News
Collaboration yields successful pop-up food pantry, information fair at Weston Field
The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education and the American College of Physicians’ Pennsylvania (PA-ACP), Eastern Chapter, gave away more than 60 bags of nonperishable food and seasonal clothing items during their second annual Spring into a Day of Giving Pop-Up Food Pantry on March 14 at Weston Field in Scranton.
More than 100 members of the community also picked up information about dental and behavioral health services available at The Wright Center; “Bags of Warmth” containing cozy socks, a winter hat, gloves, and more; doses of Naloxone, a life-saving medication that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose; information about health insurance; and other community resources from representatives of Lackawanna County and Scranton City government.
“With food prices rising, we know there are many individuals in our communities who are finding it harder to feed their families,” said Gerri McAndrew, director of development and relations for community outreach and co-director of The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement. “We also brought our community health workers to provide information about other kinds of help we can provide – including transportation to and from doctor appointments, assistance with utility bills and housing, and applying for health insurance.”
This was the second time The Wright Center and PA-ACP collaborated to host a pop-up event at Weston Field. Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, serves as governor of the PA-ACP, Eastern Chapter. Staff from The Wright Center, along with resident and fellow physicians from The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education, joined members of the PA-ACP, Eastern Chapter, to volunteer at the event.
“I think this event was bigger and better this year,” said Channel Kearse, an outreach coordinator with the city of Scranton who also participated in last year’s event. “I’m glad we can participate and let people know that the help they’re getting here is available year-round.”
For Dr. Sunny Kumar, an Internal Medicine resident physician at The Wright Center, participating in the event and meeting community members reminded him of the work he did back home in Pakistan.
“My dream is to serve the community, not just as a doctor but as a volunteer,” Dr. Kumar said. “Helping people in the community has always been important to me, and I’m happy to be involved in this work in Scranton, which has become my home.”
Weston Field hosted the second annual Spring into a Day of Giving Pop-Up Food Pantry in March. Volunteers from The Wright Center at the program, included from left, Joe Kelly, community health worker; Linda Thomas- Hemak, president and CEO; Vanessa Bono, community health worker; Kathleen Doyle, director of patient-centered services; and Nicole Sekelsky, director of needs-responsive outreach, engagement, and enrollment.
More than 100 people attended the second annual Spring into a Day of Giving Pop-Up Food Pantry hosted by The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education and the American College of physicians’ Pennsylvania (PA-ACP) Eastern Chapter at Weston Field on March 14. Participating in the program, from left, are Internal Medicine resident Dr. Dhruv Patel, Wright Center President and CEO Linda Thomas- Hemak, and Internal Medicine residents Drs. Omaima Chaudhary and Sunny Kumar.
