Three Years of Nourishing Tomorrow

Junaid Family Foundation (JFF) has announced the renewal of its grant to the Greater Cleveland Food Bank (GCFB) in support of the Nourishing Tomorrow program. This investment, now entering its third year, continues a partnership rooted in a simple but powerful principle: food is medicine.

Nourishing Tomorrow is a research study developed as a collaboration between the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, Case Western Reserve University, MetroHealth, and University Hospitals. At its completion, the study will have enrolled 360 pregnant patients to evaluate which model of medically tailored grocery support best improves health outcomes for mothers and families facing food insecurity. All participants receive free, healthy groceries during pregnancy and for up to six months after delivery, along with cooking tools, recipes, and nutrition guidance. The three approaches were developed to meet families’ needs with medically tailored groceries (MTG). The three models include:

1. Clinic-Based MTG Program: Participants collect groceries every two weeks from health system markets.
2. Home-Delivered MTG: Groceries delivered every two weeks to support the entire household.
3. Home-Delivered MTG PLUS: Combines grocery delivery with educational and support components to enhance food literacy and support participants.

“What makes Nourishing Tomorrow so powerful is its focus on meeting families where they are—with practical, consistent support that recognizes food as an integral part of healthcare from the very beginning. We’re inspired by the work Elaine Borawski, Alissa Glenn and their team have done and believe Ohio is building a replicable model that can lead to impactful change at the national level. This investment is not just about addressing today’s needs—it’s about building healthier futures for generations of families everywhere.” 

JFF’s support for Nourishing Tomorrow connects to a broader portfolio of nutrition-focused work. Locally, the foundation has partnered with University Hospitals to expand access to fresh fruits and vegetables at the Rainbow Ahuja Center for Women & Children. Globally, JFF has invested in combating maternal malnutrition in Pakistan with Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS), where structural barriers to equitable pregnancy outcomes remain among the most pressing public health challenges in the country. 

Whether it is in our backyards in Cleveland or abroad in low- and middle-income countries, every woman, and every child reserve the right to proper nutrition. JFF stands on the belief investing in the health of mothers is investing in the health of generations to come. As our support for Nourishing Tomorrow heads into its third year, the foundation remains committed to turning that belief into lasting change, one family at a time.