More Than a Meal: How AZ Blue Health Choice Supports Arizonans Experiencing Homelessness Through Food, Care and Community
How Community Partnerships Are Making a Difference for People Experiencing Homelessness
A warm meal. A hygiene kit. A conversation with someone who listens. A connection to healthcare or community resources. These acts can provide comfort, dignity, and hope to people experiencing homelessness.
Yet for thousands of Arizonans, accessing food, basic necessities, healthcare, and other essential services remains a daily challenge. Recent statewide data shows that more than 15,000 people are experiencing homelessness across Arizona, with nearly two-thirds living in Maricopa County.
In response to this continuing need, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Health Choice (AZ Blue Health Choice), together with Zeihan ProHealth and AZ Langar on Wheels, is bringing meals, essential supplies, heat relief aid, health education, and community resources directly to people in the community—making a meaningful difference one Saturday at a time.
Key takeaways:
- Since May 2025, AZ Blue Health Choice has partnered with Zeihan ProHealth and AZ Langar on Wheels, contributing $40,000 and helping provide more than 120 meals every week to people experiencing homelessness in Arizona.
- Every Saturday, the team brings food, hygiene supplies, health resources, and connections to local services directly to people experiencing homelessness.
- By volunteering shoulder to shoulder with community partners, AZ Blue Health Choice employees are helping build trust, strengthen connections and remind Arizonans experiencing homelessness that they are seen, valued, and supported.
What is AZ Langar on Wheels?
AZ Langar on Wheels is a fully licensed food truck dedicated to reducing food insecurity and ensuring everyone has access to nutritious meals. Each week, volunteers give their time to prepare and serve hot meals to community members who need them most.
The organization takes its name from the Sikh tradition of Langar, a community kitchen that welcomes everyone, no questions asked. As Mananveer Mayo, president of the AZ Langar on Wheels teen board, explains, "In Sikh culture, a shared meal (known as Langar) is an act of service. That belief is what led us to partner with Zeihan ProHealth and AZ Blue Health Choice, a partnership that has let us serve our community in ways we never expected, reaching people with more than a hot meal."
This spirit of selfless service, dignity, and belonging is at the heart of the organization's work and aligns closely with AZ Blue Health Choice's commitment to supporting healthier communities.
What is Zeihan ProHealth?
Founded in 2023, Zeihan ProHealth is an Arizona-based public health consulting and outreach organization that helps connect people to care, health education, and essential resources. “We created Zeihan ProHealth to help bridge the gap between healthcare and the community,” said co-founder Jeffery Hanna.
Today, AZ Blue Health Choice partners with Zeihan ProHealth to bring screenings, education, and resources directly to Arizonans, helping expand access to care and build healthier communities.
What happens every Saturday?
Before meals are served, the Zeihan ProHealth team sets up an outreach station so people do not have to wait in multiple lines. The team remains on-site throughout and after the meal service, ensuring support is available throughout the event. By offering essential supplies, health resources, and connections to community services, the team helps meet immediate needs while building pathways to ongoing care and support.
Resources are tailored to the needs of the community and may include:
- Heat relief supplies
- Water, electrolytes, and snacks
- Narcan education and distribution
- Hygiene kits and socks
- Feminine hygiene products
- Harm-reduction education and supplies
- Preventative health screenings, when available
- Health plan and coverage information
- Care navigation and referral support
- General health education
- Connections to community resources and services
In addition to financial support from AZ Blue Health Choice, its employees regularly volunteer at the events, offering a friendly presence and helping connect individuals with health plan information, resources, and support.
Why does showing up matter?
For many individuals experiencing homelessness, engaging with the healthcare system can feel challenging. Past experiences, barriers to access, or uncertainty about where to turn for help may make seeking care difficult.
Improving health outcomes starts long before someone walks into a doctor's office, which is why partnerships that address community needs and build trusted relationships are essential to advancing whole-person care." — Heather Carter, President and CEO, AZ Blue Health Choice.
Building trust takes time. It grows through consistent presence, meaningful conversations, and a commitment to meeting people where they are. By showing up week after week, listening and offering support without judgment, outreach teams can help create connections that open the door to healthcare, community resources and other services.
To learn more about our community reinvestment efforts, visit azblue.com/azblueinaction.