A Year of Progress: Instacart and Montgomery County’s Partnership on Food Access

We believe technology can be a powerful force for good – helping solve some of our society’s most persistent challenges, including food insecurity. One year ago, we partnered with Montgomery County, Maryland to launch MC Groceries, a first-of-its-kind program designed to help families who don’t qualify for federal nutrition programs but still struggle to afford the food they need.

MC Groceries helps families in Montgomery County access fresh and shelf-stable food items by providing monthly grocery stipends through Instacart Health Fresh Funds. Each household receives $100 in Fresh Funds per child under 18 – up to $400 per month – to purchase nutritious food and essentials from the local retailers they know and trust. 

Every household shops differently – with its own routines, cultural traditions, dietary needs, and budgets. Using Instacart’s platform, families have the flexibility to use their Fresh Funds in the way that best fits their lives, allowing them to choose nutritious foods that are familiar, while making it easier to bring healthier options home. This flexibility and choice strengthens programs like this by empowering families to build lasting, real-world habits around nutritious eating. 

Today, we’re proud to share the results from the program’s first year and to announce that, thanks to its success, Montgomery County has renewed MC Groceries for a second year.

Real Results from the First Year

In its first 12 months, MC Groceries connected more than 540 families – over 1,100 children – with monthly Instacart Health Fresh Funds stipends for nutritious food. Families placed more than 10,500 grocery orders, using nearly $1.1 million in benefits to get groceries from local retailers they know and trust.

The impact has been clear:

• 93% of Fresh Funds distributed were redeemed – a remarkable sign of engagement.
• 98% of participants surveyed reported being satisfied with the program.
• Fresh fruits and vegetables were the top two most frequently ordered items, showing that when families have access and choice, they choose to purchase nutritious foods.
• Families reported reduced stress around affording groceries, noting that the program eased the financial strain of putting food on the table.

Overall, the program helped reduce the intensity of food insecurity among working families in the county, showing that targeted, tech-enabled support can make a scalable, meaningful difference amid external challenges and local economic disruptions. 

“Grocery delivery helps remove everyday barriers to food access, making it easier for families to shop from the retailers they trust and bring home nutritious food,” said Casey Aden-Wansbury, Vice President and Head of Global Public Policy at Instacart. “This program shows what’s possible when we apply practical innovation to one of the most fundamental challenges facing communities today.”

With rising food and living costs, along with the daily challenges families face, such as managing work schedules and childcare, affording and accessing groceries has become increasingly difficult. This program has helped alleviate that strain, as Mwanamisi, a parent of three children who participated in the first year of the program, shared: “The program has eased the burden of having to choose between nutritious meals and essential bills. We are now able to access healthy food from bulk stores – which are usually far away – with just a few clicks.”

“Renewing this program for a second year was possible thanks to a strong and collaborative partnership among local government agencies and across sectors,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “In addition, continued investment of local funds activated an expansion of the program that is already underway, with the goal of bringing families reduced stress, more time for healthy meal preparation and helping with homework, and convenient access to food they choose to 50% more families in our community.” 

Looking Ahead

Through Instacart Health, we’re helping governments and organizations expand food access in ways that meet families where they are. The success of MC Groceries shows that when public leadership and private sector innovation come together, we can deliver meaningful outcomes that strengthen communities.

As the program enters its second year — with over 500 families already enrolled — Montgomery County continues to lead the way in redefining what an effective food access solution can look like in its community. At Instacart, we’re proud to play a part in that progress and remain committed to using our technology to build healthier, more resilient communities where every family can fill their tables with nutritious food.