Bayhealth received the 2024 Lt. Governor’s Challenge Wellness Leadership Award for its hunger relief box efforts. The award recognizes Bayhealth’s efforts to improve the quality of life for all Delawareans.
Bayhealth’s Hunger Relief Box initiative emphasizes healthy living by providing patients diagnosed with food insecurity with a low-sodium, low-sugar food box upon discharge from the hospital.
Bayhealth launched this initiative for patients at Bayhealth Hospital’s Kent and Sussex campuses in February 2023. To date, more than 800 boxes have been distributed to food insecure local residents.
“All of our patients are screened for social determinants of health – the economic and social factors that influence health outcomes,” said Amanda Bowie, Bayhealth’s vice president of marketing, communications and community outreach. “Food insecurity continues to be a concern, and our hospital is working with partners like the Delaware Food Bank and Delaware Coalition to provide the right connections for patients to get the nutritious foods they need. We are proud of the many people across our organization who recognized the need and launched this effort last year, and we are grateful to our team members who are providing hunger relief boxes to patients.”
Due to the program’s success and local need, Bayhealth expanded the program to its outpatient care areas in fall 2023. Food boxes were provided at Bayhealth Medical Group clinics where the need was greatest, and then expanded to all outpatient and medical offices in Kent and Sussex counties. As a hunger relief partner with the Delaware Food Bank, patients’ care teams are able to carefully identify needs and provide food boxes upon discharge.
The Hunger Relief Box Initiative is intended to be a short-term solution while applying for longer-term resources such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). In addition to being a short-term solution to food insecurity, the food provided to patients serves as a guide to healthier food and lifestyle choices. Providing patients with healthy food upon discharge and a long-term solution creates an environmental change that leads to a healthier population.
To learn more about Bayhealth’s community outreach, visit Bayhealth.org/Community-Outreach.
