Health Calls Season 6, Episode 6 focuses on addressing food insecurity in rural communities. Host Brian Reardon and Executive Producer Josh Matejka welcome Lindsey Meyers, MBA, Vice President of Communications, PR, and Community Engagement at Avera Health. 

Lindsey shares how Avera’s community health needs assessments revealed rising food insecurity across its largely rural footprint, prompting the creation of wellness pantries within clinics. These pantries provide emergency food supplies and connect patients to sustainable resources, complementing mobile food pantries and partnerships with Feeding South Dakota. Lindsey explains why food access is essential to whole-person care and how collaboration among clinicians, volunteers, and community partners drives success. The conversation highlights the program’s rapid growth, its impact on patients, and underscores Catholic health care’s commitment to meeting social determinants of health and evolving to serve community needs.

Health Calls is available on the following podcast streaming platforms:

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Learn more about The Catholic Health Association of the United States at www.chausa.org.