AdventHealth Avista Opens On Campus Pantry to Fight Food Insecurity

AdventHealth Avista opened an on campus food pantry on the first floor on December 16, 2025, a move hospital leaders described as part of a broader commitment to whole person care and community health. The pantry was created quickly through cross departmental teamwork so the service could launch during the holiday season, and it will make healthy groceries available to patients leaving the hospital and to hospital employees who face food access challenges.

The initiative grew out of the hospital's Community Health Needs Assessment, which identified food insecurity as a pressing concern for local residents. AdventHealth Avista set up the pantry in partnership with local food distribution partners, with guidance and initial stock provided by the hospital foundation and community food organizations. Officials said the partnership model was intended to connect clinical care with community resources and to reduce barriers that prevent people from getting nutritious food.

For Douglas County residents the pantry provides immediate material support and a potential link to longer term assistance. Access to healthy food is a foundational element in managing chronic conditions, recovering from illness, and preventing hospital readmissions. By locating the pantry on campus and serving employees as well as patients, the hospital aims to reduce stigma and make it easier for people to take advantage of services without extra travel or complicated enrollment.

The opening highlights growing recognition in health care that social and economic conditions shape health outcomes. Experts in social equity note that hospitals adopting on site food resources can play a stabilizing role in communities where grocery access is limited or where transportation and work schedules create practical obstacles. However the pantry also raises questions about sustainability, funding, and the need for coordinated policy responses that address the root causes of food insecurity.

AdventHealth Avista framed the pantry as one piece of a larger strategy to meet community needs identified in its assessment. In the months ahead the hospital and its partners plan to monitor use and look for ways to integrate the pantry with care plans, community nutrition programs, and other supports that address health equity across Douglas County.