Upland Hills Health’s Community Health Needs Assessment indicated a need to focus on preventive health and wellness. The implementation plan included a goal to launch a Diabetes Wellness Program in partnership with Second Harvest Foodbank, providing monthly educational handouts and recipes in conjunction with the Diabetes Wellness Program. The collaborative effort began in 2019 when Upland Hills Health provided the Dodgeville location and staff healthy food to distribute, provided by Second Harvest Foodbank. These efforts stopped for two years during the pandemic. Fortunately, dedicated staff restarted food distribution in the summer of 2022.

Health care staff in Dodgeville re-established a partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank to support the health of patients with diabetes and/or heart disease that may also be experiencing food insecurity. The HungerCare Wellness Program is a 12-month program that provides monthly food boxes and wellness education. Each month, enrolled participants receive nutrition-tailored food boxes, meal-kit style recipe cards, resources and wellness tips—all at no cost. In the first month, 21 participants took part in the drive-thru style event. Each person enrolled received about 30 pounds of food. This included diabetic-friendly and heart healthy fresh, frozen, and dry goods. So many smiles were shared. The program continues to grow.