Nourishing Health, Nourishing Hope: Kristen Matlack and the Power of Food as Medicine

For nearly five years, Kristen Matlack, Manager of Social Care Initiatives at the MetroHealth Institute for H.O.P.E.™, has built her career on a simple but profound belief: every person deserves the basic conditions that make good health possible.

Nutritious food. Clean water. Safe housing. Access to quality care.

“Most of someone’s health status is determined outside the hospital walls,” Kristen says. “I’m here to do my part in making conditions better for everyone – especially those most vulnerable.”

Her work sits at the heart of one of MetroHealth’s most impactful giving priorities this year: Food as Medicine (FAM).

Where Health Really Begins

Food insecurity remains a pressing concern in Cuyahoga County, where many residents struggle to access healthy meals. In 2025, MetroHealth conducted more than 75,000 screenings for social drivers of health, revealing a 22% food insecurity rate among patients.

For patients living with diabetes, hypertension and other diet-related chronic conditions, the absence of nutritious food can mean worsening health, increased emergency visits and preventable hospitalizations.

This is where Food as Medicine transforms lives.

Food as Medicine: A Clinic That Nourishes Hope

The FAM Clinic is more than a pantry. It is a medically tailored, clinic-integrated program designed to support the whole patient. Every two weeks, eligible patients receive:

• A three-day supply of healthy food for their entire household
• Nutrition education tailored to their condition and culture
• Home delivery, when needed, for patients with mobility or transportation challenges
• Plus, monthly hands-on cooking classes, where participants receive tailored advice and recipes

In 2025, the program’s impact was remarkable:

• Nearly 48,000 meals worth of nutritious food provided
• 250 families served, representing more than 750 individuals
• 1,800+ clinic visits completed
• 265 food packages delivered to patients’ homes
• More than 1,500 pounds of fresh produce, donated from local farms, distributed during the growing season

Early evaluation shows that FAM participants report better dietary behaviors, including more vegetable consumption and less fast food, and experience statistically significant decreases in A1C, hospitalizations and hospital costs.

For Kristen, these numbers tell a powerful story, but the individual lives behind them matter even more.

When Kristen thinks about the program’s life-changing impact, she remembers an older, disabled gentleman living with uncontrolled diabetes. He lacked resources to buy nutritious food and didn’t feel confident cooking.

“At first, he didn’t want to try any of the healthy options,” Kristen recalls. “He didn’t believe he could cook or that it would make a difference.”

Over weeks, the FAM Clinic Coordinator built trust – introducing simple recipes, teaching basic skills, offering encouragement. Slowly, the patient began to try new foods. And then something remarkable happened:

• His A1C dropped more than two points
• His blood pressure improved significantly
• He felt hopeful – and capable – again

When he graduated from the program, he wrote a letter to MetroHealth’s CEO – a letter simply to say thank you.

Showing Up – Even in the Snow

Kristen’s favorite memories at MetroHealth aren’t made behind a desk. They happen when she’s out in the community – delivering food to a patient, helping with a cooking class or distributing turkeys before Thanksgiving.

“It always feels good to be giving something tangible to the community, with friends by my side,” she says.

One moment stands out: during the height of COVID, the Institute for H.O.P.E.™ team and volunteers shifted their monthly produce giveaways from in-person distribution to home delivery for patient safety. That winter, a severe snowstorm hit Cleveland. Roads were unplowed. It was dangerous. But the team showed up anyway.

Some volunteers walked through snow‑covered streets on foot to deliver food to patients who had no one else to rely on.

“The commitment was unwavering,” Kristen says. “That day, I was incredibly proud to be part of this team.”

MetroHealth: A Community That Feels Like Family

To Kristen, MetroHealth is more than a workplace. “It’s like a family,” she says. “We care for our patients, our colleagues and our community. Even when the work is hard, we show up for each other.”

She sees this same spirit every time she speaks with a patient. Some say plainly: “I had no food at home until this.” Others simply say thank you – again and again. Their gratitude is a reminder that access to healthy food isn’t a luxury. It’s healthcare.

Why Donor Support Matters – Now More Than Ever

Food as Medicine is entirely funded through philanthropy. Every package of produce, every cooking class, every delivered box of food exists because of donor generosity. To sustain this work, MetroHealth has set a 2026 fundraising goal of $185,000.

This support ensures that:

• More families can access medically tailored groceries
• Patients can continue receiving nutrition education and hands-on classes
• Home deliveries reach those with the greatest barriers
• Lives continue to change – not just for a moment, but for good

“Your support is an investment in someone’s quality of life,” Kristen says. “You help people live better, healthier, longer lives.”

Kristen’s work – and the work of the entire FAM team – shows what can happen when a community chooses to invest in nourishment, dignity and trust. A bag of groceries becomes a catalyst. A cooking lesson becomes confidence. A year of support becomes a healthier future.

With your help, MetroHealth will continue turning food into medicine – and medicine into lifelong wellness.

For more information, please contact Greg Sanders, Vice President of Philanthropy, at 440-592-1319 or gsanders@metrohealth.org.