Hi everyone! My name is Linda Sundstrom and I am a dietetic intern with Sodexo in New Bedford, MA. I started in January, but the time is flying by and I am learning so much! For National Nutrition Month my friend and fellow intern, Nicole Brown, and I held a food drive under the direction of Lisabeth Williams, Lead RD at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, MA.
On March 19th, we hosted a kickoff for a week long drive to collect foods to be donated to the Greater Fall River Food Pantry. All non-perishable boxed and canned food items would be accepted, with an emphasis on high protein foods like tuna, beans, and peanut butter. In order to promote this event, Nicole and I came up with a colorful and detailed flyer as well as “table tents” which were placed on the cafeteria tables and on the doors the Thursday before the kickoff. Lisabeth also emailed the flyer to the hospital in a newsletter the previous week. On the morning of the kickoff, Nicole and I had a table with collection bins, free candy, and balloons in the entrance to the cafeteria in order to draw attention and encourage participation. We also placed a bin, with a flyer and balloons in the small café in the main lobby.
On Monday, March 26th, Nicole and I tallied up the donations and came up with just under 200 food items! The Greater Food Pantry sent someone to pick up the cache in the main lobby the following week. Many of the staff and visitors commented that the hospital should start having more food drives. I also think people appreciate the fact that the food was being donated to a food pantry that was local. I believe the food drive was a success and should be done more often in local hospitals as it is an atmosphere that evokes charity and a feeling of community.
On March 19th, we hosted a kickoff for a week long drive to collect foods to be donated to the Greater Fall River Food Pantry. All non-perishable boxed and canned food items would be accepted, with an emphasis on high protein foods like tuna, beans, and peanut butter. In order to promote this event, Nicole and I came up with a colorful and detailed flyer as well as “table tents” which were placed on the cafeteria tables and on the doors the Thursday before the kickoff. Lisabeth also emailed the flyer to the hospital in a newsletter the previous week. On the morning of the kickoff, Nicole and I had a table with collection bins, free candy, and balloons in the entrance to the cafeteria in order to draw attention and encourage participation. We also placed a bin, with a flyer and balloons in the small café in the main lobby.
On Monday, March 26th, Nicole and I tallied up the donations and came up with just under 200 food items! The Greater Food Pantry sent someone to pick up the cache in the main lobby the following week. Many of the staff and visitors commented that the hospital should start having more food drives. I also think people appreciate the fact that the food was being donated to a food pantry that was local. I believe the food drive was a success and should be done more often in local hospitals as it is an atmosphere that evokes charity and a feeling of community.
