“Improve the health of guests” is a key strategic goal of the Food Bank. Because most of our guests receive their food from food pantries (vs. program partners), it makes good sense to invest resources at the pantry level for the biggest impact on health equity and nutrition for guests.

That’s why we are collaborating with the Federation of Virginia Food Banks and the other six food banks in Virginia on the Healthy Pantry Initiative (HPI). Here’s how this is rolling out.

The Food Bank distributed the HPI Assessment to its 207 pantry partners last summer.  

Pantry leaders rated their pantry’s status on 20 Healthy Pantry Practices. These practices are organized into four categories, which reflect what is needed to enhance health equity in Virginia’s food access system: 

• Food Availability: Foods offered through the pantry network meet the unique dietary needs of neighbors facing hunger 
• Neighbor Centered: Barriers are removed so that neighbors can access the foods they need to thrive 
• Health Education: Neighbors are empowered with the tools and self-efficacy to make healthy choices 
• Community Connection: Community partners work together to connect neighbors with resources and supports to help them thrive 

What did we learn from the assessments?  

Many partners are not able to do all they would like to regarding meeting the health needs of guests due (primarily) to limited resources. They are highly motivated, but volunteers, funding, and program implementers are scarce commodities.  

Regardless of limitations our partners are eager to improve! That is where the Food Bank’s Partner Engagement & Programs (PEP) team gets deeply involved. Team members are helping partners as they identify the top one or two practices they want to focus on this year, create goals, and follow through with implementation. 

Two HPI pilots are underway 

The Federation of Virginia Food Banks distributed funding to each food bank in Virginia to pilot HPI practices at pantries. We selected two partners with clear goals and a commitment to implementing the healthy pantry practices. CCAP in Front Royal and Ministerios Palabra Viva in Charlottesville were each awarded $8,500 in pilot funds. 

Most Food Bank Partner Pantries Join Healthy Pantry Initiative 

• 137 partner pantries completed the survey. 
• 89% of those who completed the survey checked, “Yes, my organization is committed to implementing one or more new healthy pantry practices or expanding on existing healthy pantry practices.” 
• 122 (or 59%) of all Food Bank pantry partners have joined the HPI movement. 

CCAP in Front Royal

In keeping with CCAP’s focus on better serving families through the pantry and other support services, they are using HPI pilot funding to build a new partnership with a local Montessori school, which will feature summer nutrition education programs, a pantry-based toddler backpack program, and enhanced relationships with local farms. 

CCAP’s director told us, “Without the HPI funds, we would not have come up with any of this.” After the pilot, the organization is confident that this initiative can be sustained through grant funding, community donations, and targeted food drives.  

Related Healthy Pantry practices that CCAP follows: 

• Offer food choices that address chronic diseases or dietary needs.  
• Enable neighbors to choose which types of food they would like from the pantry.  
• Offer nutrition and health education materials/resources.

Ministerios Profecticos Palabra Viva in Charlottesville

In keeping with Ministerios’ focus on enhancing the health of guests and providing culturally familiar foods, they are using HPI grant funds to begin building long-term partnerships with local growers and purchasing fruits and vegetables from local growers, as many of their guests have health complications. 

Related Healthy Pantry practices that Ministerios follows: 

• Offer fresh fruits and vegetables 
• Offer food choices that address specific chronic disease or dietary needs 
• Offer foods to meet cultural/religious needs of neighbors 

These grateful partners will be sharing the impact of this pilot funding and lessons learned with others in the HPI.

Just like our partners, you can make an impact in your community. Providing food nourishes health. Reach out to Kara Snapp, Manager of Health Initiatives, at ksnapp@brafb.org to get involved with a Healthy Pantry partner in your community.