Changes to food shelf invite more diverse community members

Collaboration across three counties helps community members access healthy foods 

Food shelves didn’t always have a reputation for being an inviting place where people felt welcome. But Sibley County FoodShare and Meeker-McLeod-Sibley Community Health Services want everyone that visits the food shelf to have a positive, dignified shopping experience that encompasses their cultural values and provides a variety of healthy foods.

After listening to their customers, Meeker-McLeod-Sibley Community Health Services made several changes to improve the customer shopping experience for all shoppers, but especially the customers whose first language is Spanish.

Spanish-speaking customers face unique barriers to health

In 2020, diabetes rates in Meeker, McLeod, and Sibley counties reached an all-time high after increasing steadily since 2000 (it has since been declining). Compared to 10% of adults statewide, 16% of adults in the tri-county area reported they had been diagnosed with diabetes. Hispanic residents in the three counties reported even higher diabetes rates (26%) and had lower rates of education, employment, income, and insurance coverage.

Meeker-McLeod-Sibley Community Health Services wanted to learn more. They conducted conversations with Hispanic community members and people working with the Hispanic community to better understand why there were health differences.

Participants were very concerned about diabetes, obesity, and unhealthy eating. These health concerns were being impacted by:

• Cultural food traditions
• Long work hours
• Financial stress
• Limited access to affordable healthy food and exercise opportunities
• Language barriers
• A lack of Spanish-speaking healthcare providers

Community members recommended culturally focused prevention efforts such as bilingual nutrition education, diabetes management classes, outreach through schools and churches, family-centered community events, and stronger partnerships to improve healthcare access and health equity in the Hispanic community.

In addition, before starting the food shelf changes, customers were asked to participate in a survey to provide feedback on their experience and opportunities for improvement.

The survey results showed a high prevalence of pre-diabetes and diabetes among respondents (about one-third), and gaps in food access and awareness of resources among Hispanic respondents compared to non-Hispanic respondents. 

Making improvements to support customers 

Through community engagement and partnership with several other community organizations such as University of Minnesota Extension, Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) staff, Sibley County Health Alliance, and Southern Minnesota Imitative Foundation, Meeker-McLeod-Sibley Community Health Services made several positive changes including:

• New clear signage in English and Spanish was added in both the main location and mobile food shelf to help make the shopping process clear.
• Recipes are now available in English and Spanish, especially for foods that families may not know how to use. 
• The resource section, which includes information on diabetes prevention and management, was relocated from the end of the shopping process to the waiting area at the beginning of the check-in area, giving customers time to explore the resources while they wait to start shopping. Additional local resource information was added in English and Spanish. 
• Colorful, healthy cultural food posters were put up to make the area more welcoming and inclusive. 

A more positive experience

As a result of this work, customers have better access to resources, including those for diabetes prevention and management, and a better shopping experience. At the Sibley County Food Shelf, taking into consideration different cultures and translation is now part of the initial conversation, not an afterthought. 

While recruiting food shelf participants continues to be a challenge, the use of Spanish speaking volunteers continues to enhance the experience of existing Spanish speaking customers. 

With the success of this work in the Sibley County Food Shelf, the Community Health Workers have begun to work with the Meeker and McLeod Food Shelves to provide a positive, culturally relevant perspective to better serve diverse populations. 

Minnesota 2035 Plan in Action

Key components of these efforts align with outcomes of Minnesota's Action Plan to Address Cardiovascular Disease, Stroke, and Diabetes 2035:

• Outcome 3: Share Power to effect change
• Outcome 7: Expand shared learning and education to build knowledge, skills, and health  
• Outcome 8: Support the implementation of community-led programs and solutions in community

Contributors to this project recognize that communities have unique insight and provide valuable knowledge. They co-designed educational materials, keeping culture, language, and health literacy in mind. This not only helps increase understanding about reducing chronic disease risks, improving self-management, and responding to warning signs of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes-related problems, but also creates more sustainable systems and structures that provide services and/or programs in ways that are responsive to community needs in familiar, trusted settings.

There is room for every Minnesotan to help implement the MN 2035 Plan, from communities across the state, to health care professionals, to business leaders, and even to those with just an interest in heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. For more information, visit Minnesota's Action Plan to Address Cardiovascular Disease, Stroke, and Diabetes 2035 or email health.MN2035Plan@state.mn.us.