North Shore University Hospital leaders work Island Harvest Food Bank farm

The Island Now
Volunteers from North Shore University Hospital (NSUH) recently spent time harvesting vegetables and performing land cleanup at a farm run by the nonprofit Island Harvest Food Bank. Jon Sendach, deputy executive director at NSUH, and Kerri Scanlon, RN, deputy chief nurse executive at Northwell Health, led the team of hospital leaders during the immersive half-day visit to work the two-acre organic farm in Brentwood on September 23. The Island Harvest Food Bank farm offers nutritious options for its network of approximately 400 Long Island-based food pantries, soup kitchens and other nonprofit organizations that offer feeding services for people struggling with hunger and food insecurity across Nassau and Suffolk counties. “I want to thank Island Harvest Food Bank for hosting North Shore University Hospital and letting our staff learn more about what it takes to feed Long Islanders,” Sendach said. “What an incredible team-building experience for us to be out on the farm and it’s humbling to know that we helped contribute in some small fashion to the goal of extinguishing food insecurity.” Healthy food options are equally important for patients in a hospital setting, which is why Northwell Health uses a three-prong strategy that empowers patients to improve their unique needs through food. By using EATS (educate, access, transport, and support), the goal is to nourish and nurture patients and their communities to achieve their full potential in a sustainable way. (Photo courtesy of Northwell Health)

Volunteers from North Shore University Hospital (NSUH) recently spent time harvesting vegetables and performing land cleanup at a farm run by the nonprofit Island Harvest Food Bank.

Jon Sendach, deputy executive director at NSUH, and Kerri Scanlon, RN, deputy chief nurse executive at Northwell Health, led the team of hospital leaders during the immersive half-day visit to work the two-acre organic farm in Brentwood on September 23. The Island Harvest Food Bank farm offers nutritious options for its network of approximately 400 Long Island-based food pantries, soup kitchens and other nonprofit organizations that offer feeding services for people struggling with hunger and food insecurity across Nassau and Suffolk counties.

“I want to thank Island Harvest Food Bank for hosting North Shore University Hospital and letting our staff learn more about what it takes to feed Long Islanders,” Sendach said. “What an incredible team-building experience for us to be out on the farm, and it’s humbling to know that we helped contribute in some small fashion to the goal of extinguishing food insecurity.”

Healthy food options are equally important for patients in a hospital setting, which is why Northwell Health uses a three-prong strategy that empowers patients to improve their unique needs through food. By using EATS (educate, access, transport, and support), the goal is to nourish and nurture patients and their communities to achieve their full potential in a sustainable way.

Submitted by Northwell Health.

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