Allendale Coalition Expands Countywide Health Resources and Programs

Allendale County HEALing Partners (ACHP) is operating a collective-impact network that brings local institutions and residents together to address persistent health challenges in the county. The coalition is organizing community listening sessions, revitalizing farmers markets, providing youth-focused education on healthy eating and active living, and building an open Resource Hub called ThriveHub/ResourceConnect to centralize services and supports.

Those efforts connect an array of partners, including Allendale County Hospital and area faith and community groups, into a coordinated approach to prevent and manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity and heart disease. Participation in broader Healthy People and Healthy Carolinas initiatives is shaping the coalition’s strategies and helping align local work with state and national health goals.

Centralizing information and referrals is a core priority. The ThriveHub/ResourceConnect hub is intended to serve as an accessible point of entry where residents can find a community calendar, project pages, and ways to connect or support local work. For residents seeking schedules, program details or ways to donate, the coalition maintains resources online at allendale.health.

The immediate impact is practical: revitalized farmers markets can increase access to affordable fresh food in neighborhoods with limited grocery options, and youth outreach programs can introduce healthy habits early, reducing long-term risk of chronic disease. Community listening sessions aim to surface local priorities and barriers so programs reflect lived experience rather than top-down assumptions, an approach that can strengthen trust and uptake of services.

Beyond individual programs, the collective-impact model supports health equity by reducing duplication, improving referral pathways, and helping smaller community groups plug into hospital-led clinical resources. For policymakers and health planners, ACHP’s coordination offers data and community feedback that can inform funding decisions, Medicaid partnerships, and county prevention priorities.

Challenges remain: sustaining volunteer capacity, ensuring digital access for an online hub, and securing steady funding for market operations and ongoing education. Still, the coalition’s focus on partnership, centralized services and resident engagement positions Allendale County to address entrenched health disparities with community-centered strategies.

Residents can learn more, view the community calendar, or find ways to get involved or donate by visiting allendale.health.