Lakewood Engage Food Access Initiatives

Description

Food insecurity is an issue that faces 9.5% of Minnesota households statewide, or nearly one out of ten households, as explained by Hunger Solutions Minnesota. In the rural community of Staples, Minnesota, the issues surrounding food insecurity are compounded by the fact that the area is classified as a food desert, as defined by the USDA, with both a significant low-income population and low access to grocery and convenience stores.

In 2014, Lakewood Health System began Lakewood Engage, a program designed to help address the needs of individuals and families who indicated that they faced food insecurity. To identify food insecurity, Lakewood uses the Hunger Vital Sign screening questions. Based on a yearly community needs assessment, Lakewood Engage develops approaches to meet the diverse needs of their food insecure patients. The program supplies nutritionally rich produce, meat, and/or shelf stable options for its participants.

To learn more about the program, watch this brief video:

Lakewood Engage has several community state-wide partners:

• Hilltop Regional Kitchen
• Minnesota Food Helpline
• Lakewood Health System Foundation
• Mardag Foundation
• Todd County Public Health
• The Food Group
• Second Harvest Heartland
• Central Lakes College
• University of Minnesota Extension
• Todd-Wadena Electric Cooperative
• Otto-Bremer Trust
• City of Staples
• Staples Motley School District
• Local farmers
• Trio Community Meals

Services offered

Currently, Lakewood Engage has seven different programs community members may participate in to receive their groceries:

Acute Care Packs

This is for immediate use after a patient indicates that they are facing food insecurity. In addition to referring them to other local resources (some of which may be closed for the day/weekend,) the clinic can also provide immediate relief by sending a box of non-perishable food items home with the patient. These are designed for a family of 2 – 4, although larger families can be given multiple boxes. This program serves an average of 25 patients per month.

Food Farmacy

Lakewood's Food Farmacy, where participants get their "prescriptions" of fresh fruits, vegetables, and meat, distributes an average of 4,000 pounds of food each month. The location currently serves around 140 families or 500 individuals. Each package contains around 15 – 20 pounds of produce and 8 – 10 pounds of meat, based on need and household size. These participants have a monthly pick-up for their prescription.

Fresh Delivered

This program serves roughly 75 seniors in a local housing community for older adults who have a low income, or those who live with disabilities. As transportation may be a struggle for many of the building's residents, the food is instead brought to their location.

Farmers Market

Lakewood Engage began hosting the Staples Area Farmer's Market on Lakewood Health Systems campus in 2014. This created a space to buy fresh, local produce within the community, as well as incentive for growers to expand their programs to meet market demand. Additionally, Lakewood Engage facilitates SNAP purchasing abilities at the market and provides farmer's market vouchers for those who are food insecure and could otherwise not afford to purchase food at the market.

Fresh Frozen Meal Programs

Meals at Discharge

• Patients of any age who have undergone a major surgery that would make shopping for, preparing, and cooking meals a difficult task can sign up for a 14 day intervention where fresh frozen meals created by a dietician are provided upon discharge.

Meals at OB Discharge

• Any patient who is discharging from the OB can receive 3 meals per household member to make their transition home with a new family member easier. Meals are designed by a dietician and are provided upon discharge.

Meals at COVID+

• Patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 may also receive 5 meals per household member, in an effort to reduce the need for them to go to the grocery store, and aid in their recovery by removing the stress of cooking meals.

Results

Annually, Lakewood Engage has:

• Conducted over 40,000 food insecurity screenings
• Provided roughly 25 acute care packs per month
• Served 140 families, or around 500 individuals with their Food Farmacy
• Provided an average of 48,000 pounds of food with the Food Farmacy program
• Delivered goods to roughly 75 seniors with low income and/or disabilities
• Given about 75 school-aged children nutritious take-home meals
• Served post-discharge meals to around 10 adults per month
• Referred an average of 12 patients to their COVID positive meal program per week
• Distributed 14,000 meals to COVID positive patients annually

Challenges

• Building relationships with members of the community who prize being self-sufficient, and getting them to take advantage of the resources offered
• Getting fresh produce to isolated rural residents who face food insecurity, but who may struggle with transportation to the Food Farmacy
• Securing fresh food for the program in the winter months
• Cost – although this might be a barrier at first, the long term health of the community and the decrease in their needs for hospital services will save money overall, and vastly improve quality of life

Replication

• Conduct food insecurity screenings and assess community needs
• Research available grant funding both nationally and locally
• Foster relationships with local growers/producers

Contact Information

Alicia Bauman Lakewood Engage
Lakewood Health Systems Lakewood Engage
218.894.8215
aliciabauman@lakewoodhealthsystem.com