Coordinated Care Reflects on Five Years and Nearly 23 Million Meals Served Through Their One Million Meals Campaign
Date: 06/17/26
Five-year campaign lookback highlights sustained commitment to addressing food insecurity across Washington state.
TACOMA, Wash. (June 17, 2026) — This National Hunger Awareness Month, Washington's trusted healthcare partner and wholly owned subsidiary of the Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), Coordinated Care looks back on five years of its One Million Meals campaign that has provided nearly 23 million meals to individuals and families facing food insecurity in Washington state since its launch in 2020. The milestone marks the campaign's growth from a pandemic-era response into a sustained, statewide effort to address food insecurity.
"What began as an urgent response to an emergent crisis has become one of the most meaningful commitments we've made to the communities we serve," said Beth Johnson, President and CEO of Coordinated Care. "The nearly 23 million meals we've been able to provide through our One Million Meals campaign represents 23 million moments where individuals didn't have to wonder where their next meal was coming from. Together with our partners, we're proud to reflect on the impact we've made to support whole-person health across Washington."
The One Million Meals Campaign launched in 2020 to address the nationwide need for healthy food exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Since its inception, the campaign has grown significantly, exceeding its annual goal of providing 1 million meals each year by nearly 300%. This work has been made possible through the help of volunteers, employee fundraising, and partnerships with leading local food security organizations across the state including Second Harvest, FareStart, Northwest Harvest, Lifelong, and the campaign's very first partner, Emergency Food Network.
"When we first partnered with Coordinated Care over five years ago, we dared to set an ambitious goal of providing one million meals to Washingtonians in need during the pandemic," said Michelle Douglas, CEO of Emergency Food Network. "More than 23 million meals later, what strikes me most isn’t the number, it’s the consistency. Year after year, through a pandemic and beyond, this campaign has continued to exceed expectations and deliver healthy meals to families experiencing food insecurity across our state. This kind of long-term commitment and partnership across all levels — with Coordinated Care, non-profits, community groups, volunteers — is what truly makes a lasting difference."
Hunger Awareness Month serves as a powerful reminder that for millions of Americans, food insecurity is not a seasonal concern — it is a year-round reality that touches every aspect of a person's wellbeing. Here in Washington, more than 1 in 5 Apple Health enrollees report struggling to put food on the table. Addressing this critical social driver of health and improving whole-person health requires more, which is why Coordinated Care has adopted a holistic approach — designing innovative programs that expand consistent access to nutritious food and investing millions of dollars with dozens of trusted local partners who know their communities best.
To learn more about Coordinated Care's One Million Meals campaign and the organization's broader work to address food security and other social drivers of health in Washington, visit the WA First page.