Page 22 - St. John's Healthcare Foundation FY17 Annual Report

A generous grant from the Raskob Foundation made it possible

for St. John’s Food Pantry to provide additional protein for families,

particularly needed for children’s growing minds and bodies.

Health Ministries Human connections within our community

In 1985, Sister Carmen Rodriguez, RSM, was driving around giving out food vehicle now offers more reliable transportation for Food Pantry staff to help
Human connections in the La Colonia neighborhood. Recognizing that the need was greater than the distribution of over 90 tons of donated food, annually, said Darren Lee,
she could handle, a food pantry became a part of St. John’s Hospital. As health
President and CEO of St. John’s Hospitals. “It is gratifying to know that we have
providers, we understand that good health involves making informed choices
Human connections within our community
our ministry.”
and access to resources. As a caring community, we recognize that some of partners in our community who recognize and respond to the growing needs of
our neighbors do not have these income-related benefits. Therefore, St. John’s “As a single mother I had no one to turn to for help when an injury limited my ability
Hospitals, following in the footsteps of the Sisters of Mercy, established its
within our community Health Ministries programs, which offer essential resources at no or low-cost to drive. I was laid off from work and had no money to order out. St. John’s Food
to residents who have limited resources. All of these programs are managed
Pantry Van delivered hot meals for a few days while I got back on my feet. I now drive
with the help of professionals and lay volunteers, in partnership with churches, to the food pantry for groceries, which is helping me to feed my kids good meals while I
nonprofits and government organizations. look for a job. I cannot thank you enough.” - Food Pantry client.

Food Pantry
For many working poor families, it can be difficult to afford the essentials that
support health and quality of life. Quality protein and fresh produce are out
of reach for many. St. John’s Regional Medical Center Food Pantry makes it
possible for hundreds of families to enjoy healthier meals that include a better
balance of meat, cheese, fruits and vegetables. In FY 17, the Food Pantry
provided food to 1,742 families or 5,902 people, many of whom are children or
elderly, and served 15,921 hot meals.

Our work is possible because of our partners – community members and
organizations who donate or offer food at a nominal cost; volunteers who are
the heart and the hands of the program; and churches that donate space for
food distribution. The Oxnard Auto Center also generously partnered with the
St. John’s Healthcare Foundation to purchase a new compact cargo van. The Diabetes Self-Management Program
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