Connecting South Minneapolis Neighbors to Fresh Produce and Health Care

Second Harvest Heartland, The Sanneh Foundation and Community-University Health Care Center (CUHCC) are joining forces to bring food and health care to our South Minneapolis neighbors. 

With support from the Abbott Fund, the University of Minnesota community clinic is hosting fresh produce distributions on the first and third Wednesday of each month. Second Harvest Heartland and The Sanneh Foundation are providing fresh fruits and vegetables, while CUHCC is on site to offer healthcare services and access to community health workers. 

The distributions include produce like green peppers, potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage, and cucumbers.

Statewide hunger rates are skyrocketing but the Cedar-Riverside and Ventura Village communities have been especially hard hit. This brand-new partnership was born from listening to the community. CUHCC chose their distribution days and hours to complement the food distribution that was already happening in the area, instantly expanding access for neighbors.

 A big part of the Make Hunger History initiative is reducing hunger today so that we can prevent it tomorrow,” explains Second Harvest Heartland CEO Allison O’Toole. “That means identifying communities in our service area where needs are highest, working with leaders and our neighbors in those communities on solutions that best address the issue, and then enacting plans to get more food where it’s needed most.” 

The rate of food insecurity in Ventura Village is about 24%, four times higher than the rest of Hennepin County, making food distributions like this extremely important.

Households facing food insecurity often also include family members living with chronic illness. By partnering with healthcare providers, the hunger-relief system can help contribute to better overall health outcomes and help ensure nutrition security for all neighbors.

“We are here to show up for our neighbors and get more food into this community,” says Allison. “People living with hunger often experience more illness, so we’re proud to join forces with CUHCC to get two critical needs in one location.”