Philip Health Services Launches Wellness Pantry to Combat Food Insecurity

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In 2025, the federal Healthy Start program partnered with Feeding South Dakota and Avera to create emergency food supplies for obstetric and pediatric patients experiencing food insecurity. Recently, Philip Health Services, the Health Equity Team, Feeding South Dakota, and the Philip Area Health Foundation collaborated to launch a similar Wellness Pantry program at Hans P. Peterson Memorial Hospital, providing tote bags of nutritious food to patients in need at the time of discharge.

Why it matters

The Wellness Pantry program aims to address social determinants of health, such as economic stability and access to quality healthcare, which can directly impact a patient's ability to heal. With 106,000 South Dakota residents experiencing food shortages and 65% not qualifying for federal assistance, the program serves as a short-term resource to supplement local food pantries.

The details

The Wellness Pantry program is available exclusively to patients receiving treatment at the Hans P. Peterson Memorial Hospital. Staff members can determine a patient's need and provide a tote bag of nutritious food, including proteins, vegetables, fruits, grains, ready-to-eat meals, milk, and snacks. The Philip Area Health Foundation also supplied a small hand-held can opener for each bag.

• In 2025, the federal Healthy Start program partnered with Feeding South Dakota and Avera to create the emergency food supply program.
• Recently, the Wellness Pantry program was launched at Hans P. Peterson Memorial Hospital in Philip, South Dakota.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The Wellness Pantry program is expected to continue providing emergency food supplies to patients at Hans P. Peterson Memorial Hospital, with the goal of addressing food insecurity and supporting patients' overall health and recovery.