In an effort to improve the lives of the people in the communities OSF HealthCare serves, the OSF HealthCare Foundation, along with dedicated Mission Partners (employees) and community volunteers, donated nearly 4,000 pounds of fresh, nutritious produce to food pantries across the I-80 corridor, including Ottawa, Streator and Mendota in 2024.
The OSF community gardens offer participants the opportunity to learn about gardening and empower volunteers to garden independently. The gardens also enhance nutrition and food preparation education, helping people make healthier dietary choices. This initiative underscores the ongoing commitment of OSF HealthCare to health and wellness by addressing food insecurity and ensuring access to healthy foods for community members in need.
Key OSF Mission Partners, including Marisa Kibble from OSF HealthCare Saint Paul Medical Center, Ellen Vogel from OSF Center for Health - Streator, and Tammy Sheenan from OSF HealthCare Saint Elizabeth Medical Center, coordinate the planning, recruiting volunteers, planting, maintaining, harvesting, and distributing the produce in their respective locations.
Additionally, OSF is grateful for the collaboration with community partners, including Friendship House residents in Ottawa, Streator area food pantries, and Mendota Christian Food Pantry, whose support was vital in distributing fresh food to local families.
This collaborative effort highlights the OSF HealthCare Mission to foster positive change and improve lives within its communities. “We are incredibly grateful for the dedication of our Mission Partners, community volunteers and local food pantries in this initiative,” says Dawn Trompeter, president of OSF Saint Paul and OSF Saint Elizabeth. “By working together, we are making strides toward improving health and wellness in our communities and helping ensure families have access to fresh, nutritious food.”
The community gardens are largely funded by generous donations, which include monetary gifts, seeds, plants, soil, fertilizer, and volunteer time. The donors play a crucial role in the success of these gardens.
For more information about programs or to donate, contact Cherie Reynolds at the OSF HealthCare Foundation at (815)-712-0266 or Cherie.R.Reynolds@osfhealthcare.org.
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