Serving up sustainability: HHS partners with local charities to tackle hunger
Aileen Duncan knows what it feels like to grow up hungry. Now in her 70s, Duncan recalls her childhood years, when her parents received grocery donations from Stewart Memorial Church in downtown Hamilton to feed their eight children.
Decades later, Duncan is the church’s administrator and treasurer, where her work includes overseeing a food donation program to combat food insecurity in the city, with key partners including Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS).
“I grew up in poverty and know what this food means for the individuals and families we serve.” — Aileen Duncan, Stewart Memorial Church
Food purchased for patient meals, and to sell in HHS cafés and cafeterias, is the second-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions at HHS, after natural gas, Donating surplus, unserved hospital food nearing best-before-dates to local charities that feed hungry Hamilton residents is part of an HHS strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Surplus, unserved dinners are donated to Stewart Memorial Church and Mission Services, to support their community outreach programs aimed at combating hunger in Hamilton.
HHS donates extra dinners from Hamilton General Hospital and Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre on a weekly basis, to Stewart Memorial Church and Mission Services for their outreach work combatting food insecurity.
“Mission Services really values being able to provide high-quality, nutritious meals for our clients.” Jim O’Keeffe, Mission Services
“With school out for summer, we’re starting to see children coming for food with their parents,” says Duncan. “It breaks your heart, but I love my work because I grew up in poverty and know what this food means for the individuals and families we serve.”
Food services provider Compass Group Canada supplies meals to HHS for hospitalized patients. Meals are created by nutrition experts to support a range of health needs, with vegetarian options and culturally diverse meals.
“A fantastic success”
“Mission Services really values being able to provide high-quality, nutritious meals for our clients,” says Jim O’Keeffe, associate director of food services for Mission Services, adding that donated food is distributed through the organization’s food bank and shelter systems. Mission Services also shares food donations with other local charities, so nothing goes to waste. “The partnership with HHS has been a fantastic success,” says O’Keeffe.
Mission Services and the Ronald McDonald Family Rooms at HHS McMaster Children’s Hospital also receive surplus food donations from HHS cafés and cafeterias through the Hamilton Health Sciences Volunteer Association (HHSVA), a non-profit organization that supports patient care through the operation of cafés, cafeterias, gift shops and hospital parking.
Hospital eateries contribute too
Hospital cafés and cafeterias are popular with staff, doctors, visiting family members and patients visiting for appointments. Mission Services receives donated sandwiches, salads, baked goods and snack cups nearing their best-before dates from HHSVA-run eateries at HHS Juravinski Hospital and HHS Hamilton General Hospital, while the Ronald McDonald Family Rooms, located on the third floor of HHS McMaster Children’s Hospital, receive donated food items from that hospital.
“We’re incredibly grateful to partner with HHSVA to make use of donations in our family rooms.” — Meaghan Moore, Ronald McDonald House
Baked goods nearing best-before-dates are donated to Mission Services and the Ronald McDonald Family Rooms at our McMaster Children’s Hospital.
Ronald McDonald Family Rooms are a quiet, private space where family members of hospitalized children can recharge, rest and grab a bite to eat. Since last fall, the HHSVA has donated 7,000 items to the family rooms and 3,000 items to Mission Services.
“We’re also very passionate about reducing food waste,” says Meaghan Moore, director of programs and external relations for Ronald McDonald House Charities, South Central Ontario, in Hamilton.
Most of the food donated to the family rooms comes through the Ronald McDonald House, located across the road from the hospital, with HHSVA café donations supplementing those main donations.
“A big part of our mission is to care for caregivers,” says Moore. “We’re incredibly grateful to partner with HHSVA to make use of donations in our family rooms.” Find out more about HHS’ commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by cutting food waste.
Food programs such as food banks, community fridges and community gardens may provide short-term relief for people experiencing food insecurity. Some of these programs also offer other supports and services. For information on programs and services in Hamilton, Please refer to the Hamilton Food Access Guide.
