Health system’s New Brunswick-based Food Farmacy will relocate to PRAB’s Townsend Street location, connecting nutrition resources with community support services
The RWJBarnabas Health Food Farmacy at PRAB’s Townsend Street location.
New Brunswick, N.J., November 9, 2026 – RWJBarnabas Health today announced a $500,000 investment in the Puerto Rican Action Board (PRAB) to significantly expand access to nutritious foods and strengthen community support services for residents of New Brunswick and Middlesex County. The investment will support expanded food assistance, bilingual health navigation, and advance the coordination of essential resources to help individuals and families build healthier, more stable futures.
In addition to the donation, RWJBarnabas Health’s New Brunswick-based Food Farmacy, previously located at the RWJ Fitness & Wellness Center in New Brunswick, will relocate to PRAB’s location at 287 Townsend Street. Adding the Food Farmacy to PRAB’s existing community-based services will strengthen nutrition resources and wellness support for residents.
“Our commitment to New Brunswick and Middlesex County is strengthened by partnering with local organizations, like PRAB, who can help us reach deeper into the communities we serve and join us in building healthier families,” said Mark E. Manigan, President and Chief Executive Officer, RWJBarnabas Health. “RWJBarnabas Health is proud to support PRAB in their broad community health mission, while the relocation of our Food Farmacy will put healthy foods and nutritional supports within easier reach for those who need it.”
Kenny Obeso, Chairperson, PRAB Board of Trustees; Joel Torres, Chief Executive Officer, PRAB; Balpreet Grewal-Virk, PhD, Senior Vice President, Community Health, RWJBarnabas Health; Bill Arnold, Chief Executive Officer, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Executive Vice President and President, Southern Region, RWJBarnabas Health; and Ronald Rios, Director of the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners.
“For many families, putting nutritious food on the table is one of several challenges they are managing at the same time,” said Joel Torres, Chief Executive Officer, PRAB, Inc. “This significant investment from RWJBarnabas Health will help us respond to those needs more fully and connect residents with support that extends beyond a single visit. Welcoming the Food Farmacy to our Townsend Street location will strengthen our ability to serve as a resource for families throughout New Brunswick and Middlesex County.”
PRAB has served Middlesex County for more than 50 years and reaches more than 25,000 residents annually through programs that include housing support, early childhood education, youth development, family services and community wellness. As the county’s federally designated Community Action Agency, PRAB connects residents with resources that address immediate needs while supporting long-term stability.
“Our care for patients continues beyond the hospital, and that includes helping them access the resources they need in their everyday lives,”Bill Arnold, Chief Executive Officer, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Executive Vice President and President, Southern Region, RWJBarnabas Health. “Bringing the Food Farmacy to PRAB’s Townsend Street location will allow us to work more closely with a trusted community partner and better connect nutrition support with the other services our patients and their families rely on.”
“Expanding access to nutritious food is an investment in the well-being of Middlesex County,” said Ronald G. Rios, Director of the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners. “This partnership brings together the resources of RWJBarnabas Health and PRAB’s longstanding community relationships to help residents meet essential needs. We welcome this commitment to supporting families and strengthening the network of services available throughout our county.”
Pictured, cutting the ribbon on the opening of the RWJBarnabas Health Food Farmacy at PRAB’s Townsend Street location, are, from left: Michael Bobadilla, Deputy Chief of Police for the City of New Brunswick; Kenny Obeso, Chairperson, PRAB Board of Trustees; Barbara Mintz, MS, RDN, Senior Vice President, Social Impact and Community Investment, RWJBarnabas Health; Balpreet Grewal-Virk, PhD, Senior Vice President, Community Health, RWJBarnabas Health; Mariam Merced, Director, Community Health, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital; Joel Torres, Chief Executive Officer, PRAB; Bill Arnold, Chief Executive Officer, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Executive Vice President and President, Southern Region, RWJBarnabas Health; Manuel Castañeda, New Brunswick City Council President; Ronald Rios, Director of the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners; and Alan Lee, President, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.
The investment will also strengthen coordination between Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, RWJBarnabas Health’s Community Health Workers, and PRAB to give Middlesex County residents a robust, streamlined support system as they navigate available services.
“PRAB has been a vital resource for New Brunswick families for generations,” said New Brunswick Mayor James Cahill. “RWJBarnabas Health’s investment and the Food Farmacy’s move to Townsend Street will build on that legacy, bringing food and community services together in a familiar setting. We are grateful for this continued commitment to the health and well-being of our residents.”
“Strong community partnerships help ensure that investments in health reach the people who need them,” said Senator Bob Smith. “Supporting PRAB’s work and strengthening access to nutritious food will help address challenges that affect families across the 17th Legislative District. I commend RWJBarnabas Health and PRAB for working together to make these resources more accessible.”
“Families should be able to find help without having to navigate a complicated network of services on their own,” said Assemblyman Joe Danielsen. “By connecting food assistance with bilingual navigation and other community resources, this partnership will help residents take that next step toward greater stability and better health.”
Kevin McTernan, Vice President, Community Affairs, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital; Barbara Mintz, MS, RDN, Senior Vice President, Social Impact and Community Investment, RWJBarnabas Health; and Bill Arnold, Chief Executive Officer, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Executive Vice President and President, Southern Region, RWJBarnabas Health.
“PRAB has deep roots in New Brunswick and a long history of helping our neighbors through difficult times,” said Assemblyman Kevin P. Egan. “This investment will strengthen an organization that so many families count on, while the Food Farmacy’s relocation will create another important connection to nutritious food and support right here in our community.”
The investment reflects RWJBarnabas Health’s broader commitment to addressing the social determinants of health through partnerships that expand access to food, healthcare and essential services. The PRAB investment is the latest in a series of efforts through the health system’s Our Healthy Communities initiative, funded by State appropriationsto support underserved communities and strengthen community health.
“At RWJBarnabas Health, we recognize that access to nutritious food and coordinated community-based services are essential to building healthier communities,” said Balpreet Grewal-Virk, PhD, Senior Vice President, Community Health, RWJBarnabas Health. “We are grateful to the State of New Jersey for making investments like this possible and helping us advance our shared commitment to building and sustaining a healthier New Jersey.”
About RWJBarnabas Health
RWJBarnabas Health is New Jersey’s largest and most comprehensive academic health system, caring for more than five million people annually. Nationally renowned for quality and safety, the system includes 14 hospitals and 9,000 affiliated physicians integrated to provide care at more than 700 patient care locations.
RWJBarnabas Health partners with its communities to build and sustain a healthier New Jersey. It provides patient-centered care in a compassionate manner and is the state’s largest safety-net provider and leader in addressing the social determinants of health. RWJBarnabas Health provides food to the hungry, housing for the homeless and economic opportunities to those most vulnerable.
RWJBarnabas Health’s commitment to enhancing access to care includes a transformative partnership with Rutgers University, including the Rutgers Cancer Institute — the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
RWJBarnabas Health is among New Jersey’s largest private employers, with more than 45,000 employees, contributing more than $7 billion to the state economy every year. For more information, visit www.RWJBH.org
Contact:
Carrie.Cristello@rwjbh.org