Natalie Cooper

As 2025 draws to a close, one truth remains impossible to ignore: many Tennessee families are still struggling to meet their most basic needs. Food insecurity continues to rise, with a recent statewide survey showing that more than 40 percent of families with children report low or very low food security. Behind those numbers are parents making agonizing choices between groceries, rent, electricity, transportation, and school supplies, choices no family should have to make.

In East Tennessee, economic pressures have only intensified. Social drivers of health, including food security, economic stability, educational opportunity, and access to care, continue to shape health outcomes long before someone ever sees a doctor. If we want stronger, healthier communities, addressing these factors must be a shared responsibility.

This year, Wellpoint Tennessee focused on meeting those needs early and directly. In Knoxville, our Community Baby Shower events supported maternal and infant health by providing essential items, car-seat safety education, and connections to local providers. Across rural East Tennessee, limited maternal health access remains a real concern. When families receive support before and after birth, outcomes improve and preventable crises decline.

We also invested in strengthening economic stability through our Laundry Day events in Knoxville, Morristown, and Chattanooga with simple but meaningful efforts that ease the burden of household responsibilities. For families living paycheck to paycheck, necessities like laundry can become significant stressors. These events reduce costs while connecting residents to local resources.

To help create stronger educational foundations, we partnered with schools and community organizations for Back-to-School events across Chattanooga and Knoxville. More than 600 students received backpacks, notebooks, and other essential materials to start their academic year prepared. When children arrive at school ready and supported, they are more likely to stay engaged and on track, which pays dividends in long-term health and well-being.

As the year came to a close, we also joined partners to address rising holiday-season food insecurity through the Knoxville and Bradley County Turkey Giveaways, helping nearly 400 families bring home Thanksgiving meals during a time when grocery prices continue to strain budgets. For many, a holiday meal is more than food, it is a moment of relief and connection during a season that can otherwise highlight hardship.

These efforts are not charity. They are targeted interventions rooted in what we know drives health. Access to nutritious food, educational stability, economic support, and early connections to care are among the strongest predictors of long-term well-being. If East Tennessee is going to build healthier communities, our organizations, leaders, and residents must continue working together throughout the year, not only during moments of crisis.

As we look toward 2026, our path forward is clear: we must stay focused on the social drivers that create the foundation for good health. No single organization can solve these challenges alone, but together, we can reshape the conditions that determine whether families struggle or thrive.

At Wellpoint Tennessee, our commitment remains steady. We will continue showing up across East Tennessee, from Knoxville to Chattanooga and every community in between, to help build a stronger, healthier future for every family in our region.

Natalie Cooper is the president of Wellpoint Tennessee. She has more than 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry and leads the organization in serving more than 400,000 members across the state.