Bayhealth receives wellness leadership award from lieutenant governor

Bayhealth was honored with a 2024 Lt. Governor’s Challenge Wellness Leadership Award for its Hunger Relief Box initiative. This award recognizes Bayhealth’s commitment to improving the quality of life for all Delawareans.

The Hunger Relief Box initiative at Bayhealth emphasizes healthy living by providing low-sodium, low-sugar food boxes upon discharge for patients identified as food insecure.

Bayhealth started this initiative for patients at Bayhealth Hospital, Kent and Sussex campuses in February 2023. To date, more than 800 boxes have been distributed to food-insecure community members.

"All our patients are screened for social determinants of health, those economic and social factors that impact health outcomes," said Amanda Bowie, vice president of marketing, communications and community outreach at Bayhealth. "Food insecurity continues to be a rising concern, and we have worked with partners such as the Food Bank of Delaware and Unite Delaware to give our patients the right connections to get the nutritious foods they need. We're proud of the many people across our organization who saw the need and started this initiative last year, and thankful to the team members who provide these Hunger Relief Boxes to our patients."

Because of the success of the program and the need within the community, Bayhealth expanded the program to outpatient areas in fall 2023. The food boxes were available in Bayhealth Medical Group practices where there was the greatest need, then grew to include all outpatient campuses and locations across Kent and Sussex counties. Since Bayhealth is a hunger relief partner with the Food Bank of Delaware, a patient’s care team can discreetly identify the need and provide a food box upon discharge.

The Hunger Relief Box Initiative is intended to be a short-term solution while patients are applying for long-term resources like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. In addition, the food that patients are provided with serves as a guide toward healthier nutrition and lifestyle choices. Giving patients healthy foods at discharge and setting them up with long-term solutions helps creates environmental changes leading to a healthier population.

For more information, go to Bayhealth.org/Community-Outreach.