Being food secure means having consistent access to enough food to sustain a healthy life. Food security is also linked to a reduced risk for multiple chronic health conditions such as obesity, heart disease and others. According to Aurora Medical Center – Manitowoc County’s most recent Community Health Needs Assessment completed in 2020, 13.3 percent of Manitowoc County residents experienced food insecurity, an increase from 8.4 percent in 2018.

The City of Manitowoc Downtown Farmers Market provides access locally grown or sourced produce and products. The Aurora Medical Center – Manitowoc County provided funding that made it possible for market guests to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables utilizing EBT services. This increased access to fresh foods for the those in our community who are food insecure and have FoodShare benefits. 324 EBT transactions took place at the Farmers Market during the 2022 season.

Additional ways the hospital expands access to healthy food within the community include:
 

• Educating families about the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The program provides supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are at nutritional risk.
• Donating food to local food pantries. The food pantries then distribute the food directly to families in need. The hospital donated over $33k in food throughout 2022.