Getting Local to Address a HUNGER HOTSPOT

Second Harvest Heartland partnered with Abbott, The Sanneh Foundation, and Community-University Health Care Center (CUHCC) to provide food and health care in a south Minneapolis neighborhood

Statewide hunger rates are skyrocketing but certain Minnesota communities have been especially hard hit. To identify the communities experiencing a “food gap”—high food insecurity combined with relatively fewer pounds of food entering the local hunger-relief system—Second Harvest Heartland created a hunger mapping model to uncover hunger hotspots throughout the state. Reviewing these hotspots, seven focus communities were selected where targeted partnership and support could significantly move the needle on hunger.

“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.”

One such focus community, the Ventura Village neighborhood of south Minneapolis, has a hunger rate of about 24%—four times higher than the rest of Hennepin County. To start addressing this food gap, Second Harvest Heartland joined Community-University Health Care Center (CUHCC), a community clinic located in Ventura Village, in hosting free food distributions to provide patients and community members with fresh produce. With assistance from hunger-relief partner The Sanneh Foundation, Second Harvest Heartland provided fruits and vegetables, while CUHCC offered healthcare services and access to community health workers at monthly distributions during the 2024 harvest season.

This combination of nutrition and health outreach came together through the involvement of Second Harvest Heartland’s partners, the global healthcare company Abbott, and its foundation, Abbott Fund. Abbott Fund had supported CUHCC’s outreach for several years and approached Second Harvest Heartland about partnering with the clinic to provide nutritious food to patients. Thanks to leadership, employee volunteers, and financial support from Abbott Fund, the food distribution at CUHCC went on to support hundreds of households.

“Nutritious food is important for good health, but it may not be easily available or affordable for people who need it most,” said Kathryn McKenzie, vice president of Abbott Fund. “We’re grateful to Second Harvest Heartland, CUHCC and The Sanneh Foundation for partnering together to develop this community-driven solution to help people live healthier lives.”

Second Harvest Heartland is proud to have joined forces with Abbott, The Sanneh Foundation, and CUHCC to begin addressing a hunger hotspot and provide two critical needs in one location.