Prince George’s County residents are grappling with the high cost of groceries and the distance they oftentimes have to travel to secure affordable quality food. With record numbers of Marylanders facing some level of food insecurity, many healthcare organizations, like John Hopkins Health Plans, Maryland Community Health System and Priority Partners, have adopted innovative strategies that provide access to free food while focusing on building overall health and wellness.
“One of the biggest social determinants of health is food insecurity,” said Ryan O’Donnell, COO of John Hopkins Health Plans.
On Dec. 3, also known as Giving Tuesday, John Hopkins Health Plans, in partnership with Maryland Community Health System and Priority Partners, unveiled two Maryland community food cupboards in Laurel and Bladensburg.
The cupboards, which provide 24/7 convenient access to food and grocery staples, were unveiled to the community with a warm invitation to, as the organizations encourage, “take what you need, leave what you can.”
“As a collaborative, we wanted the food cupboards to be located in communities where they would be, permanent, weather durable, well constructed, and able to be accessed with no eligibility requirements,” explained Salliann Alborn, CEO of Maryland Community Health System.
Providing greater access to free food without lengthy paperwork or qualifiers is central to the healthcare providers’ overall goal of promoting higher levels of health and wellness in Maryland.
“We are charged by the Department of Health, as a Maryland managed care organization, to provide equitable health services to Marylanders. We work diligently to give people access to healthcare, but more importantly to offer preventative services. Our focus is on keeping people healthy,” Alborn continued.
Maryland state Sen. Malcolm Augustine emphasized the importance of such efforts for the community.
“Programs such as these are an investment and commitment to people in need leading healthier lives,” Augustine said.
With seven food cupboards operating throughout Maryland, and plans for two more, Priority Partners hopes that building accessible food cupboards helps other communities and organizations also seek creative solutions to address food insecurity.
Mayor of Laurel, Keith Sydnor, expressed pride in the community effort to treat underserved communities in Maryland.
“Anytime you have higher access to food, the cross product always has a direct effect on quality of life.”
For more information, or to access food cupboard locations, go to Priority Partners.
