A Culture of Care That Extends Beyond Benefits

At Vitable Health, we believe health goes far beyond the doctor’s office. Access to nourishing food, supportive environments, and equitable opportunities are just as essential to well-being as healthcare itself. That is why we are proud to partner with organizations like Urban Growers Collective (UGC) in Chicago and El Departamento de la Comida in Puerto Rico, both working tirelessly to build a more just and equitable food system.

Supporting Local Food Justice in Chicago

Urban Growers Collective, a Black and women-led non-profit, is on a mission to increase access to affordable and nutrient-rich food. Each year, Vitable donates $15,000 to UGC to support their work, and our teams volunteer to strengthen that connection even further.

This year, employees traveled to Chicago for a department retreat, where they toured UGC’s farms, harvested green beans, and learned firsthand how the produce is distributed to South and West Side communities. Some of the harvest is sold affordably, while much of it is donated to families in need, creating a direct link between care and community health.

Extending Our Impact to Puerto Rico

Since our company-wide retreat was not held in Chicago this year, UGC connected us with their partner farm in Puerto Rico through the Growing Justice Fund, El Departamento de la Comida. There, our team prepared meals, packaged goods, and worked the land to support sustainable agriculture.

In the kitchen, employees made pastel en hoja, a traditional dish typically made with plantains, but this time prepared with yuca, honoring cultural roots while embracing local harvests. Out in the fields, others helped prepare the land for future crops. Each activity was a reminder that collective care begins with nourishing communities.

A Culture of Care That Extends Beyond Benefits

For us, this is not just volunteer work. It is an extension of who we are. At Vitable Health, we believe in setting a new standard of care, whether that means making healthcare more accessible or standing alongside organizations working to improve food access.

Our employees often describe these volunteer opportunities as moments of connection with each other, with local communities, and with the deeper mission of Vitable. Together, we are reminded that care is not just something we provide, it is something we live.