Fresh food, new hope: Weekly food boxes bring our patients more than just groceries
After a recent life event left her struggling to afford necessities, 47-year-old Melissa Silva—who is legally blind—turned to food shelves to get by. But as a nutrition science expert, she longed for fresh, healthy food she could feel good about. Eating well is more than just a preference for Melissa. A healthy, balanced diet is essential for managing her rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease that affects her joints. So, she reached out to her primary care clinic, M Health Fairview Clinic – North Branch, for help.
There, a care coordinator connected Melissa with a Fairview Health Services’ food resource navigator, who helps patients access food resources inside and outside of our health system. The navigator is part of Fair Table, Fairview’s initiative designed to advance food equity and reduce diet-related health disparities. Fair Table offers a variety of food programs to support M Health Fairview patients experiencing food insecurity, including:
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Fresh food prescription program: Culturally relevant produce, proteins, and pantry staples with engagement and food skills materials.
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Food voucher program: Monthly voucher to use at metro area food retail programs.
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Medically tailored, prepared meals: Weekly delivery of fresh, medically tailored, prepared meals for patients with pre-diabetes or diabetes or who are pregnant or postpartum.
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Shelf-stable food bags: Immediate need food bag containing staple items.
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Food resource packets: Resources, immediate food support, and recipes.
Connecting patients with food resources
Melissa now receives weekly food boxes filled with nutritious, locally sourced produce, pantry staples, and proteins, delivered right to her at no cost.
“These food boxes are more than just a necessity—they’re a meaningful treat to me,” said Melissa. “They make me feel good again.”
Melissa looks forward to the deliveries each week. A few of her favorite items include fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, snap peas, and strawberries. She even recently learned to prepare garlic scapes, with help from the food skills materials that accompany each food box.
"There is so much great work being done in our health system and in our communities at large to put a stop to hunger and nutrition insecurity,” said Kate Henschel, RD, who helps Melissa manage her Fair Table enrollment. “It's an honor to partner with patients and community members to navigate these resources and play a small role in alleviating the mental, emotional, and physical burden of wondering where their food is going to come from.”
Healthy eating plays a vital role in maintaining wellness and preventing or managing chronic conditions. For Melissa, access to nutritious food is essential to managing inflammation from an autoimmune disease.
“No one can truly thrive, let alone manage chronic diseases without good, nutritious food,” said Matt Weiseman, PA-C, family medicine, who is Melissa’s primary care provider at M Health Fairview Clinic – North Branch. “Good food not only helps heals the body, but good food feeds the soul. It restores dignity, brings comfort, and reminds people that they are worthy of care. Health doesn't start in the clinic; it starts at home, in the kitchen, and at the table.”
A growing need
Recognizing the growing demand, the food resource team recently expanded, adding another navigator to better support patients across our system.
The growing team mirrors the need for food support. In Minnesota, one in five households experienced food insecurity in 2024. Minnesotans made nearly 9 million visits to food shelves last year, a record high for the fourth consecutive year.
As this need rises, our system remains committed to advancing food security by using the healing power of food to nourish our patients and enrich our communities, inside and outside of clinical walls.
It’s programs like Fair Table that contributed to Fairview recently receiving the 2025 Foster G. McGaw Prize from the American Hospital Assocation that honors health systems for making a profound impact on community health.
For Melissa, the new access to fresh, nourishing food has been lifechanging. Each delivery brings not only ingredients for a meal, but a sense of dignity, joy, and connection.
