September is Hunger Action Month, a time to raise awareness about food insecurity and its impact on health. Food insecurity is a complex community health issue, and addressing it often requires more than one solution.
Access to nutritious food is an important part of overall health. When people don't have reliable access to enough food, it can be harder to manage chronic conditions, maintain a healthy pregnancy, support children's development, and take medications as prescribed. Food insecurity can also contribute to stress and other challenges that affect health and well-being. Addressing food insecurity is one way healthcare organizations and community partners can help expand access to factors outside the healthcare setting that influence health.
Ascension Illinois recognizes that food insecurity and access to nutritious food are real challenges in our communities. Responding to these challenges, we have established a network of 24/7 emergency micro pantries throughout our hospital locations to help people in need. The micro pantries are situated strategically on hospital campuses to improve access. Additionally, Ascension Illinois care teams have been coordinating with local partners across Chicagoland to connect individuals and families with nutritious food and resources that support their health.
As part of our ongoing food access initiative, Ascension Saint Alexius regularly partners with the Greater Chicago Food Depository and Willow Creek Church & Care Center. Our Ascension associates have provided volunteer support for food distribution, bagging, and packaging. Proxy pickup support has also been made available.
Throughout our last fiscal year, nearly 150 Ascension Illinois associates volunteered at Feed My Starving Children in Schaumburg to hand-pack nutritious MannaPack meals for malnourished children in nearly 70 countries. Our associates served by labeling bags, packing bags filled with nutritious ingredients that create life-sustaining meals, and boxing them for shipment around the world.
Through our partnership with the Northern Illinois Food Bank and its school backpack program, Ascension Saint Alexius takes part in an initiative to provide food that supplements weekend meals for children and their families. Through this collaboration, we support access to nutritious meals across 16 local elementary schools.
Last Thanksgiving, Ascension Illinois leaders and associates joined over 100 volunteers to prepare and serve 900 meals at the annual Christus Victor Lutheran Church Community Thanksgiving Dinner, serving those living alone, the elderly, and families in need of a Thanksgiving meal.
