Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital celebrates “Health Equity Day”

As a mission-based organization, Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital is committed to supporting and giving back to our community members, especially in the areas of their greatest need. On March 24, Mercy Fitzgerald colleagues spent the day spotlighting several programs and initiatives aimed at improving health equity for community members throughout Delaware County.

“We believe great outcomes can be achieved when you take a holistic approach to community wellness, through the formation of meaningful partnerships designed to resolve root causes of recurring public health issues,” said Chris Cullom, president of Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital. “Health Equity Day is a celebration of those partnerships.”

The day began with the presentation of a $75,000 check from Mercy Fitzgerald to the newly established Delaware County Health Department (DCHD). The check was accepted by Melissa Lyon, director of the DCHD. The funds are part of the Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic “It Starts Here” grant, which will support continued COVID-19 vaccination efforts, with a focus on homebound, immigrant and homeless populations.

Next, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held for the renovated Community Hygiene Truck, with Cullom handling the ceremonial scissors. The hygiene truck, which originally launched in October 2021 as part of a program to distribute personal care products to individuals experiencing poverty, was recently upgraded to feature built-in hygiene and telehealth components. The customized box truck is now enabled to offer a handwashing station and provide primary medical care to individuals struggling with homelessness and chronic health conditions. The mobile unit still also distributes free personal care items such as soap, deodorant and toothpaste. The truck is operated through a partnership between Mercy Fitzgerald and Broad Street Ministry, a nonprofit organization that serves people experiencing homelessness throughout Philadelphia.

The spotlight then turned to the Trinity Farm Box program and its distribution site at Mercy Fitzgerald, which was active that day. The Farm Box program provides fresh, healthy foods to community members at no cost. With food insecurity being a major challenge in Delaware County, the Farm Box program is one of only a limited number of options for many residents seeking nutritious foods for themselves and their families.

The day concluded with a virtual training kickoff event for volunteers involved with the Mercy Fitzgerald Surplus Project. The Surplus Project, which launched on April 5, is designed to improve the nutritional health of Delaware County through the distribution of surplus food from Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital to those experiencing food insecurity. Through this program, Mercy Fitzgerald will distribute 100 meals per week to local community members using surplus, untouched food from the hospital’s cafeteria. The program is run by volunteer workers from Mercy Fitzgerald.

While the celebration lasted only a day, health equity is a year-round focus at Mercy Fitzgerald. We are proud of our colleagues’ continuous dedication to addressing social determinants of health in the communities we serve.

Photo Captions

1. A $75,000 check from Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital (MFH) to the Delaware County Health Department (DCHD) is presented during Health Equity Day at MFH on March 24, 2022. Pictured, left to right: (front row) Melissa Lyon, director of the DCHD; Laureen Carlin; Joann Dorr; (back row) Lillian Schonewolf, vice president of Community Health and Well Being, Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic; Debra Track, DCHD; Charles Walmsley, DCHD; Rosemarie Halt, DCHD; Chris Cullom, president of MFH. 
   
    
2. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is held for the recently upgraded Community Hygiene Truck at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital (MFH) during Health Equity Day on March 24, 2022. Pictured, left to right: Raheim Mims, Broad Street Ministry (BSM); Lillian Schonewolf, vice president of Community Health and Well Being, Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic; Joann Dorr; Chris Cullom, president of MFH; Laureen Carlin; Kris Jaeger, BSM; Geremi James, BSM. 
   
    
3. Debra Track, grant manager of Delaware County Health Department (DCHD), and Charles Walmsley, chief financial officer of the DCHD, inspect the interior of the recently upgraded Community Hygiene Truck at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital during Health Equity Day on March 24, 2022. 
   
    
4. Boxes of fresh produce are stacked and ready to distribute at the Trinity Farm Box program distribution site at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital during Health Equity Day on March 24, 2022.