PeaceHealth Sacred Heart, FOOD For Lane County Debut Family Meal Kit Project

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. – PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Centers are proud to announce the creation of the Family Meal Kit pilot project. 

The Family Meal Kit pilot project is in partnership with FOOD For Lane County. The goal of the project is to address food insecurity in Lane County with food for now, food for tomorrow and food security for the future.

“We are excited to collaborate with PeaceHealth through our shared understanding that access to wholesome, nutritious food supports positive health outcomes.” said Carrie Copeland, Education and Programs Director at FOOD For Lane County.

The project is being tested with 20 non-perishable food boxes delivered twice monthly – on the 1st and 15th.

Each box includes all the ingredients needed to cook a healthy meal for a family of four.

Recipe cards in the food boxes are written in both English and Spanish. Both vegan and non-vegan meal options are available. The recipe cards also have a link with information about FOOD For Lane County distribution sites for access to additional fresh and shelf-stable groceries.

Families receiving food boxes were identified by responses to social determinants of health questionnaires at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend pediatrician offices.

“Helping patients and families access healthy food is important for supporting growth and development in children and preventing childhood obesity.” said Dr. Serena Black, PeaceHealth Children’s Service Line Medical Director. “Our goal in primary care is to help families access food for today and to connect them with sustainable resources in the community for food for the future.”

The meal kits and connection with FOOD For Lane County is a pilot in conjunction with a broader 5-2-1-0 national childhood development program. The goal is for children to have at least five servings of fruits and vegetables, two or fewer hours of screen time, one hour of physical activity and zero sweetened drinks each day.

The Family Meal Kit pilot project was funded with a $25,000 grant from the PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center Community Collaboration Committee.

About PeaceHealth: PeaceHealth, based in Vancouver, Wash., is a not-for-profit Catholic health system offering care to communities in Washington, Oregon and Alaska. PeaceHealth has approximately 16,000 caregivers, a group practice with more than 1,200 providers and 10 medical centers serving both urban and rural communities throughout the Northwest. In 1890, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace founded what has become PeaceHealth. The Sisters shared expertise and transferred wisdom from one medical center to another, always finding the best way to serve the unmet need for healthcare in their communities. Today, PeaceHealth is the legacy of the founding Sisters and continues with a spirit of respect, stewardship, collaboration and social justice in fulfilling its Mission. Visit us online at peacehealth.org.