Clinic-based food pantries bridge the gap between healthcare and hunger

Yahoo

21-03-2025

Mar. 20—PARKSTON, S.D. — More than 80,000 South Dakotans struggle with food insecurity, including one in nine children and one in 12 adults. Food insecurity doesn't just affect nutrition — it impacts overall health, making it harder for individuals to recover from illness, manage chronic conditions and maintain well-being. Now, a new partnership between Avera Health and Feeding South Dakota is tackling the issue where it intersects most critically with health — inside hospitals and clinics.
Avera and Feeding South Dakota have introduced clinic-based food pantries to provide immediate relief to patients facing food insecurity while also connecting them with long-term support. Through a $5.4 million, five-year federal Healthy Start grant, these wellness pantries aim to bridge the gap between medical care and access to nutritious food. By addressing food insecurity at the point of care, the initiative ensures that vulnerable patients receive not only treatment but also the essential nutrition needed to support their recovery and overall health.
The idea for this initiative had been developing for years among both Feeding South Dakota staff and Avera's top officials. Every three to five years, Avera conducts a community needs assessment survey, and food insecurity has consistently emerged as a top concern among patients. The collaboration made sense to leaders of both organizations.
"It's a true testament of what can happen when organizations bring together their expertise," said Megan Kjose, chief development officer of Feeding South Dakota.
The program first launched at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, where patients at the main campus are screened for food insecurity. If a patient is identified as needing assistance, they receive an emergency supply of shelf-stable items, dairy products, and fresh produce. In addition to providing immediate relief, care teams also refer patients to local food pantries for ongoing support, helping to create a more sustainable solution to food insecurity.
With its initial success, Avera expanded the program beyond Sioux Falls to Avera St. Benedict Hospital in Parkston, ensuring that rural communities also have access to essential food resources.
At Avera St. Benedict, clinic and hospital patients have been screened for social determinants of health for well over a year. In November, food insecurity was officially added to the screening process.
"We're asking diabetic patients to eat healthily to meet their goals, but if we're not assessing their access to food, we're not doing our job," said Lindsay Weber, president and CEO of Avera St. Benedict Health Center.
At the Parkston clinic, every patient is now asked about food insecurity.
If they indicate concerns about securing their next meal, staff assess household size and discreetly provide an emergency supply of food from the wellness pantry. The food, dispersed confidentially by nursing staff, includes proteins, fruits, vegetables and carbohydrates. Each bag also comes with a produce prescription — vouchers to the Parkston Food Center for fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables — ensuring that patients have access to both shelf-stable and fresh food options.
"This allows patients to not only have access to shelf-stable items but also gives them access to healthy food sources at the local grocery store," Weber explained.
Since its implementation, the pantry at Avera St. Benedict has distributed over 60 bags of food. Each distribution is documented electronically in the patient's medical record, allowing the clinic to track needs, monitor trends and better understand food insecurity in the community. While not open to the general public, the pantry functions as a critical emergency resource for patients identified through screenings.
In 2024, 72,000 South Dakotans were identified as food insecure, and it's projected that 106,000 will be affected in 2025. This highlights the urgency of addressing food insecurity now, before it reaches even greater levels, Kjose said.
Kjose noted that 65% of food-insecure residents do not qualify for federal food assistance programs, leaving a significant gap in available resources. By embedding food support within a medical setting, Avera and Feeding South Dakota are working to close that gap.
Avera Vice President of Communications Lindsey Meyer describes food insecurity as a silent problem — one that patients may feel more comfortable admitting to their healthcare providers. Because of this trust, wellness pantries serve as an effective model for ensuring patients have access to the food they need.
As patients open up to their healthcare providers about their struggles with food insecurity, Avera staff see firsthand the impact of these conversations.
"Patients trusting us and opening up to us is great. Being able to have that conversation with them is rewarding," Weber said.
Feeding South Dakota has been tackling hunger in South Dakota communities for 50 years this year, marking a major milestone in its mission to combat food insecurity. Over the decades, the organization has developed a variety of programs to reach those in need, and this partnership with Avera represents a new step in addressing hunger directly within healthcare settings.
Avera has previously partnered with Feeding South Dakota to support its mobile food pantry, which serves 55 counties. Avera has helped fund and expand the pantry's reach, adding seven distribution locations within its service area to better assist communities facing hunger.
As the program continues to develop, Avera hopes to expand clinic-based food pantries to additional regional sites, integrating food security further into patient care. While specific locations for future expansions have yet to be determined, the goal is to refine and replicate the model in other healthcare settings, demonstrating how health systems can play a direct role in addressing hunger.
"We're committed to being pioneers in these models," Weber said. "Avera Parkston has always been willing to trial initiatives that will positively impact our communities. We're excited and grateful to have the opportunity to better serve our patients."