Onslow Memo­r­i­al Hos­pi­tal and Unit­ed Way of Onslow Coun­ty Team Up to Fight Child­hood Hunger

Onslow Memorial Hospital has teamed up with the United Way of Onslow County for Every Kid Healthy Week to make sure students in Onslow County have food on the weekends.

On April 23rd Onslow Memorial Hospital (OMH) will host their CHEW! (Children Health Eating on Weekends) food drive and pack-out event in awareness of Every Kid Healthy Week. OMH will continue to collect food donations until April 22nd for the United Way CHEW! Program that supports food-insecure children in Onslow County. The goal for this event is to pack 750 backpacks for students.

OMH and United Way of Onslow County have partnered to help meet the basic needs of children in Onslow County Schools. The need continues to grow in the community and OMH will be collecting and packing food for 38 schools and packing 750 bags.

Items needed are:

• 1500 cans of meat (chili, Vienna sausages, canned tuna, canned chicken)

• 750 packs of ramen

• 750 fruits (applesauce, canned fruit)

• 750 kinds of pasta (Mac and Cheese Cups, Single Serve Pasta dishes)

• 1500 breakfast items (pop-tarts, oatmeal, single-serve cereal)

• 1500 snacks (individual packages of cookies, fruit snacks, individual popcorn bags, etc.)

• 750 cans of vegetables

“Data published in the most recent State of the County Health Report concluded that 13.4% of adults and children in Onslow County are considered food insecure," said Erin Tallman, Senior Vice President of Patient Advocacy/Compliance Officer at Onslow Memorial Hospital. "We know that the health of our community extends beyond the walls of the hospital, and by partnering with United Way, we can help reduce food insecurity in our community and keep our children focused on their school work."

Every Kid Healthy Week is an annual celebration of school health and wellness achievements. During the week, the focus is on initiatives to improve the health and wellness of children. The child health focus dates include Mindfulness Monday, social and Emotional Health, Tasty Tuesday, Nutrition Education, Wellness Wednesday, Physical Activity, Thoughtful Thursday, Risk Prevention and Education, and Family Friday, Family Engagement.

Anyone can take action during Every Kid Healthy Week, such as donating food to the OMH food drive. Community members can drop off food donations until April 22nd in the OMH Main Lobby. For large food donations or monetary donations, please reach out to Shelly Kieweg, Community Impact Director at (910) 347-2646 or email skieweg@uwonslow.org. For additional information on Every Kid Healthy Week, visit actionforhealthykids.org.