Flourish: Reimagining Food Assistance with Dignity, Agility, and Trust

Introduction

In the United States, hunger is not a matter of food supply—it is a matter of access, policy, and infrastructure. In 2023, 13.5% of U.S. households were food insecure—the highest rate in nearly a decade ^[source]. At the same time, inflation, rising rent, and the rollback of pandemic-era benefits have put additional pressure on families and communities.

The federal safety net—anchored by programs like SNAP and Medicaid—is under increasing strain. Recent shifts in the political climate have led to renewed attempts to cut funding, increase eligibility restrictions, and push administrative burdens back onto low-income households ^[source]. As a result, community-based organizations (CBOs) are facing greater demands than ever to fill the gaps.

Flourish was built for this moment. Our mission is simple but urgent: To equip communities with modern tools to deliver food assistance that is efficient, dignified, and responsive—so that no family goes hungry while waiting for policy to catch up.

We believe that access to food is a human right. That technology should serve people, not bureaucracies. That local leaders know their communities best. And that the future of the safety net will be decentralized, digital, and deeply rooted in trust.

The Policy Risks Undermining the Safety Net

The social safety net in America is facing unprecedented challenges from policy shifts and budget pressures. These changes threaten to undermine decades of progress in reducing hunger and expanding healthcare access for vulnerable populations.

SNAP Under Pressure

SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) is the nation's largest and most effective anti-hunger program, helping over 42 million Americans each year ^[source]. But recent years have brought a wave of proposals to shrink SNAP's reach.

In 2023, Congress allowed pandemic-era SNAP emergency allotments to expire. This led to average monthly benefit reductions of $95 per household—or more in some cases—just as grocery prices continued to rise ^[source]. Harvard researchers found an 8.4% increase in food insufficiency following the cuts, with the largest spikes among Black and Hispanic households.

Simultaneously, federal budget proposals have called for $230 billion in SNAP cuts over the next 10 years ^[source], including efforts to:

• Reinstate and expand strict work requirements
• Eliminate broad-based categorical eligibility
• Roll back the 2021 Thrifty Food Plan benefit update

Each of these changes would reduce or eliminate benefits for millions of individuals who are already food insecure. And yet, for every 1 meal provided by food banks, SNAP provides 9 ^[source]. There is no charitable alternative large enough to compensate for SNAP retrenchment.

Medicaid Unwinding and Work Requirements

The unwinding of continuous Medicaid coverage in 2023 has resulted in over 25 million Americans—many of them children—losing healthcare coverage ^[source]. In many cases, coverage was lost not because individuals were no longer eligible, but because of procedural errors, outdated addresses, or confusing paperwork.

Several states have introduced or reintroduced Medicaid work requirements, which historically result in coverage loss without improving employment. When Arkansas implemented such a requirement in 2018, over 18,000 people lost Medicaid before the policy was struck down in court ^[source].

Meanwhile, proposals in Congress would cap Medicaid spending through block grants or per-capita caps, reducing federal support by up to $880 billion over 10 years ^[source]. These cuts would force states to make tough choices—shrinking eligibility, reducing provider payments, or eliminating services.

Without Medicaid coverage, families often defer care, leading to higher rates of illness, medical debt, and tradeoffs between food and medicine ^[source].

The Growing Importance of Mutual Aid and Community-Based Response

When federal systems fall short, communities step up. Mutual aid networks and CBOs were among the first responders during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, the group delivered groceries to over 28,000 neighbors, funded entirely by grassroots donations ^[source].

Mutual aid works because it is:

• Trust-based: Local, peer-to-peer help often reaches those excluded from formal systems
• Responsive: Aid is delivered quickly, with fewer barriers or documentation requirements
• Inclusive: Immigrants, gig workers, and undocumented families—often ineligible for federal aid—can receive support

But mutual aid also has limits. Volunteer burnout, reliance on spreadsheets, and lack of infrastructure make it hard to sustain or scale. CBOs need durable, tech-enabled tools to amplify their reach and maintain dignity for the people they serve.

Meanwhile, food banks report surging demand—again. In 2023, 65% of U.S. food banks saw increased need following SNAP cuts ^[source]. Yet the same year, federal support for food bank supply chains was cut by more than $1 billion, affecting the availability of essential staples like eggs, milk, and fresh produce ^[source].

Flourish: A Modern Platform for Community-Based Food Assistance

Flourish is a digital infrastructure platform that enables CBOs to deliver food assistance faster, smarter, and with dignity. At the heart of the platform are restricted digital cards—mobile-first benefits that can be used only for eligible grocery items at Walmart and Sam's Club.

Flourish partners with Walmart and Sam's Club

Key Features

Real-Time Delivery: Funds can be sent instantly via SMS, email, or app. Recipients receive benefits within minutes, not days or weeks.

Customizable Restrictions: Cards can be tailored to specific food categories (e.g., fresh produce only, culturally relevant foods, no soda).

Dignified Experience: Recipients use their phones to shop at Walmart and Sam's Club—just like any customer. No vouchers. No lines. No stigma.

Actionable Data: Administrators can view real-time analytics on redemptions, track impact by ZIP code or population, and generate outcome reports for funders.

Rapid Scale: Flourish programs can expand quickly to meet demand spikes caused by policy shifts, natural disasters, or economic downturns.

Designed for CBOs

Most CBOs operate with lean budgets and limited staff. Flourish eliminates the logistical burden of packing boxes, coordinating delivery, or managing inventory. Every dollar flows directly to food purchases—backed by clear data on impact.

Whether it's a faith-based nonprofit offering fresh produce stipends, a community foundation supplementing SNAP shortfalls, or a local government piloting emergency grocery support, Flourish is designed to fit into existing operations and expand capacity.

Conclusion: Resilient Communities Need Flexible Tools

We are in a time of transition. Federal safety nets are being restructured. Mutual aid is rising. Food banks are overwhelmed. And the needs of vulnerable families are becoming more complex.

Flourish provides a path forward.

By combining trust-based local action with technology that scales, Flourish empowers communities to meet hunger with speed, dignity, and accountability. Our platform helps CBOs stretch limited funds further, adapt to policy uncertainty, and restore choice to those who need it most.

We believe food assistance should feel like support—not surveillance. And we believe the future of hunger relief lies in collaboration between community wisdom and modern infrastructure.

We invite you to partner with us. Let's build a more resilient, dignified, and agile safety net—together.