The Food Bank and Compass Health Network Announce Partnership, Healthcare Tenancy in New Central Pantry Location
The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri and Compass Health Network are announcing a new partnership that will install Compass Health Network as a tenant in the new Central Pantry location on the Business Loop. Central Pantry is owned and operated by The Food Bank, and the new location is currently under renovation with plans to open later in the fall. To help provide community members with access to healthcare services in a convenient location, Compass Health Network will begin operating preventive and primary healthcare services out of the new Central Pantry location at that time.
The existing Central Pantry on Big Bear Boulevard provides food at no cost to around 10,000 Boone County residents each month. The new location will offer a larger and more accessible retail space with a grocery store-like atmosphere; a demonstration kitchen for nutrition education and training; and a 1,108 square foot healthcare tenant space built to Compass Health Network’s specifications to best serve the needs of our community.
“Food insecurity is often coupled with other challenges, including lack of access to healthcare,” said Karen Cade, VP of Corporate Services, Central Region, for Compass Health Network. “Since Compass Health Network is dedicated to engaging and empowering communities, partnering with The Food Bank to support whole-person wellness and reduce barriers to access is a natural progression of our work. We can’t wait to begin service alongside this important community resource that will transform healthcare efforts – as well as hunger action – in our area.”
Compass Health Network utilizes a sliding fee program to reduce barriers to those accessing health services. While neighbors utilizing the clinic will be charged for care, those who qualify will benefit from Compass Health Network’s reduced fees. Compass Health Network and other community partners will also offer screenings, vaccinations and other preventive healthcare measures at no cost during planned events throughout the year.
“Food is the foundation for so many aspects of life, including health and wellness,” said Lindsay Young Lopez, President and CEO of The Food Bank. “While our new Central Pantry location will act as a hub for hunger action in Boone County, we’re looking forward to nurturing programming that better nourishes the whole person. We are so grateful to enrich the offerings available to our neighbors with this new Compass Health Network partnership.”
The agreement between The Food Bank and Compass Health Network secures Compass as a tenant in the new Central Pantry for the next five years. In addition to healthcare, the new Central Pantry location will host a number of other visiting services that will bring much-needed support to neighbors, including information on Medicaid, SNAP, health insurance, utilities assistance, legal support and more.