has served as a trusted community resource in Baltimore, originally founded to provide emergency assistance and supportive outreach to individuals and families experiencing economic hardship. Today, through its Culinary Services, Responsive Services, and Empowerment Services, the Center provides nutrition, connection, and education to help Baltimoreans in need as they make their way to self-sufficiency.

“We are honored to partner with MedStar Health in this important work,” said Jeffrey Griffin, executive director of The Franciscan Center. “Every day, we see the impact that access to nutritious food and compassionate care can have on someone’s life. Together, we’re not only feeding people, we’re helping them move toward lasting stability and better health.”

The Food Rx program is part of MedStar Health’s broader strategy to transform healthcare delivery, integrating food access and nutrition support into everyday care. By working with community partners, the program empowers patients to take control of their health while addressing the root causes and inequities that impact wellbeing.

For more information on the Food RX program at MedStar Health, call:

443-777-2000 or 443-777-8300 at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center
443-444-3427 at the Franciscan Center
443-444-5463 at MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital, and  
410-355-3191 at MedStar Harbor Hospital