CenterWell Home Health Collects 90,000 Meals in Annual Food Drive

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky—CenterWell Home Health, a home health provider, has collected nearly 90,000 meals in its 20th annual food drive to feed people in the communities it serves nationwide.

Thanks to the many individuals and organizations who gave, CenterWell collected food and monetary donations equivalent to 89,456 meals. 

“We’re grateful to all who gave and helped us provide meals to people throughout our service areas,” said Sherri Rains, BSN, RN, CWOCN, chief clinical officer for CenterWell Home Health. “Being in health care, we know that food is one of the most essential components of good health, so we’re glad we can help ensure our communities have access to nutritious food.”

With more than 350 branches in 38 states, CenterWell Home Health provides clinical care in the home to help patients regain their confidence and independence. Whether managing a chronic condition or recovering from illness, injury, surgery or hospitalization, CenterWell’s nurses and therapists work together with patients, their families and their primary care providers to create a personalized care plan.

Throughout the two decades of the food drive, CenterWell Home Health has collected more than 1.4 million meals, with contributions going to eligible 501(c)(3) organizations that provide food to their respective communities.

CenterWell Home Health branches across the country were invited to participate in the drive, and the three most successful branches are each rewarded with $5,000 cash grants from the Humana Foundation. The Parkersburg, West Virginia branch finished first this year, collecting food and cash benefiting Latrobe Street Mission, a Parkersburg shelter for homeless people.

“It’s a small community, and everybody tries to take care of each other,” said Abbi Sturm, CenterWell Home Health clinical liaison and the coordinator of the food drive for the Parkersburg branch. Sturm said two construction contractors—Grae-Con and Davis-Pickering—each made significant contributions, but most of the food and cash collected came in small increments from residents of the town of 30,000.

Finishing second was the regional operations office in Atlanta, collecting food and money to benefit the Community Foodbank of Central Alabama. The Louisville branch finished third, collecting food and monetary donations to benefit Feeding America.