Published on September 9, 2026
Read Time: 2 Minutes
Three Things to Know
- A $1,500 Home State Health grant is helping Phelps Health provide fresh produce to cancer patients during treatment.
- The produce stands are part of the Everyday Eats Nutrition Station, which provides free food and nutrition resources to Delbert Day Cancer Institute patients.
- The first produce stand served 48 oncology patients, with another stand planned for September 16.
Cancer patients at Phelps Health have greater access to fresh, healthy food during treatment, thanks in part to a recent $1,500 grant from Home State Health. The grant helped pay for fresh produce for two pop-up produce stands at the Phelps Health Delbert Day Cancer Institute (DDCI).
The produce stands are part of the Everyday Eats Nutrition Station, an initiative funded by the Phelps Health Foundation to help cancer patients access free, healthy food during treatment. A review of patient needs found that 22% of DDCI cancer patients struggle to get enough food, highlighting the need for this type of support. The Nutrition Station provides frozen produce, pantry staples and nutrition resources in a safe, supportive environment.
The first produce stand was held July 15 and provided nearly 50 bags of fresh produce to DDCI oncology patients.
“Our first produce stand was a huge success,” said Lorie Bourne, RDN, CSO, clinical dietitian at the DDCI. “We were able to distribute fresh produce to 48 oncology patients, and we’re excited to offer another produce stand in September.”
“A well-balanced diet is important for physical and mental well-being,” added Paige Marsolais-Heitman, director of philanthropy at the Foundation. “Good nutrition is especially important during cancer treatment, but food insecurity can make it difficult for patients to get the food they need. Resources like the Everyday Eats Nutrition Station help make healthy food more accessible to patients when they need it most.”
The DDCI thanks Home State Health for its support of the produce stands and the Foundation for funding the Everyday Eats initiative. The DDCI also thanks Price Chopper in Rolla for providing a discount on produce and McCarthy Building Companies for allowing the DDCI to use its produce stand.
The next produce stand will be held from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM, Wednesday, September 16, in the Shirley Day Conference Rooms C-E at the DDCI, 1060 West 10th Street, Rolla. The stand is open to DDCI patients in need of fresh produce.
About Home State Health
Home State Health, a subsidiary of Centene Corporation, began operations in 2012. It provides quality, locally based healthcare services to members across Missouri and works with healthcare providers to coordinate care and improve health outcomes. Learn more at homestatehealth.com.