NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC – New Hanover County, in partnership with Instacart, is launching the Food and Medication Delivery Program, a two-year grocery and prescription delivery program designed to reduce food insecurity by addressing transportation and mobility barriers. The program, funded by a $1.2 million grant from The Endowment, expands on a model currently operating in Columbia, S.C. The initiative leverages existing delivery technology to expand access to food, household essentials, and prescription medications for residents in the county’s eight identified food desert areas.
“Getting to the grocery store and getting to the pharmacy are the same barrier for too many residents, especially seniors, people with disabilities, and families without reliable transportation,” said Linda Thompson, Chief Civic Engagement Officer of New Hanover County. “This program helps close that gap by bringing food, household essentials, and prescriptions directly to them. We’re grateful to The Endowment for investing in a practical solution and to Instacart for helping us deliver it quickly.”
“The Food and Medication Delivery Program reflects our commitment to removing barriers to health and well-being, and helping New Hanover County residents, including seniors, get the food and medicine they need, when they need it,” said Sophie Dagenais, President and CEO of The Endowment. “This pilot initiative advances The Endowment’s focus on food security as a cross-cutting strategy and reflects a broader interest in technology-driven solutions to complex community challenges. I look forward to a collaborative monitoring and evaluative process to understand its effectiveness in reducing barriers to food and pharmacy access and help inform continuous improvement.”
The county aims to enroll 2,000 households in the first year, growing to 3,000 over the two-year pilot, with a focus on income-qualified residents and older adults. Each approved household will receive a 12-month Instacart+ membership, with delivery fees waived on orders of $10 or more*, and a $120 annual fresh food stipend, provided through Instacart Health Fresh Funds, to support the purchase of nutritious foods. One membership is issued per household and can be shared with up to three additional people. The county and its partners will track enrollment, usage, and outcomes throughout the pilot to measure the program’s impact and guide improvements.
New Hanover County Health and Human Services will oversee day-to-day program operations. Eligibility is based on household income at or below 300 percent of the federal poverty level and residence in one of the county’s eight identified food desert areas.
Instacart will provide the technology platform and delivery infrastructure to support the program, building on its experience expanding food access nationwide.
“At Instacart, we’ve seen firsthand how access to reliable grocery delivery can be genuinely life-changing for seniors, people with disabilities, and those who face transportation barriers — and that’s exactly who this program is designed to serve,” said Casey Aden-Wansbury, Vice President, Head of Global Public Policy at Instacart. “We’re proud to partner with New Hanover County and The Endowment to bring that access to thousands of North Carolina families at a time when affordability and getting the essentials you need has never mattered more.”
For more information on the program, including eligibility and enrollment, visit NHCgov.com/FAM or call New Hanover County Health and Human Services at 910-798-3500.
* Instacart service fees apply.
