The SHARe food box program, which began last year at Samaritan Albany General Hospital, has now expanded to Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital.
SLCH Nutrition Service staff began providing food boxes this past summer to patients leaving the hospital who may not have regular access to nutritious foods. Both hospitals partner with Linn-Benton Food Share on SHARe, which stands for Stop Hunger to Accelerate Recovery.
Linn-Benton Food Share provides the box, filled with frozen meat, canned and boxed foods, and fresh fruits and vegetables — enough to last seven days.
To ensure patients get the most nutrition out of their SHARe box, hospital dietitians create meal plans and simple recipes that incorporate items found in the box.
Patients can receive three additional SHARe boxes, delivered by Linn-Benton Food Share, in the weeks immediately following discharge from the hospital.
“This has been a successful program in Albany, and we’re excited to bring it to our patients in east Linn County,” said Cheryl Teschner, dietitian with SLCH. “It’s a great way to help our patients with their immediate recovery from their hospital stay, and it connects them with local resources to help them stay well-nourished long-term.”
Learn more about Samaritan’s Nutrition Services.
Visit Linn-Benton Food Share.