SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital – Madison is implementing a new food resource program for patients in need, thanks to a special collaboration with The River Food Pantry.
According to a press release, Baskets of Hope will provide new moms with shelf-stable emergency groceries when they leave the hospital after giving birth. Each Basket of Hope package also includes education about local resources available to help with more permanent food security options. An SSM Health Community Health worker will also check in with the family to ensure they are doing well.
The emergency groceries for the Madison Basket of Hope program are provided by The River Food Pantry.
SSM Health picked up emergency groceries from The River Food Pantry for the first time on Monday, July 17. Through this partnership, The River will provide food resources monthly and will increase as needed.
Once the food items are received, volunteers from St. Mary’s Hospital put together the resource packages that are then provided to Birth Suites. Families who share their need for food will receive the emergency groceries and support when they are discharged from the hospital.
This is the second Baskets of Hope program to roll out at SSM Health in Wisconsin. A similar partnership in Janesville began in April 2023.
