National volunteer initiative mobilizes the life sciences industry to connect food access with health
CAMBRIDGE, MA — Life Science Cares (LSC) today announced the launch of Fueling Communities: 30 Days of Action, a month-long, nationwide volunteer and engagement campaign mobilizing the life sciences industry to fight food insecurity and advance health equity across the country.
Taking place throughout June 2026, the campaign will unite employees, companies, nonprofit partners, and community leaders across LSC’s affiliate regions, including Boston, San Francisco Bay Area, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, and San Diego in hands-on service, giving, education, and advocacy activities centered on food access and community health.
The campaign is part of Life Science Cares’ broader Food is Health initiative, a long-term national effort to address food insecurity as a critical social driver of health. Through the initiative, LSC aims to invest $30 million and 30,000 volunteer hours by 2030 to drive measurable impact in communities nationwide. 
“The life sciences industry exists to improve lives and advance human health. But health doesn’t start in the doctor’s office; it starts in homes, schools, and neighborhoods, and millions of people in our communities struggle to access nutritious food. This campaign is about bringing our industry together to take practical, local action while building momentum for larger systems-level change,” said Sarah MacDonald, CEO of Life Science Cares.
Across the month, participating companies and volunteers will:
- Support food pantries, meal programs, and community farms
- Assemble snack packs, pantry kits, and kitchen essentials
- Host food and supply drives
- Participate in educational sessions on food insecurity and health
- Engage with nonprofit leaders working on long-term food systems solutions
The campaign reflects a growing recognition that food insecurity is deeply connected to health outcomes, educational success, housing stability, and economic mobility. According to Feeding America, nearly 48 million people in the United States experience food insecurity, and Life Science Cares’ own nonprofit partners report hunger as one of the most urgent issues facing the communities they serve.
“This is the first time Life Science Cares has coordinated volunteer engagement across our national network in this way,” MacDonald added. “It demonstrates the power of collective action — local communities supported by a united industry committed to healthier, more equitable futures.”
Volunteer activities will support organizations, including Feeding San Diego, San Francisco-Marin Food Bank, Alameda County Community Food Bank, MANNA, Sharing Excess, Henry Street Settlement, Hyde Square Task Force, CASPAR, and many others working on the front lines of hunger relief and food justice.
The campaign is supported by inaugural Food is Health partners Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, and Real Chemistry.
“At Bristol Myers Squibb, we believe in the transformative power of medical innovation, and that access to it can help patients live longer, healthier lives,” said Andrew Whitehead, Vice President & Head of Population Health at Bristol Myers Squibb. “We are committed to helping patients access the care they need by addressing the challenges that can impact their health outcomes. Food insecurity is too often one of those critical issues, and efforts like Life Science Cares’ campaign help bring greater attention and action to this challenge.”