Beyond Healthcare: Nantucket Cottage Hospital’s Role In Fighting Food Insecurity On The Island

To the editor: The recent Boston Magazine article titled “Nantucket’s Six-Figure Working Class Can’t Afford to Eat,” highlighted what we see every day at Nantucket Cottage Hospital: the reality that food insecurity is a growing and urgent issue on our island. For many, the high cost of living makes it difficult not only to find housing but also to consistently afford healthy, nourishing meals. Our 2024 Community Health Needs Assessment confirmed this need, underscoring that food access is a critical challenge for the well-being of our community.

This year, for the first time since 2018, NCH made the decision to adjust the price of meals in our cafeteria. This change was made solely to keep pace with rising food costs, never to generate profit, and we remain committed to providing employees with a discounted rate to help ease the burden. For many islanders, the cafeteria is more than just a place to grab a quick bite. Each day, staff, first responders, and community members gather here for lunch, sharing conversation and connection. We see many of the same faces throughout the week, neighbors who rely on the cafeteria for affordable meals, police officers and firefighters grabbing a break between calls, and staff and patients who often pick up an extra meal to bring home for dinner. Especially in the quiet, isolated months of the off-season, the cafeteria has become a vital community hub providing nourishment for the body and companionship for the spirit. While we do not seek to advertise the hospital cafeteria as a community food service, the truth is that it has become a lifeline for so many.

Our responsibility extends beyond the walls of the hospital. In order for our staff and community members to be able to live and work on Nantucket, they must also be able to eat here, and the cafeteria helps make that possible. We are actively expanding our role in fighting hunger through stronger partnerships and innovative programs. Recently, through our advocacy, Mass General Brigham awarded a $20,000 grant to support the Nourish Nantucket initiative, a collaboration we are proud to strengthen as we work to connect more families with reliable food resources. Looking ahead, we are also working to partner with Nourish Nantucket to directly link clinical care with nutritional support ensuring that access to healthy meals is recognized as an essential part of overall health and healing.

Amy E. Lee

Nantucket Cottage Hospital President & COO