The Hospital and Chester County Food Bank Provide Healthy Snack Bags to Needy Children in Our Community
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 11, 2016
CONTACT: Colleen Leonard Leyden; Director Corporate Marketing and Public Relations
610-431-5699
colleen.leyden@uphs.upenn.edu
West Chester, PA - Chester County Hospital partnered with the Chester County Food Bank to provide a healthy nutritious snack bag to local agencies who serve children and families in need. With the generous support of our hospital community and the food bank, these children will have an essential healthy snack throughout the school year.
The bags will be delivered to the Chester County Food Bank for distribution to the following agencies as well as others within our community: The Point (Parkesburg), The Garage (Kennett Square), Bridge Academy (Coatesville), Migrant Education Center (Southern Chester County), Chester Counter Family Academy and YMCA Lasko Center (West Chester).
The following items were donated by hospital employees: 100% juice boxes or pouches, individual fruit cups or applesauce containers, 100% fruit or granola bars, goldfish, pretzels, fruit snacks, raisins and microwave popcorn.
Collection boxes were distributed to the hospital's Operator Switchboard, Human Resources Office and Cafe lobby. Donations were collected from Thursday, September 15 through Monday, September 26.
According to Nancy Canfield, Benefits Coordinator at Chester County Hospital, donations from hospital employees created 300 snack bags, which were filled with the help of local students from Chester County Hospital's VolunTeen program.
"This food will be distributed to children who need a snack before, during or after school," says Canfield. She is also quick to give credit to the Chester County Food Bank for the great work that they do to help children and families in need across the county.
"Without their support we wouldn't be able to get these donations in the right hands so we are thankful for this partnership and their support of this program."
Jackie Felicetti, Chief Human Resource Officer at Chester County Hospital, was impressed with how many employees donated. "It was nice that our workforce really jumped in and purchased a ton of snacks for this initiative."
The hospital also received donations of toothbrushes (Delta Dental) and toothpaste (Marchwood Dental) to be included with this project. As a result of these donations, 100 dental health bags will be delivered to the food bank as well. These bags include a toothbrush, toothpaste and a bookmark with a note to "brush, brush every day!"
The Snack Bag project won the recognition of the Penn Medicine CAREs Grant Program. This program was established to offer institutional support to individuals and programs that donate their time and expertise to improve the health and well-being of our communities. Funds awarded are to be used for the purchase of supplies and other resources needed to perform this important work in the community.
This award has provided the project with a $150 grant. This money was used to purchase the plastic zip-top snack bags, fun stickers, food items, plastic spoons, napkins, bookmarks and pencils to be included within the bags.
As a result of the generous donations made by hospital employees, the community and the service of the Chester County Food Bank, children in need will be provided with a healthy snack through the Snack Bag Program.