Serving All through "Fare for All"
Fare for All is a pop-up grocery store available across 30 sites in the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota. This cooperative food buying program offers up to 40 percent savings on name-brand products. There are no qualifications or income restrictions; all are welcome to purchase packages of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as frozen meats.
In Bloomington Public Health’s service area, Fare For All events are available regularly at Bloomington’s Creekside Community Center and the Richfield Community Center. Recently, Kay Olson-Fischer was instrumental in working with Fare for All staff to translate the event flyers into Spanish. “I explained how helpful these translated flyers would be for the clients we serve and for our whole team’s use,” said Kay. “Edgar at Fare For All was so nice and helpful; he had the flyers translated the same day.” This increased language accessibility helps ensure greater awareness of the events across the whole community.
The most recent Fare For All at Creekside offered a special November Holiday Pack. For $35, attendees received a turkey, chicken tenders, beef, other side meats, green beans and a pumpkin pie. Public Health staff tabled at the event (pictured above), providing information about our upcoming flu shot clinics and distributing free COVID test kits.
“It’s important for Public Health to be part of this event because it helps the community become more familiar with the services we offer…the more people feel comfortable with us, the more trust we can build,” said Rebecca Chelene. “It helps us be more effective in our jobs.”
Rebecca also credited Ann Sattler’s dedication to building relationships at Creekside as the reason Public Health is so warmly welcomed at their events. “It wouldn’t be possible without her hard work,” shared Rebecca.
Fare for All is part of the nonprofit The Food Group. Watch a video about Fare For All at Creekside and visit Fareforall.org for more information.
Meet Colton
Colton Anderson joined the Public Health Division in March 2022 as its Assessment, Quality, and Accreditation Planner and is a member of the Population Health and Planning team. Read on to learn more about Colton!
What does our mission, engaging the community in promoting, protecting and improving the health of all, look like on a day-to-day basis for you?
Generally speaking, my role is to help public health behind the curtain. This includes ensuring our public health division continues to meet national standards through public health accreditation, or by collecting internal program level data to help better tell our story of what we do and the impact we have on our communities through performance management and quality improvement.
What was your first project in your current role?
Public Health reaccreditation planning
What do you love most about your job?
I love connecting with my co-workers and finding innovative solutions to improving the way we operate as a public health division to improve the health of the communities we serve.
Favorite morning beverage: coffee, tea, or something else?
I drink green tea every morning!
What kinds of activities do you enjoy outside of work?
I love spending time with my family and hiking.
Meet Marianne
Marianne Nelson joined the Public Health Division in December of 1990 (wow!) and is currently the WIC Clinic Coordinator/Supervisor in Community Health Services.
Learn more about Marianne below!
What does our mission mean to you?
Helping young families achieve better health outcomes.
What do you love most about your job?
Working with the children! They are such a riot. Never a dull moment.
What kinds of activities do you enjoy outside of work?
I love to ride my bicycle these days. Also doing Pilates as much as possible! And camping.
What is one fun fact that not a lot of people know about you?
I'm a biker (as in motorcyclist) but don't get to ride much these days as our bikes are old, and my old mechanic (my husband Bill!) is less interested in working on the old bikes. I ride a 1973 Harley-Davidson Sportster (originally a kick-start only) and Bill rides a 1982 HD Lowrider. If you have a chunk of time, I've got plenty of stories!!
(The picture above is of Marianne riding into Sturgis for the first time!)
Favorite quote?
"Where there's a WILK there's a way"...my maiden name is Wilk. This was my Dad's saying!
Public Health Shout Outs!
Have you seen a Public Health coworker go above and beyond? Want to give a virtual high-five to a team or workgroup?
Public Health has a kudos board to help you do just that. The kudos board will remain open, and the most recent kudos will be shared in this newsletter.
As always, use the City’s “Kudoz” board when you’d like to give a shout out to someone across the full City organization.
The purpose of Public Health Highlights is to increase staff’s pride in working for the Division through inspiring stories and to build connection among staff by highlighting individual staff members.
Do you have a story idea for this newsletter? Email Colleen for consideration.
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