Avera Pierre Clinic has opened a food pantry to provide food to patients in need. Patients with clinic appointments will be screened for food insecurity, and those who screen positive will receive a bag of food during their visit. The Wellness Pantry will offer a three- to five-day emergency food supply, along with information on food options and local resources, to help those struggling to afford groceries.

Avera St. Mary's Hospital's recent community health needs assessment confirmed what many already know: food insecurity is among top concerns in the Pierre area. In South Dakota alone, nearly 115,000 people, 12.4% of the population, are food insecure, the highest rate in more than a decade.

"As a physician, I see how access to nutritious food affects health. When people don't have enough to eat and the right kind of nutrition, it impacts physical and emotional wellbeing," said Amy Lueking, MD, OB/GYN and Chief Medical Officer at Avera St. Mary's Hospital. "Managing conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure becomes more challenging, recovery from illness may take longer and long-term health can be affected."

Nationally in 2023, about 13.5% of U.S. households experienced food insecurity at some point during the year. Many of these families live in "food deserts," where access to healthy food is limited, and children are especially affected. Rural communities are particularly hard hit: among U.S. counties with the highest levels of childhood food insecurity, 84% are rural.

"If children are hungry, they have a harder time growing and concentrating in school, and that can shape their future in lasting ways. Pregnant women also face higher risks for adverse outcomes, including preterm birth and restricted fetal growth," said Dr. Lueking. "Food insecurity isn't just a health issue; it's also a moral and ministry issue."

Clinic-based food pantries bridge health care and basic needs to get patients to long-term, sustainable food solutions.

"By locating a food pantry on campus, we can directly support patients and reduce barriers, including transportation, stigma or scheduling conflicts, that often keep people from accessing help elsewhere," said Sr. Deb Nelson, PBVM, Vice President of Mission at Avera St. Mary's Hospital.

The pantry is funded through donations and a federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant, and is a partnership between Avera Operations, Avera Research Institute, Avera Community Partnerships and Feeding South Dakota.

Similar Wellness Pantries are already operating within four Avera clinics in Sioux Falls and Avera St. Benedict Health Center in Parkston, where care teams have distributed more than 1,200 bags of food to patients in need.

"Healthy communities start with access to good food. This effort is an impactful way to live out Avera's mission," said Nelson. "It reflects our calling to follow Jesus' example to care for those in need - especially the most vulnerable among us."