Each year, health centers across America participate in National Health Center Week, a time to celebrate community health centers and the work they do in their communities. Primary Health Network traditionally hosts a community event at their flagship location in Sharon in celebration of National Health Center Week, but with the difficulties the world has faced this year, they decided to take their efforts in a different direction.
PHN recognizes that many people in the communities they serve are struggling in the midst of the pandemic, and as an organization they have implemented various programs to address the social determinants of health, such as food insecurity. A person or family is at risk for food insecurity when they worry that they will run out of food before they have money to buy more. In 2018, an estimated 1 in 9 Americans were food insecure. Having consistent access to healthy food can greatly affect a person’s health, and with many Americans out of work due to the pandemic, food insecurity has become more a more prevalent issue in recent months.
During National Health Center Week, PHN held a donation drive where employees designated a portion of their paycheck to be given to a food pantry in PHN’s service area. To further address food insecurity, Primary Health Network matched all employee donations at a 5:1 ratio. Employee donations totaled $10,700 and with PHN’s match, a total of $64,200 was distributed throughout each of their service areas. Those food pantries who received a donation include:
Ashtabula County
- Andover United Methodist Church: $3,075
Beaver County
- Twelve Loaves Soup Kitchen: $15,000
Blair County
- Altoona Food Bank: $3,075
Butler County
- Salvation Army of Butler: $3,075
Clarion County
- Zion Church: $3,075
Cambria County
- St. Vincent de Paul: $3,075
Crawford County
- Titusville Area Food Bank: $3,075
Erie County
- Second Harvest Food Bank of NWPA: $3,075
Indiana County
- Chevy Chase Community Center: $3,075
Jefferson County
- Cross Town Ministries Food Pantry: $3,075
Lawrence County
- City Rescue Mission: $3,075
Mercer County
- Community Food Warehouse: $3,075
Mifflin County
- New Life Church Food Pantry: $3,075
Northumberland County
- Our Lady of Hope Food Pantry: $3,075
Schuylkill County
- Schuylkill Food Network operated by Schuylkill Community Action: $3,075
Venango County
- Community Services of Venango County: $3,075
Westmoreland County
- Westmoreland County Food Bank: $3,075