STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — In a major step toward addressing food insecurity and improving health outcomes for vulnerable families, the Staten Island Social Care Network and Teton Health have launched refrigerated SMART food lockers at key community locations across Staten Island.
The initiative, made possible through New York State’s Medicaid 1115 waiver, was celebrated on Friday, September 19, at A Chance in Life, located at 1100 Castleton Avenue. The lockers are designed to provide secure, convenient access to medically tailored meals and pantry boxes for individuals and families in need—particularly Medicaid members.
“These lockers take away a lot of the mental burden of grocery shopping and lack of access that affects people on Staten Island,” said organizers. “They are secure, easy to use, and refrigerated—so there’s no rush to pick up the food.”
When a delivery is made, recipients receive a phone notification and can retrieve their food at their convenience. Each locker can store up to a week’s worth of meals, and on-site support ensures a smooth experience for users. Epicured, a partner in the project, is one of the providers supplying the medically tailored meals and pantry boxes.
So far, two of the four planned lockers have been installed—one at A Chance in Life and another at Health 4 Youths (120 Victory Boulevard). Two more are expected to be installed in the near future.
Medicaid members interested in learning whether they qualify for the program can call (917) 830-1140.
A Broader Vision for Health Equity
The SMART locker initiative is part of a broader effort led by the Staten Island Performing Provider System (SI PPS), a nonprofit public health organization that has been at the forefront of Medicaid reform since 2014. Under the new New York Health Equity Reform initiative, SI PPS now leads the Staten Island Social Care Network, which includes more than 60 partners working to address health-related social needs and reduce disparities.
“Our goal is to improve the coordination and delivery of social care services,” said representatives from SI PPS. “These lockers are just one example of how we’re using innovation to meet people where they are and ensure they have access to the resources they need.”