Northern Light Home Care and Hospice is holding a patient food drive now through Sept. 22 to support patients experiencing food insecurity.
Home Care and Hospice clinicians and home health aides make more than 169,500 in-home visits each year caring for patients across the state. They see first-hand the food insecurity patients are experiencing.
“We know that nutrition helps patients have better healing outcomes from a recent surgery or a chronic condition. Worrying about where their next meal is coming from should not be one of their concerns,” said LeighAnn Howard, vice president of clinical operations at Northern Light Home Care and Hospice.
“At Northern Light Home Care and Hospice, we are committed to not only providing compassionate, skilled care to our patients but to helping them with food insecurity,” Howard said. “Food is medicine and feeds the soul. Together, we can make healthier communities one patient at a time.”
In Aroostook County, food items may be dropped off at the local hospice office at 18 Green Hill Drive, Suite 1, in Presque Isle, Monday through Friday during business hours. People can also donate online by visiting give.northernlighthealth.org/HCHFoodInsecurity.
Other facilities are located in South Portland, Waterville, Brewer and Ellsworth.
Helpful food items to donate include low sodium dry goods, store-bought canned goods, nutritional protein drinks, and store-bought fresh produce. Northern Light Home Care and Hospice locations in Brewer, Presque Isle, and South Portland will accept frozen foods.
