Expanding Healthcare Access Through AHWM's Community Food Security Program

Health care access

East LA San Gabriel Valley

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

As longstanding member of the Boyle Heights community, Adventist Health White Memorial (AHWM) is the only acute care, private nonprofit safety-net hospital, serving more than 1.1 million residents throughout East Los Angeles. This service area represents a federally recognized Medically Underserved Area, where about half of all residents are living at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, and approximately 52% of residents are either covered by Medi-Cal or medically uninsured. Those we serve in East Los Angeles face a number of health disparities that are further exacerbated by ongoing socioeconomic challenges such as transportation challenges and limited access to fresh food. Through the Community Resource Center, AHWM intends to serve as a healthcare access hub throughout East LA and the surrounding areas. Our goal is to promote community wellbeing and healthier behaviors by expanding our culturally-competent food security services.

AHWM promotes health and wellness via the Community Resource Center (CRC). The CRC is open to all individuals and offers a range of no-cost social services, including bilingual health and exercise classes, insurance enrollment services, and a robust senior wellness program. A cornerstone of the CRC’s impact is the Prema Pantry, a food and essential needs initiative. Originally launched to support food-insecure patients, the program now serves the broader East Los Angeles community. In addition to non-perishable food items, the pantry provides diapers, blankets, and hygiene kits. Its central location allows easy access for individuals attending medical appointments or wellness classes. Recipients include Medi-Cal beneficiaries, seniors, expectant mothers, and unhoused individuals, reflecting the community’s diverse needs. Funding will support the expansion of our food security program, allowing us to meet growing demand for services by achieving the following goals:
Collaborate with local partners to establish additional distribution centers to deliver free produce boxes, care kits, and other resources to community members
Offer nutritionist-led cooking demonstrations and grocery store tours to provide hands-on education and healthy food preparation techniques
Host community health fairs with culturally-competent resources for dental, vision and preventative care services
Expand educational workshops hosted at the Community Garden, focused on sustainable gardening practices

Through the Community Resource Center, AHWM provides Los Angeles residents with a place to connect, improve their health, and access much-needed services. By increasing participation in our health and wellness classes, we will improve healthcare outcomes for engaged individuals at all points of care. AHWM recently expanded its footprint with the acquisition of a secondary campus in Montebello, broadening the regional impact of the program. Financial support from LA 2050 will allow us to deepen partnerships with local stakeholders, supporting our most vulnerable community members. We collaborate with local partners to source produce for distribution, and recently partnered with Operation Stay Safe to deliver resources to residents of their tiny home village in the San Gabriel Valley. We are continuously developing best practices and engagement strategies that can be modeled across the entire Adventist Health network, ensuring these improvements are sustained even after the grant period.