Southcoast Health is proud to once again expand our Community Benefits program into the holiday season through Southcoast Health Cares by supporting nine organizations that care for so many in our region. Throughout the year, the Southcoast Health Community Benefits team collaborates with more than a hundred community partners to understand, prioritize and develop programming to address the most pressing needs of our community. 

In early December, Southcoast Cares partnered with My Brother’s Keeper to lead a collection drive supporting local families in need. Once again, demonstrating their generosity and commitment to the community, Southcoast Health employees chose to give back by adopting specific families or gifting much-needed items ranging from toys, art and crafts, clothing and household items for children, teens and adults during this holiday season.

“Southcoast Cares allows us to deliver on our mission of providing More than medicine, directly addressing emerging needs in the community,” says Alison LeBert, Manager of Community Benefits at Southcoast Health. “It was wonderful to see the number of gifts collected in the employee holiday gift drive and the overwhelming support of our effort to give back to our community.”

“For the second year in a row, Southcoast Health will help make Christmas a very special day for hundreds of struggling local families,” says Erich Miller, President of My Brother’s Keeper. “The gifts the employees donated to benefit the My Brother’s Keeper Christmas Program will be cherished by the children who will receive them. Equally important, these generous donations will alleviate the stress and anxiety of parents who would otherwise watch their children go without gifts this Christmas. Thank you for your thoughtfulness and for joining us in delivering help and hope to families throughout the South Coast.”

My Brother’s Keeper delivers furniture and food to families in need living in the Southeastern service area. Founded in 1988 by a husband and wife from the basement of their home, today 4,000 volunteers and 14 employees work together from two modern facilities, located in Easton and Dartmouth, to make 9,000 deliveries each year.

Southcoast Health is committed to our mission of providing healthcare that extends beyond direct patient care. We understand that the environment in which we live, work, play, and age is the greatest indicator of health and overall wellness. In addition to the collection drive, Southcoast Health also provided monetary support to eight local organizations spanning across our region:

• United Way of Greater New Bedford
• Salvation Army Fall River Corps Community Center
• Salvation Army New Bedford Corps Community Center
• Salvation Army Newport Corps
• Mercy Meals and More
• Turning Point
• PACE
• Citizens for Citizens

“Southcoast Health’s very generous donation allows Turning Point to continue helping our neighbors who are experiencing temporary financial difficulty by assisting with rent arrears, utility bills, transportation challenges, etc. With so many people living paycheck to paycheck, especially in these trying times, we are honored to be here, ready to assist, thanks in part to Southcoast Health,” says Deb Ito, Director of Turning Point, the Wareham Area Committee for the Homeless. “On behalf of the Wareham Area Committee for the Homeless, Turning Point and its clients, a truly heartfelt thank you to Southcoast for your continued support.”

Southcoast Heath is delighted to assist these wonderful organizations in their mission to serve and support the people of our region.

“I’d like to thank the administration and staff of the Southcoast Health Group for the kindness and generosity they have shown our organization,” says Liz Berube, Executive Director of Citizens for Citizens, Inc. “By caring for the wellbeing of our community members and supporting the efforts of local organizations like CFC during such a critical time in recent history, Southcoast Health has proven to be a true champion of Community Action and we are proud to partner with them to aid and support our most vulnerable community members.” 

The Community Benefits team collaborates with community partners to reduce health disparities and provide improved access to care, through upstream strategies that are proactive and focused on improving long-term health outcomes that will influence generational change. To learn more about Southcoast Cares and Southcoast Health’s community benefits programs, please visit Southcoast Cares – Southcoast Health.