Bringing Meals, Health and Support to the Streets of Downtown Phoenix
Thousands of hot meals, health screenings and essential supplies are reaching people experiencing homelessness in downtown Phoenix through a community partnership focused on meeting people where they are.
On Saturday mornings, a hot meal may also come with a blood pressure screening, hygiene kit, pair of socks or supplies offering relief from Arizona’s extreme heat. This combination of food, health services and essential resources is part of an ongoing outreach effort led by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Health Choice (AZ Blue Health Choice), AZ Langar on Wheels and Zeihan ProHealth.
Together, the organizations are helping address immediate needs while connecting individuals with care, support services and other community resources.
“Everyone deserves the opportunity to get the care and resources they need,” said Heather Carter, CEO of AZ Blue Health Choice. “Showing up for our communities means supporting people beyond traditional health care—whether that’s relief from extreme heat or connections to resources that help address the challenges they face every day.”
More than 500 volunteer hours have helped provide:
- 5,000 hot meals
- 816 bottles of water
- 500 hygiene kits
- 1,080 electrolyte packets
- 394 naloxone (Narcan®)
- kits 1,500 pairs of socks
During the outreach events, AZ Langar on Wheels provides hot meals, while Zeihan ProHealth complements those efforts through community-based public health outreach, including preventive health screenings, health education and connections to care and support services.AZ Blue Health Choice funds essential supplies and supports the outreach through employee volunteers.
"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," said Mananveer Mayo, president of the AZ Langar on Wheels Teen Board.
Together, these efforts help address immediate health and social needs while creating opportunities to build trust and connect people with longer-term care and resources.
“Showing up consistently is how we begin to build trust,” said Jeffery Hanna, co-founder and CEO of Zeihan ProHealth. “Many people experiencing homelessness face stigma that can make it harder to seek care or ask for help. By meeting people with dignity, listening without judgment and working alongside trusted community partners, we can begin to break down those barriers and connect individuals with the care and support they need.”
To learn more about this partnership and other efforts making a difference in communities across Arizona, visit AZ Blue in Action.