517 - The KIDney FRIENDLY Family Food Program: Implementing a Medically Tailored Grocery Program for Children with Kidney Disease

Publication Number: 2502.517

Jill R. Krissberg, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States; Petula Grant, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States; Hannah J. Wright, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States; Alyssa Klehr, ann, Chicago, IL, United States; LaRuby Sangster, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States; Megan Hinchy, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States; Stephanie Folkens, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States; Megan Barrera Lessinger, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States; Lindsey Arenberg, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States

Background: Food insecurity (FI) occurs in 21% of patients seen in our nephrology clinic. Our previous work found that FI was associated with higher medical needs for children with kidney disease, and that adhering to prescribed diet restrictions in kidney disease is challenging.

Objective: In response to the identified needs of our patients, our group implemented a medically tailored grocery program for children with end-stage kidney. This abstract describes the implementation, evaluates patient satisfaction, and assesses how caregiver stress was impacted by the program.

Design/Methods: The program provides bi-weekly grocery deliveries via Top Box Foods. Children > 2 years of age, who receive dialysis or transplant care at our institution and live in a FI household are eligible. Food included in the deliveries is curated for children with kidney disease by a pediatric nephrologist and kidney dietician. Those receiving boxes after kidney transplant also participated in an education campaign which included newsletters, resources, and recipes for healthy eating post-transplant. Evaluation of the program was obtained via questionnaires completed by patients (> 18) or their families ( < 18). Caregivers of patients who received boxes after kidney transplant also completed 12-item Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale (ZBI-12) at the start and 6 months after participation. The ZBI-12 consists of 12 items individually scored from 0-4, with the summation of each item providing a total score from 0-48.

Results: While the program is ongoing, as of November 1, 2025 we have successfully provided meals to 17 dialysis and 33 transplant patients, with 95% of patients or their families reporting satisfaction with the program and its components. Prior to program enrollment, caregivers reported an average ZBI-12 score of 8.5 out of 48 (indicating no to mild burden). The items with the highest average scores were Q1: Do you feel you don’t have enough time for yourself?, with an average score of 1.63; and Q11: Do you feel you should be doing more for your child?, with an average score of 1.7. Caregivers reported an average ZBI-12 score of 3.32 post-program, a 61% reduction from pre-program scores.

Conclusion(s): Our multi-disciplinary team, in partnership with a community-based organization, has successfully implemented a medically tailored grocery program for children with kidney disease. Participants are satisfied with the program, and engagement in the program is associated with a reduction in caregiver burden. Future work involves expanding our program to serve more patients and include an educational campaign for children on dialysis.