NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — Southcoast Health announced today that it is partnering with the United Way of Greater New Bedford’s Hunger Commission to provide leftover food to the homeless and less fortunate across eastern Massachusetts.

Southcoast Health is freezing its leftover non-dairy-based soups, which are picked up weekly and brought to local soup kitchens and shelters by the Hunger Commission. All three of Southcoast Health’s acute-care hospitals — St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford, Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, and Tobey Hospital in Wareham — are participating in the initiative.

“Being able to deliver the soup donated by the three hospitals has given the pantries and their clients something different to look forward to each week,” said Michelle N. Hantman, President & CEO of United Way of Greater New Bedford. “It has allowed the Hunger Commission to increase the capacity in which we serve residents of the South Coast and will hopefully encourage others to follow Southcoast Health’s lead and donate their extra food to those in need.”

Since the project’s inception in April, St. Luke’s Hospital alone has donated approximately 260 gallons of soup, enough for more than 4,160 servings (on average each gallon serves 16).

“Staff have embraced the program, and have made it part of the everyday routine from the cooks saving the soup at the end of the day to the storeroom clerk helping the United Way driver load it into the truck. Our team really sees the benefit of the program and enjoy being able to help the community,” said Southcoast Health Executive Chef Andrew Zalisk.

“The cafeteria at St. Luke’s serves around one thousand customers per day, including staff and visitors of patients in the hospital,” said Greg Deliberis, Director of Food & Nutrition Services. “There are wide variety of food options from different stations in the cafeteria including made from scratch soups, two hot entrees, a full-service deli, grill and action station that serves tossed to order salads and stir fries. We offer one Wellness and You soup and entrée a day. Included in our menu are award winning recipes from our entries in the New Bedford Chowderfest that include our famous New England Clam Chowder, Kale Soup and Stuffed Quahog.”

Almost 40 percent of food in the United States today goes uneaten, according to “Feeding America”, a non-profit network of over 200 food banks in the U.S. By one estimate, that equates to more than 20 pounds of food per person every month.

“Food security is such an essential part of good health, impacting not only wellness but also people’s ability to manage chronic diseases. We know that access to healthy food is a problem for many in our communities. In fact, a recent study by the Greater Boston Food Bank found that one in nine people in Eastern Massachusetts lack access to healthy and nutritious food. At the same time food is often wasted in our communities. Our ongoing efforts with the United Way Hunger Commission and other community partners helps bridge the gap for many local families,” said Kerry Mello, Community Benefits Manager for Southcoast Health.

The Hunger Commission is the only local program that coordinates food distribution to emergency food pantries and kitchens. Annually, the Hunger Commission distributes hundreds of thousands of pounds of food and fresh, locally grown produce – to local programs for those in need.

Southcoast Health’s Community Benefits program also works with the United Way to supply fresh vegetables and fruits throughout the growing season for the Mobile Food Pantry in New Bedford. Produce is donated weekly during the spring and summer from Southcoast Health’s Farmer’s Markets.

community benefits