June 12, 2023 – Decatur Memorial Hospital colleagues celebrated National Community Health Improvement Week by assembling food boxes at Northeast Community Fund (NECF).
Groups of 10 volunteers from Memorial Health met at NECF’s food pantry to pack food boxes to kick off the week, which is focused on decreasing food insecurity this year. The packages will go to seniors who utilize NECF’s mobile food pantry.
Sonja Chargois, DMH’s Community Health and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator, said the event is a good opportunity for Memorial staff to engage with the week’s activities.
“It’s awesome to actually get out of the hospital and go and support our partnering communities,” Chargois said. “We all need food—it keeps us sustained—so it makes sense that we would get out and partner with our different organizations who are actually boots on the ground doing the work.”
NECF’s goal is to provide financial support and food for those in need though food distribution. Boxes packed at the event will benefit NECF’s mission and their clients.
One of the volunteers, Danika Frye, Executive Director of Medical and Surgical Personnel, said the experience was rewarding.
“It’s fun to be together and come together for a good cause,” Frye said. “It’s what it’s all about.”
National Community Health Improvement Week will continue through Sunday, June 18.
