A mobile market helps address food insecurity in Michigan
Readily available access to affordable, nutritious food is essential for keeping communities healthy.
In Ottawa County, Michigan, the ability to access healthy food is a challenge for over 14% of residents.1 And while the increasing cost of food is a contributing factor, it’s not the only one.
Other factors include:
- The prevalence of food deserts, or areas where access to affordable, healthy food is limited
- A lack of understanding about healthy food choices vs. convenient, prepackaged options
- A lack of reliable transportation1
Community Action House, a nonprofit organization located in Holland, Michigan, works to provide local families and individuals with essential resources they need, including food, clothing and shelter. Their work is focused on building a community where everyone has what they need to thrive and is able live a stable, prosperous life.
In support of their commitment to empowering families, the UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Michigan provided a $300,000 grant to help launch the Food Club Mobile Market.
The Food Club Mobile Market is a membership-based grocery store that brings healthy food options to Allegan and Ottawa County neighborhoods on a regular basis. Members qualify based on their income and are allotted a specific number of points depending on the number of people in their household. The points are redeemable for fresh produce, dairy products, meats and bakery items from the Food Club Mobile Market, many of which are locally sourced from nearby farms and vendors.
“The Mobile Market empowers people to shop with dignity and to get high-quality, healthy food,” said Melanie Osment, director of Network and Community Programs for the UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Michigan.
The market is an extension of Community Action House’s Food Club and Opportunity Hub, where members are able participate in cooking classes and receive healthy recipes that utilize many of the products the Mobile Market offers.
In the U.S., 47 million people face food insecurity.2 These individuals may also have an increased risk of negative health outcomes, including chronic conditions like diabetes or heart disease.3 Reliable access to nutritious food through initiatives like the Food Club Mobile Market can help address barriers to access that impact overall health and well-being.
“We are honored to support the launch of the Food Club Mobile Market to help increase access to critical resources in the community,” said Dennis Mouras, CEO of UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Michigan. “By ensuring individuals and families have access to nutritious food, we’re enabling them to live healthier lives.”
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