In partnership with Fulfill, Food Farmacy expands access to nutritious food and wellness resources for patients across Long Branch and Monmouth County
RWJBarnabas Health leadership, elected officials, and partners cut the ribbon on the new Food Farmacy in Monmouth Medical Center.
(from left to right): Mark Dinglasan, Executive Director of the New Jersey Office of the Food Security Advocate (OFSA), 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, Triada Stampas, President and CEO, Fulfill, George Helmy, EVP and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, RWJBarnabas Health, Frank Pallone, Congressman, New Jersey’s 6th Congressional District, Mark Manigan, President and Chief Executive Officer, RWJBarnabas Health, John Pallone, Mayor, City of Long Branch, Eric Carney, President and Chief Executive Officer, Monmouth Medical Center, Margie Donlon, Assemblywoman, 11th Legislative District, Luanne Peterpaul, Assemblywoman, 11th Legislative District, Vin Gopal, Senator, 11th Legislative District, Tom Arnone, Commissioner Director, Monmouth County Board of Commissioners, and Kenneth Granet, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Monmouth Medical Center
LONG BRANCH, N.J. – September 8, 2026 – RWJBarnabas Health and Monmouth Medical Center (MMC) today celebrated the grand opening of the system’s sixth Food Farmacy to provide patients with nutritious foods and individualized nutrition counseling from registered dietitians to support long-term health and well-being. The Food Farmacy offers fresh New Jersey-grown produce, refrigerated items and shelf-stable foods in addition to culturally relevant foods and recipes, and education focused on chronic disease prevention and management, including diabetes, heart disease and hypertension.
“RWJBarnabas Health’s Food Farmacy at Monmouth Medical Center is built upon the simple yet profound belief that access to healthy food goes hand-in-hand with access to world-class healthcare,” said Mark E. Manigan, President and Chief Executive Officer, RWJBarnabas Health. “The fight against hunger and food insecurity is one of the most important fights in which we can engage to build a healthier Monmouth County and New Jersey.”
The MMC Food Farmacy was made possible through RWJBarnabas Health’s partnership with Fulfill, a leader in food security for Monmouth and Ocean Counties. For more than four decades, Fulfill has been a leader in alleviating hunger and currently supports a network of nearly 300 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and other resource centers.
“No one should have to choose between purchasing nutritious food and meeting other essential needs, including medical care,” said Triada Stampas, President and Chief Executive Officer of Fulfill. “By combining Fulfill’s hunger-relief expertise with Monmouth Medical Center’s clinical and nutrition resources, this partnership will create a direct and dignified path to healthy food for neighbors who need it. Together, we can address immediate food needs while helping patients achieve better health over the long term.”
Located within the Alexander Pavillion at MMC, the Food Farmacy joins a network of five other Food Farmacies across Middlesex, Mercer, Hudson, Essex and now Monmouth Counties as part of RWJBarnabas Health’s Our Healthy Communities initiative. It also represents the system’s continued commitment and investment in Long Branch and the residents and communities served by MMC.
RWJBarnabas Health leadership, elected officials, and partners celebrate the opening of the new Food Farmacy in Monmouth Medical Center.
(from left to right): Balpreet Grewal-Virk, PhD, Senior Vice President, Community Health, RWJBarnabas Health, Mark Dinglasan, Executive Director of the New Jersey Office of the Food Security Advocate (OFSA), Barbara Mintz, MS, RDN, Senior Vice President, Social Impact and Community Investment, RWJBarnabas Health, Triada Stampas, President and CEO, Fulfill, George Helmy, EVP and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, RWJBarnabas Health, Frank Pallone, Congressman, New Jersey’s 6th Congressional District, Mark Manigan, President and Chief Executive Officer, RWJBarnabas Health, John Pallone, Mayor, City of Long Branch, Eric Carney, President and Chief Executive Officer, Monmouth Medical Center, Margie Donlon, Assemblywoman, 11th Legislative District, Luanne Peterpaul, Assemblywoman, 11th Legislative District, Vin Gopal, Senator, 11th Legislative District, Risa Clay, Mayor, Borough of Tinton Falls, Lori Hohenleitner, Mayor, Borough of Atlantic Highlands, Tom Arnone, Commissioner Director, Monmouth County Board of Commissioners, and Kenneth Granet, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Monmouth Medical Center
“Access to healthy food is a health care issue, and programs like this Food Farmacy offer a practical, community-based way to address both,” said Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. “This partnership will help families put nutritious food on the table while giving patients the support they need to prevent disease and manage chronic health conditions. I’m proud to see this program implemented in Long Branch to improve health and strengthen our community.”
“Opening a Food Farmacy at Monmouth Medical Center is an important investment that will strengthen our communities for years to come,” said Monmouth County Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone. “Expanding access to nutritious foods and educational resources marks a significant step forward in advancing the wellbeing of residents and ensuring families across Long Branch and Monmouth County have the quality care and support they deserve.”
“This Food Farmacy represents an important investment in the health and dignity of Long Branch residents,” said Long Branch Mayor John Pallone. “We are proud to welcome a program that brings our hospital, regional food bank and community together around a shared goal: ensuring that our neighbors have the resources and support they need to live healthier lives.”
Supported by State appropriations, Our Healthy Communities works to address social determinants of health across New Jersey including food insecurity, housing, transportation and access to care. RWJBarnabas Health made an $854,000 investment earlier this year through this initiative to upgrade Monmouth Family Health Center in Long Branch. Other efforts to support New Jersey’s shore communities include a partnership with St. Brigid's Food Pantry in Long Branch, investments into the Ocean County Homelessness Trust Fund Task Force, and the upcoming establishment of the Sadie Vickers Greenhouse in Toms River.
“This new Food Farmacy will help people across Monmouth County build a healthier, more resilient future,” said State Senator Vin Gopal. “We are grateful to RWJBarnabas Health for their commitment to advancing community health in New Jersey and for bringing this important resource to our Long Branch community.”
“Monmouth Medical Center has a longstanding commitment to compassionate care and responding to the needs of the communities we serve,” said Eric Carney, President and CEO of Monmouth Medical Center. “The Food Farmacy strengthens that commitment by connecting patients with nutritious food, clinical expertise and practical tools they can use at home. This program will make a meaningful difference for individuals and families in Long Branch and throughout Monmouth County.”
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 a 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 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.