For many families, getting enough healthy food isn’t simply a matter of knowing where to find it. Transportation, mobility, work schedules and other barriers can make accessing food and community resources difficult.
A new initiative from Hudson Valley Care Coalition (HVCC) Social Care Network partner Access: Supports for Living is bringing those resources closer to home.
Access: Mobile Grocery will travel to communities throughout Dutchess, Ulster and Sullivan counties, providing free fresh, refrigerated and shelf-stable foods while also helping connect residents with health and community resources they may need.
The initiative is part of the Hudson Valley Social Care Network, led by HVCC, and is an example of how healthcare and community-based organizations can work together to address needs that have a direct impact on health.
See Access: Mobile Grocery in action as it brings fresh food and connections to community resources directly to Hudson Valley communities.
Meeting People Where They Are
The idea behind the Mobile Grocery is straightforward: instead of expecting people to find and travel to available resources, bring those resources directly into their communities.
At Mobile Grocery stops, residents will be able to access food at no cost. But the program is designed to create another important opportunity as well: connecting people who may need additional assistance with available health and social care resources.
And the mobile grocery model is expanding. In the coming weeks, HVCC partner HONOR will launch a mobile grocery initiative serving Orange County, further extending access to food and support across the Hudson Valley Social Care Network.
As Access President Ron Colavitro explained when announcing the initiative, providing food can be the starting point for a broader conversation about what else an individual or family may need.
That approach closely reflects the purpose of New York’s Social Care Networks. SCNs were created to identify unmet health-related social needs and connect Medicaid members with appropriate resources and services. Food and nutrition, housing, transportation and social care navigation are among the areas addressed through the program.
Turning the Social Care Network Into Community-Level Support
HVCC serves as the Lead Entity for the Hudson Valley Social Care Network, bringing together healthcare providers, community-based organizations and other partners across the region.
The network is built around a simple but important principle: health is affected by much more than what happens inside a doctor’s office.
Someone who doesn’t have reliable access to nutritious food, stable housing or transportation may face challenges staying healthy and accessing healthcare. Through the Social Care Network, participating organizations can help identify those needs, connect people with appropriate services and follow up to help ensure those connections are completed. New York State describes SCN Lead Entities as responsible for building regional partnerships that screen Medicaid members, navigate them to services and “close the loop” on referrals.
The Mobile Grocery puts that model into action at the neighborhood level—combining an immediate resource with a pathway to additional support.
Making Healthy Food Easier to Access
Food and nutrition are an important component of the Social Care Network. Depending on eligibility and individual need, Medicaid members may be connected with services ranging from nutrition education and food prescriptions to medically tailored meals, pantry stocking and fresh groceries.
By bringing groceries directly into communities, Access is creating another point of connection between residents and the broader network of organizations working to address health-related social needs throughout the Hudson Valley.
The launch is already gaining regional attention. Mid-Hudson News recently covered the Mobile Grocery, highlighting its planned service across Dutchess, Sullivan and Ulster counties and its role as part of the Hudson Valley Social Care Network.
Read the Mid-Hudson News coverage.
Learn More and Find an Upcoming Mobile Grocery Stop
Access will announce Mobile Grocery dates and locations on a rotating basis. Residents can check Access for upcoming locations and additional information.
View Access: Mobile Grocery information and upcoming locations
Need help with food, housing, transportation or other social needs? Medicaid members can connect with the Hudson Valley Social Care Network to learn about resources and services that may be available based on their needs and eligibility. New York State materials note that Medicaid members can receive assistance connecting with food, transportation and housing resources through Social Care Networks.
