Carolina Ganan Mejia
Jasmine Contreras Santini
Naishaliz Lorenzo Gonzalez
Alondra Soto-González
Gabriel Camareno Soto

Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamón, Puerto Rico

Introduction

At Clínicas Padre Venard, addressing food insecurity and providing primary care to improve health outcomes is the essence of our mission. Transitioning clinic days from Wednesdays to Saturdays increased patient attendance but also heightened food demand. Securing meal donations remains a challenge, emphasizing the need for sustainable food provisions. This work examines the clinic’s evolving outreach strategies to strengthen community partnerships and enhance food security for vulnerable populations in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Methods

Patients were surveyed using the U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module: Six-Item Short Form. Food security was classified as high/marginal (0-1), low (2-4), and very low (5-6). The clinic expanded its outreach by strengthening partnerships with local businesses, food distributors, and organizations, submitting 31 meal requests. Fundraising efforts were enhanced through social media campaigns to support meal preparation. Additionally, the clinic launched a Food Box Drive and a Used Clothes Box Drive to meet patients’ needs. Success was measured by tracking the number of patients served, meals provided, and new partnerships formed during the 2024-2025 academic year, which were documented and compared to the previous year.

Results

We interviewed 35 participants, with 10 classified as high/marginal food security, 7 as low, and 18 as very low, revealing widespread food insecurity within the community. Despite initial challenges, the community outreach department secured donations from six organizations and raised funds to provide meals at every clinic session. From 2023 to 2024, Clínicas Padre Venard served 227 patients and provided 350 meals, ensuring healthcare and nutrition access.

Conclusion

Clínicas Padre Venard’s expanded outreach efforts have strengthened food security initiatives, ensuring consistent meal provisions for patients by increasing partnerships, fundraising, and community-driven programs. The growing demand highlights the need for development and sustainability. Further collaboration with local organizations and fundraising strategies will be essential to improve our services.

IRB/IACUC Approval

#2024-01