Hunterdon Health Home Health and Flemington Area Food Pantry Collaborate to Help Patients through the Food2You Program

Following three hospital stays in 2026, 69-year-old Mary Lomerson of Clinton Township required essential support upon discharge. The Hunterdon Health Home Health team provided comprehensive recovery care, with a social worker connecting her to the Food2You Program, a service offered by the Flemington Food Pantry.

The Food2You home delivery service is designed for homebound clients in conjunction with Hunterdon Health. It provides groceries specifically tailored to their individual medical needs, and the program’s volunteers provide the connection needed to aid in recovery by regularly shopping for and delivering the items.

Mary was delighted to be paired with Ellen, a volunteer at the Flemington Food Pantry. Ellen understands Mary’s diabetic and cardiac dietary requirements and regularly consults with Mary to make sure she is getting the groceries and personal care items she needs to help in her recuperation. According to Mary, “Ellen is a delight! She is very good at selecting items and often brings me new items to try. If something isn’t available, she goes out of her way to find me a good alternative.”

Mary is unable to leave her home unassisted, and she can no longer afford the home delivery services provided by local merchants. She found them to be expensive and unreliable, often making mistakes on orders and taking too long to correct them. She also enjoys the personal bond she has developed with Ellen. “Living alone can be isolating, especially when you’re not feeling well. Ellen and this program have really been a blessing,” noted Mary.

The Food2You program was developed in 2019 when social workers from Hunterdon Health Home Health recognized that many of their patients recovering at home after a hospital stay lacked access to food, particularly meals appropriate for their restricted diets. The Flemington Food Pantry responded to provide groceries tailored to each client’s specific dietary needs, and the volunteers who are essential to cultivating a special relationship with clients to ensure they receive what they need and what they truly desire.

According to Karla Gambrill, PT, DPT, Director of Home Health Services, “When Home Health clinicians care for patients at home, we focus not only on medications and treatments but also on the factors that support recovery day to day. Access to healthy food that meets a patient’s medical needs can make a real difference in rebuilding strength and managing chronic conditions.” She continued, “The Food2You program works closely with our clinical team to ensure patients receive the nourishment they need to support their care plans. At the same time, the regular visits from volunteers provide a meaningful social connection. For many patients who live alone, that interaction can powerfully impact emotional well-being and help them feel supported by their community during recovery.”

The demand for Food2You deliveries surged to 300% in 2020 due to the pandemic. While the numbers have stabilized since then, the program continues to ensure that a population that was once overlooked is cared for. It serves homebound, elderly, or those without transportation in Hunterdon County. Its delivery network also includes two low-income senior housing communities, in addition to individual deliveries through the Food2You program, in partnership with Hunterdon Health.

Pictured above: Left to right: Ellen, a volunteer at Flemington Area Food Pantry, and Mary Lomerson.