Minnesotans who rely on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to feed their families are facing uncertainty when it comes to receiving their benefits. Hospitals and health systems across the state are stepping up in emergency response, connecting families with resources for accessing healthy food, and distributing food through their existing programs addressing food insecurity.
Pictured above: Temporary emergency response: Food box packing for TSA employees
Fairview employees are teaming up with The Sanneh Foundation and Second Harvest Heartland to pack food boxes for TSA employees and their families affected by the government shutdown.
Fair Table
To address food insecurity and improve local access to healthy, culturally appropriate food, Fairview launched Fair Table last year, an initiative designed to advance food equity and reduce diet-related health disparities. Fair Table builds upon Fairview’s long-established efforts to address the social determinants of health by providing food and resources to patients and community members experiencing food insecurity through appointment visits, community events, partnerships, and more – at no cost to the patient.
Food resource navigators
Fairview’s growing team of food resource navigators serve as an extension of clinical care, helping patients experiencing food insecurity access food resources inside and outside of our health system. In the past year alone, Fairview’s food resource navigators supported 840 patients, leading to measurable gains in health.
Harvest at the Hub
Now in its fourth year, Fairview’s Harvest at the Hub is a community Thanksgiving event providing free holiday staples and fresh produce so families can enjoy a nutritious meal and celebrate the season. Each year, the event typically provides about 400 meals to community members.
Community gardens
M Health Fairview Lakes Medical Center recently expanded its community garden, providing opportunities for the community to harvest fruits, vegetables, and plants. We also broke ground this summer on a new community garden at M Health Fairview Clinic – Rice Street.
Emergency Food Bag program
CentraCare’s Emergency Food Bag program, active in 23 clinics, has distributed over 950 bags—nearly 16,700 pounds of food—to families facing food insecurity since expanding in 2023. Sourced from local food shelves and handed out on the spot to patients, these bags are a lifeline as demand surges across Minnesota.
Free platform: Resourceful
Essentia Health is encouraging individuals to use the online tool Resourceful, a free public platform that connects people to free or reduced-cost community-based programs, including food and nutrition services, in North Dakota, Minnesota or Wisconsin. Launched in 2021, Resourceful is available for anyone – community organizations, helpers and navigators, families and individuals – who wants to get connected to food, shelter, health care, transportation, financial assistance and more.
Pictured above: Essentia Health press conference