A Health Home with extra heart – the Harvest Tides Family Practice Community Cupboard

At Harvest Tides Family Practice in New Minas, caring for patients extends beyond the exam room. 

Along the wall of the clinic stands a small but meaningful addition to the space - a neatly organized shelf with a message that reads, “Take what you need, leave what you can.”

This is the Harvest Tides Family Practice Community Cupboard. It’s a simple, accessible way to make food security a routine part of primary health care.

Stocked with food, personal care items and household essentials, the Community Cupboard is a place where patients, staff and local residents strengthen the sense of community that surrounds the clinic.

Harvest Tides Family Practice is one of more than 119 Health Homes across Nova Scotia – a collaborative family practice team that works together to deliver comprehensive, person-centred primary health care. 

“The Community Cupboard represents our commitment to compassionate, holistic care and striving to build a Health Home for our patients,” said Dee Badcock, a registered nurse at Harvest Tides Family Practice.

Health Home teams support the whole person. Sometimes that means treating common health concerns or chronic diseases, and other times, it means addressing challenges like food insecurity, which impacts a person's ability to stay healthy and well.

"In the fall of 2022, our team at Harvest Tides Family Practice recognized a growing issue of food insecurity among our patients,” said Dee.

“Our goal is to normalize conversations about food access, reduce stigma, and help remove barriers that may prevent individuals from reaching out to food banks."

The Community Cupboard was established to support patients experiencing food insecurity, addressing a critical need within the community.

“This initiative is deeply valued by our providers, who recognize the importance of access to nutritious food in promoting overall health,” said Callista King, family practice nurse at Harvest Tides Family Practice. 

Take what you need, leave what you can 

“Our Community Cupboard operates on the principle of take what you need, leave what you can,” said Callista. “This approach allows us to support patients experiencing food insecurity while fostering a sense of community and shared responsibility.”

While many donations come from patients and staff, they have also received support from local businesses and community partners.

“When the pantry first launched, we reached out to various organizations and local businesses to raise awareness and build connections around our mission,” said Callista. “We were fortunate to receive generous donations early on, which helped us establish and grow the pantry in its early stages. We recognize that many organizations receive frequent requests to support food security initiatives and may have limited resources to contribute, which makes every donation we receive all the more meaningful.”

The initiative has allowed the clinic to build more than just a community resource. “We’ve been able to regularly assess food insecurity, facilitate connections with local food banks, food box programs, local community lunch/supper programs and provide immediate support within our own clinic community,” said Dee.

Supporting the Community Cupboard

“We are deeply appreciative of the donations we have received from both organizations and individuals over the years. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps us continue providing this vital resource to those who need it most,” said Callista.

But in recent weeks the Community Cupboard shelves have started to look a little bare. The team is proud to see their shelves frequently emptied and know the cupboard is being used by those who truly need it, but they rely on the generosity of the community to keep the shelves full.

Anyone who can support the Harvest Family Tides Practice Community Cupboard with unopened, unexpired, non-perishable food or essential household items, can drop off donations directly at the clinic, located at 21 Roy Ave., Suite 250 in New Minas.

The items most needed right now include:

• Proteins: Canned tuna, salmon, chicken, beans, lentils, peanut butter
• Pantry Staples: Pasta, rice, cereal, canned vegetables
• Canned Meals: Soups, stews, easy-to-heat options
• Baby Food & Formula: Please ensure unopened and within expiry
• Personal Care: Toothpaste, soap, shampoo, deodorant, feminine hygiene
• Household Items: Laundry detergent, dish soap, cleaning supplies

The Community Cupboard highlights the spirit of the Health Home model of care … meeting patients where they are, seeing the whole person, and building trust and kindness that grows beyond the exam room.