The effort, part of HCA Healthcare's systemwide campaign to address food insecurity, was bolstered by a $15,000 financial contribution from Mission Hospital to MANNA FoodBank.
More than 5,000 pounds of non-perishable food were donated at Mission Hospital and CarePartners alone, directly benefiting MANNA FoodBank and Loving Food Resources in Asheville.
A System-Wide Commitment to WNC Communities
The drive's impact stretched across the region, with donations collected at regional hospitals including:
Angel Medical Center
Highlands-Cashiers Hospital
Mission Hospital McDowell
Transylvania Regional Hospital
These hospitals ensured their collections went to their respective local food pantry partners, keeping the support targeted within their immediate communities.
Addressing the Most Challenging Time for Food Banks
Mission Health officials emphasized that the annual drive is timed to help stock pantry shelves during one of the most challenging times of the year for food banks. The contributions are vital for supporting emergency food distributions and providing year-round assistance to local families in need.
Greg Lowe, CEO of Mission Health and Mission Hospital, said in a statement: "Our partnership with MANNA FoodBank and our local community organizations reflects our shared mission of supporting individuals and families across Western North Carolina. I'm incredibly proud of our teams for coming together in such a meaningful way… This is the heart of who we are at Mission Health — people helping people.”
The health system concluded by thanking employees, volunteers, and partner organizations for their generous contributions to the effort.
WNCTimes