Improving pantry access and delivering screenings for hundreds of Louisiana families

More than 1 in 6 Louisiana households struggle to access enough nutritious food, leaving many families facing ongoing food insecurity.¹ At the same time, individuals living in rural areas may also face barriers including access to transportation and health care.² These challenges often intersect, making it harder for families to put healthy food on the table and to maintain their health and well-being. UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Louisiana is addressing these barriers by investing in community-based solutions that increase access to healthy food, health care screenings and other resources. Our collaboration with Zion Helping Hands Food Pantry of Mt. Zion Church of God in Christ in Bastrop, LA is an example of how local collaborations can create meaningful change.

Strengthening access through investment and infrastructure
In late 2024, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Louisiana provided funding to Zion Helping Hands to expand pantry services and improve safe access for participants. These funds supported the construction of a circular driveway and concrete padding, an upgrade that resolved longstanding safety and traffic concerns. The new infrastructure has transformed the site into a more welcoming and accessible space for families, volunteers and delivery vendors.

As one participant shared, “I’ve never seen this many people come together for us. The new driveway made it easy to get in and out, and I even got my blood pressure checked for the first time in years. Thank you for caring.”

Community Food Distribution & Wellness Fair
On Sept. 6, 2025, Zion Helping Hands hosted its Community Food Distribution & Wellness Fair with support from UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Louisiana and other local collaborators. Together, health and wellness resources were provided directly to families in the City of Bastrop:

• 395 households (representing 679 individuals) received food boxes and supplies
• Families accessed health screenings, nutrition education, hygiene kits, fruit bags and bottled water
• The Southern University Human Food and Nutrition Dietetic Internship Program engaged families with healthy parfaits, recipes and practical nutrition tips
  

Driving sustainable impact through collaboration
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Louisiana holds quarterly United Connect Collaborative meetings to align community efforts with Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) goals and identify opportunities for shared impact. Together, these meetings and the food pantry initiative reflect the health plan’s broader commitment to improving health outcomes and supporting community-driven solutions across the state. From Shreveport to New Orleans, we prioritize showing up, listening and building trust with the communities we serve.

To learn more about how our collaborations impact our members, visit our Louisiana profile page.

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