White Plains Hospital eases COVID-19’s impact on the community
The coronavirus surge in New York state had a severe financial impact on families across the state, especially in hot spot areas. Westchester County’s unemployment rate nearly tripled during the COVID-19 pandemic, causing financial hardships throughout the community. In an effort to help its neighbors fight food insecurity, White Plains Hospital partnered with Feeding Westchester to host community food distributions, feeding more than 1,000 households during May and June 2020.
At the food distributions, White Plains Hospital volunteers packed bags containing enough food to help feed a family of four for a week and added flyers containing important information on how people can protect themselves from COVID-19 and what to do if they are exposed or symptomatic. Additionally, masks and hand sanitizers were provided to keep the community safe.
These efforts are part of the many programs and resources offered by the hospital to support the overall health and well-being of the local community. Through the hospital’s strong relationship with community partners, including the City of White Plains, White Plains Housing Authority, El Centro Hispano and the Ministers Fellowship Council, the hospital is able to identify areas of need and serve community members most at risk.
For more information, contact Anna Ritacco, director, community outreach, at (914) 849-2556 or aritacco@wphospital.org.
