COLUMBIA, Tenn. — Maury Regional Medical Center (MRMC) held a special celebration Nov. 16 to recognize the Maury Regional Food Pantry’s 10 years of serving patients.
During the celebration, employees donated approximately 200 canned and boxed food items that will go directly to patients in need.
“We can’t thank our employees enough for their donations,” said Jerry Coulter, director of food and nutrition at Maury Regional Health (MRH). “Our food pantry has made such a big difference in our community over the past 10 years, and these donations will help in a big way.”
The food pantry was established in November of 2012 as a way to provide groceries to discharged patients in need. It was the first hospital-based food pantry in the state of Tennessee.
It now serves 60-70 families a month, giving out more than 4,600 pounds of food.
The MRMC Food & Nutrition team oversees the food pantry, and it’s funded through donations to the Maury Regional Health Care Foundation’s Friends & Family Nutrition Fund.
“The work that our Food & Nutrition team does with the food pantry is incredible,” said Joe Kilgore, Foundation executive director. “It’s such a great service we’re able to provide to our patients, and we’re happy to be a part of it.”
When an individual is admitted to the hospital, they are asked a series of brief questions to determine if there are any possible food insecurities at home. MRH employees and social workers can then refer them to the food pantry or other resources. If a patient is approved to receive a package from the food pantry, a transporter is notified and volunteers prepare a box containing enough food to last at least two weeks. The transporter then delivers it to the patient at discharge.
“It really works seamlessly among our different departments,” Coulter said. “We all want to be there for our patients who are in need. That’s the reason we do this.”
Donations to the Friends & Family Nutrition Fund, which also provides meals to eligible patients’ primary support members while in MRH care, and any other established funds through the Maury Regional Health Care Foundation can be made at MauryRegional.com/Foundation.
