Cup of Care

2026 Update

In 2011, we launched the Cup of Care Program, an initiative created to nourish both body and spirit for patients and their families. With every discharge, we offer a generous serving of homemade soup, symbolizing our commitment to care that extends beyond the hospital stay. Our mission is simple: every patient who leaves Onslow Memorial should feel supported, valued, and remembered long after they walk out our doors.

The Cup of Care program brings a piece of Onslow Memorial’s compassion into each patient’s home. We believe healing continues after discharge, and a warm bowl of soup offers comfort and reassurance during those first hours and days at home.

Since its inception, the program’s impact has grown remarkably. In our first year, we sent 5,600 bowls of soup home with patients. By 2025, that number had risen to 9,550, proof of how deeply this gesture resonates with our community.

The response from our patients has been overwhelmingly positive. One recent SurgiCare patient called the gesture “an absolutely wonderful and sweet touch” to her experience, emphasizing how something as simple as a bowl of soup can make a huge difference. She loves sharing this story with friends, who are always amazed. As she puts it, “That’s how they are at Onslow Memorial Hospital—that’s what they do!”

None of this would be possible without the dedication of our Food and Nutrition Services Team, especially cook Lineatte “Chop” Cruz, whose passion and care help make every bowl special.