A One Health approach uniting a community clinic and campus food-shelf to reduce food insecurity

A One Health approach to address food insecurity among two distinct campus populations, college students and patients at a campus-based community health clinic serving Latine adults, advances the 2021 theme of Healthy Planet, Healthy People through food and health justice efforts. Our interdisciplinary One Health model is an integrated system that promotes a vibrant ecosystem considering the health of people, plants, and animals. The collaboration includes St. Catherine University (St. Kate’s) staff, faculty, and students, and the university founders, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet (CSJ). Organic community gardens located on and near campus property, pollinated by campus-based beehives, contribute local organic produce to the St. Kate’s/CSJ food shelf, serving college students and patients attending the campus-based health clinic, increasing food security and nutritional health for both populations. Nearly 500 pounds of produce were harvested in 2020, approximately 50 percent of which was donated to the food shelf. Pounds of food distributed increased by 50% during the pandemic, even during campus closure. In 2020, an average of 130 individuals were served per month: 73% from St. Kate’s, 27% from the clinic. The use of a college campus is ideal given the green space available, availability of student volunteers and interns, and health faculty expertise, which helps meet the needs of food insecurity. Another unique feature is the integration of a community health clinic on campus, which promotes food and health justice. This One Health approach describes the intersectionality of a food shelf, school- and community-based gardens, a pollinator project, and human health among college students and the patients attending the campus-based community health clinicin addressing food justice. The One Health system modeled is a step towards community vibrancy to demonstrate how others can be a part of the larger One Health movement