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"Hunger in the Community:
Ways Hospitals Can Help" Hospital Handbook
Congressman James P. McGovern (D-Worcester, center) unveiled a ground-breaking new handbook, written and produced by Project Bread in partnership with UMass Memorial Health Care, called “Hunger in the Community: Ways Hospitals Can Help,” at a press conference at UMass Memorial. USDA Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack (far right), Governor Deval L. Patrick (second from right), and Lieutenant Governor Timothy P. Murray (second from left) lent their support to the campaign, creating a united front behind McGovern’s pledge “to end hunger in Massachusetts.” John G. O’Brien (far left), president and CEO of UMass Memorial, described the simple steps hospitals can take to enroll families and individuals in SNAP (formerly food stamps) while enrolling them in the state’s universal health insurance. And Ellen Parker (center), executive director of Project Bread, called the event “an alignment of stars,” heartening antihunger activists everywhere and pledging Project Bread’s continued support of McGovern’s national rollout.
Hunger is a health issue. Health care providers are accustomed to thinking about hunger as a consequence of poverty—thinking that keeps them from making the link between food security and the health of their patients. However, the right quantity and quality of food is essential to life itself, is required for good health, and is key to preventing disease and chronic health problems in the future.
The Hospital Handbook offers a practical guide on how hospitals may help patients and their families address hunger and food insecurity. Despite the pressures put on hospitals to treat patients who are sicker so they return home quicker than ever before, hospitals are institutions of healing that have a unique role in treating and preventing hunger.
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Congressman James P. McGovern
U.S. Representative from the
Massachusetts 3rd Congressional
District, Vice Chairman of the
House Rules Committee, Co-Chair
of the Congressional Hunger Center
and the House Hunger Caucus
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“If good food is the first medicine, we must take the steps necessary to see that all patients and their families receive adequate nutrition. It’s a cost-effective investment in their medical care . . . and the right thing to do.”
—Congressman James P. McGovern
Ways hospitals can help the hungry
Referring patients to resources
• Help patients apply for the SNAP/Food Stamp Program or WIC.
• Refer children to school meal programs.
• Refer children to the summer food service program.
• Refer seniors to senior meal programs.
Connecting with emergency food
• Connect patients with local emergency food – 1-800-645-8333.
• Provide supermarket vouchers/cards.
• Operate your own hospital-based food pantry.
• Teach clinicians and staff about food insecurity and local resources.
Getting more involved
• Screen pediatric and geriatric patients in key clinical settings.
• Host hunger outreach programs.
• Expand nutrition education, and create a teaching kitchen.
• Provide discounts for hospital cafeteria food.
Partnering with the community
• Host farmers’ markets or farm stands at hospitals.
• Donate leftover hospital food to local shelters and feeding programs.
• Prepare meals for community feeding programs and home-delivered meals.
• Support school food service enhancements and school garden programs.
• Sponsor community gardens.
Stories from the field
• UMass Memorial Health Care
• Boston Medical Center
• Massachusetts General Hospital
• Baystate Medical Center
• North Adams Regional Hospital
For more information call 617-723-5000 or download your copy of the  Hospital Handbook.
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