Penn State Health, Association of Faculty and Friends’ Lion’s Share raise food, funds for families in need

A team helps pack boxes with food for the Lion’s Pantry. They are, from left, Judy Dillon and Julie Groh, both co-chairs of the Association of Faculty and Friends' Lion’s Share; Christopher Davis, chief resident in the Department of Family and Community Medicine; Leesha Helm, co-director of the Beacon Clinic Food as Medicine Program and assistant professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine; and Krishna Patel, Penn State College of Medicine prevention produce program leader.

Penn State Health and the Association of Faculty and Friend’s Lion’s Share collected $4,444.80 and 756 pounds of food for the Lion’s Pantry and the Penn State College of Medicine’s Department of Family and Community Medicine Food as Medicine Program at Beacon Clinic in Harrisburg.

Located on the campus of Hershey Medical Center, the Lion’s Pantry provides essential food to employees and students in need. Beacon Clinic is a free, primary health care clinic in downtown Harrisburg. Family and Community Medicine faculty partner with medical students to bring Beacon Clinic’s clients food along with health screenings and education.

“Beacon Clinic’s Food as Medicine Program is extremely thankful for the generous monetary and food donations provided by the Association of Faculty and Friends to support our event in providing healthy food options and nutritional education to families of the Harrisburg area this holiday season,” said Dr. Michael Partin, co-director of the Food as Medicine Program at Beacon Clinic and an assistant professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine.

“These partnerships represent the heart of Penn State Health’s compassion, service and focus on families, especially those in need,” said Dr. Leesha Helm co-director of the Beacon Clinic Food as Medicine Program and an assistant professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine. “We hope to continue to support the excellent work and patients of Beacon Clinic in years to come.”

The groups placed food bins at locations throughout the health system in early November and December. Penn State Health employees, visitors and patients donated enough healthy food to keep them overflowing. They also filled the money boxes in the cafes at Penn State Health’s acute care hospitals with coins.

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