Columbia Memorial | Health Compass | Fall 2018

COLUMBIA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL 2111 Exchange St. Astoria, OR 97103 Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Walla Walla, WA Permit No. 44 PLANETREE IN ACTION CMH supports community with food donations Most commercial kitchens throw away a lot of food—it’s a sad secret of the industry. However, Vann Lovett, Nutrition Services Manager, knew there had to be a way to reduce the hospital’s food waste and to share food with people who need it. She was committed to finding a solution. Her search led her to Mary Docherty, founder of Riverfolk, which is a local organization serving area homeless people. Lovett and Nutrition Services have worked with Riverfolk since last May to share usable leftovers to people in the community who may need it. Riverfolk has used the food to run a Sunday homeless brunch, feed residents of low-income apartments and make meals for needy children who visit the Astoria Armory. She has also distributed some food to the Astoria Rescue Mission and Filling Empty Bellies, which provide lunches and dinners for people who are homeless. Lovett says whatever food they can save gets donated to Riverfolk or Filling Empty Bellies, and a representative comes to CMH to pick it up. “It’s a way to benefit the community and decrease waste,” she says. “There isn’t anything we can’t use,” Docherty says. “I cannot begin to tell you how much Riverfolk appreciates CMH. Without [their] help, so many kids would go without a hot and healthy meal. It takes a village.” CMH also signed a letter of support for Filling Empty Bellies, which recently requested a grant from the Oregon Community Foundation. In the program’s first year, Nutrition Services has saved more than $4,400 worth of food from going to waste. Find us on social media! @cmhcommunity @cmhcommunity linkedin.com/company/ columbia-memorial-hospital @cmhcommunity