For JPS Health Network team members, supporting the health of the community during the worst health crisis in a century simply wasn’t enough.
Wanting to do something extra, they recently collected more than 18,000 food items to stock the shelves of area food pantries. The groceries, ranging from soup to peanut butter, to canned vegetables and meat, were donated April 14.
“It was originally our goal to collect 7,200 items, one for each of the team members at JPS,” health network Ambassador and Supervisor of Behavioral Health Patient Access Bailey Brown said. “But we ended up getting more than twice that amount.”
The organizations that received the donations made by generous JPS team members were Beautiful Feet Ministries, United Community Centers, and St. Andrews United Methodist Church. Leaders from each of those groups said they’ve seen their resources strained under the weight of the ongoing pandemic. So, the donations are a timely and welcome boost.
“This is so wonderful,” said Sarah Meyers, of Beautiful Feet Ministries, while picking up a truckload of supplies to distribute to needy families in the community. “We’re so grateful for the help.”
The goods were collected during a contest between health network departments put on by JPS Ambassadors. The Radiology Department was the winner, amassing 4,811 containers of food.
JPS President and CEO Robert Earley said he’s proud of team members for taking on another project to help the community in the midst of the challenges COVID-19 has created.
“We need to look at the 360 of life, things like what not having food means to your overall health,” Earley said. “I certainly hope this isn’t just a one-time event for us.”