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Beltrami County public health to distribute about 3,000 seed kits, details mobile services and diaper distribution
Summary
Beltrami County Public Health outlined its 'one vegetable' seed distribution and updated the Community Health Board on mobile services including diaper distribution, dental clinics, free shoes and WIC program successes.
Alex Monson, family health technician at Beltrami County Public Health, described the county’s “one vegetable” community gardening program and staff provided an update on mobile services and other support programs.
Monson said the program this year focuses on corn. The department packages brochures and seed starter kits and plans to distribute about 3,000 seed packets through multiple sites including the county WIC office, the public library, the food shelf, the senior center, BiCap and outreach locations in Blackduck, Kelliher and Washkish. Packing work occurred in late spring; distribution was expected to begin in May.
Monson said brochures include planting guidance and links to videos for apartment or small‑space gardeners and tips on hand pollination for corn.
Amy Bowles reviewed the public health mobile services and partner programs. She said the county receives a large quarterly diaper shipment (the presentation stated 25,000 diapers and 19,200 packages of wipes) that staff and partners sort for distribution to community organizations. Participating partners include the Northwestern Indian Community Development Center, Northwest Pregnancy Center, Red Lake Comprehensive Health, WIC/home visiting programs, and BiCap; families may receive one box of diapers per child in diapers through partner distribution.
Bowles said, over the last quarter and through partnered distributions, the program reached about 85 families (data available from partner organizations varies). She reported the dental clinic operates monthly and typically sees 8–10 patients per clinic day; the program has identified 12 people to date who need restorative dental treatment and will host additional clinic days for those services. The county continues a shoe distribution partnership with Soles4Souls and said there is no income requirement for that program.
Bowles also described a mobile medical collaboration with a Harvard program and a plan to expand mobile services to reduce transportation barriers. She described screening and medication education provided through partnerships with Northwestern Juvenile Center and Evergreen Emergency Youth Shelter, and quarterly behavioral health education sessions delivered with Stellar Human Services (recent sessions included sexually transmitted infection education).
Bowles noted the county’s WIC program was again recognized as a breastfeeding‑friendly workplace for five years and said WIC conducted a one‑month farmers market survey with 85 responses about voucher use. Board members clarified that market vouchers are physical vouchers with denominations (one example mentioned $5 vouchers) that vendors redeem.
No formal board action was taken on these program updates.
