Local View: Ensure health through nourishment: Tackle Northland food insecurity

In Northeastern Minnesota and Northwestern Wisconsin, food insecurity is a quiet but persistent challenge affecting the well-being of individuals and families. At Second Harvest Northland, we see the profound impact hunger has on our neighbors every day. We also know that addressing food insecurity takes collaboration and innovation.

That’s why our partnership between Second Harvest Northland and Essentia Health is so vital in ensuring that neighbors in need have access to both the nutrition and support they desire.

Second Harvest Northland’s mission is rooted in providing resources to end hunger and build healthier and more vibrant communities. We serve as a lifeline for hundreds of agency and community partners (food shelves, on-site meal programs, and tribal organizations) and thousands of families, children, and seniors throughout the Northland by providing equitable and dignified access to food. Our 15-county service region encompasses mostly rural and several urban areas, where we work tirelessly to ensure no one goes hungry.

But the work doesn’t stop at food distribution. Hunger is a complex issue often linked to broader social and economic challenges. By collaborating, we at Second Harvest Northland and Essentia Health can address hunger not just as a crisis but as a root cause of poor health and inequality.

The partnership is a cornerstone at Essentia Health of our commitment to addressing the social determinants of health. Through our “Resourceful” platform, Essentia is able to connect patients with vital resources like Second Harvest’s partners and programs, ensuring that people experiencing food insecurity receive the support they desire.

Launched in 2022, Resourceful is an innovative tool embedded in Essentia’s care system. As a part of all primary-care visits, patients are screened for social needs, and if needs are identified, they are connected to community-based programs and services via the Resourceful closed-loop referral platform. This streamlined approach has already led to more than 21,000 referrals, ensuring that patients don’t just hear about resources, they get directly connected to them.

When patients share with us at Essentia Health their inability to afford groceries or other essentials, we know those issues impact their health outcomes. Second Harvest has been a trusted partner in helping close those gaps, providing life-changing support to individuals and families across the Northland. That is why it has been an easy decision to both partner and contribute the hospital’s nonprofit community contributions directly to Second Harvest to help fulfill its mission. Over the years, Essentia has committed nearly $700,000 to Second Harvest, reinforcing its commitment to investing in our community and our region.

The need for partnerships like ours is particularly urgent in rural areas, where access to resources is often limited. From Ely to Duluth and from Superior to Spooner, we’ve seen how the combination of Essentia’s tools like Resourceful and on-the-ground programs at Second Harvest can make a real difference. Whether it’s providing a family with fresh produce or ensuring a homebound senior receives a hot meal, these connections are vital for building healthier, more-resilient communities.

The collaboration between Second Harvest Northland and Essentia Health demonstrates how food banks and health care systems can come together to address not just hunger but the broader social determinants of health. By working hand in hand, we have provided food resources to 460 Essentia Health patients and continue to create holistic solutions that empower individuals and families to thrive.

As we look to the future, our vision remains the same: a region where no one has to choose between food and health. Through partnerships like ours, we’re making that vision a reality one meal and one patient at a time.

Shaye Moris is president and CEO of Second Harvest Northland in Duluth, and Dr. Cathy Cantor is chief population health officer for Essentia Health in Duluth. They wrote this for the News Tribune.