Goshen Health System Colleagues donate over 4,500 items to local food bank

For immediate release: Dec. 10, 2008

GOSHEN, Ind. - In time for the holidays, Goshen Health System Colleagues recently donated over 4,500 items to The Window Community Volunteer Center in Goshen.

According to staff at The Window, the food storage area had only a few cases of food when GHS Colleagues arrived with the first van drop just before Thanksgiving. In addition to the food items, Colleagues contributed more than $5,300 to the center.

The Window, an agency of Church Women United of Goshen, Inc., provides services to help meet the needs of the elderly or anyone with limited income. Services offered through the center include free meals, groceries, clothing, counsel and more.

The health system's socialization action council, SAC, spearheaded the drive, encouraging co-workers to help stock the shelves at The Window during the holiday season.

"Part of the vision of the health system is to respond to the changing needs of the community, and the community as a whole is facing a tough time right now. We wanted to do something to give back, especially during the holidays," said Tiffani Grigsby, health system colleague and SAC chair. "Colleague response was just overwhelming."

Goshen Colleagues and Medical Staff responded, filling 5 vans with canned goods and food items for the local center. A friendly competition between departments and offices helped encourage participation, with family physician Dr. Edward Boyts' office in New Paris "winning" the office competition and the hospital's Clinical Informatics Department winning the department competition by contributing the most food donations.

SAC, said Grigsby, plans to make a Colleague food drive benefiting local food banks an annual part of the holiday season at Goshen Health System.

While this food drive was sponsored by the Colleagues, Goshen Health System contributes over $200,000 annually to local non profit organizations through the Community Benefit Fund.

Since 1998, Goshen Health System has contributed $1,525,902 in grant money to area non profit groups that share the mission and values of the health system. This investment in the community is in addition to charity care, as well as prevention and education activities supported through the Goshen Health System operating budget.

Goshen Health System Community Benefit Fund is accepting applications from not-for-profit organizations from now until January 16, 2009. Application packets are available from Goshen Health System by calling 535-2852, or online at www.goshenhealth.org.

About Goshen Health System:
Goshen Health System is a not-for-profit provider of health care that includes Goshen General Hospital, The Goshen Center for Cancer Care, Park Home Medical Equipment, PrimeCare Physician Network, Team:Bariatrics, The Retreat Women's Health Center and Indiana Lakes Managed Care Organization. The health system is an affiliate partner of Clarian Health. For more information about Goshen Health System, contact Bridget Levitz, Public Relations Coordinator at 574-535-2776 or visit www.goshenhealth.org.