Baystate Medical Center residents collect food for Springfield pantry

Dr. Anisha Contractor and Dr. Anthony Esposito, both medicine-pediatric residents at Baystate Medical Center, stand next to some of the food collected by the hospital and donated to The Gray House in Springfield.  (Baystate Health photo)

SPRINGFIELD  -- Residents completing their medicine, medicine-pediatrics, and pediatrics residencies at Baystate Medical Center and Baystate Children's Hospital collected more than 750 pounds of food to assist those in the community.

The fruits of their efforts were delivered to The Gray House at 22 Sheldon St. in the city's North End on Friday, Feb. 15.

"We have an amazing group of residents at Baystate Medical Center who serve the local patient population in the Greater Springfield area on many levels. When they heard the crisis facing their patients, the medicine, pediatrics and medicine-pediatric residents took the matter to heart," said Dr. Kathryn Jobbins, associate program director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Baystate Medical Center. "They believe in caring for all of a patient's needs, including their social determinants of health and basic needs such as having food for themselves and their family."

Their efforts - a friendly competition as well to see which resident teams could raise the most food - were initially sparked by the federal government shutdown which impacted food pantries stretched thinner than usual.

It was the team led by Baystate's pediatric residents that prevailed - collecting 500 lbs. of the food delivered.

"Many of our patients and their families rely on SNAP assistance. When we found out that their benefits would be affected as a result of the government shutdown, we knew we had to help," said pediatric resident Dr. Amara Danielczok.

"We're in awe of the immediate outpouring of support and donations from our pediatrics community here at the hospital," added pediatric resident Dr. Emma Howard-Young.

Teresa Liberti, executive director of The Gray House, noted the donation of food "could not have come at a better time."

"We've seen an increase in need over the last couple of months due to the uncertainty around SNAP benefits. People were really concerned about whether or not they would have food to put on the table. Many of them had never had to turn to a food pantry before, so we found ourselves welcoming many new faces and walking them through the process so that they could feel comfortable and get the food they needed," said Liberti.

"In addition, the weather impacts our ability to get our weekly deliveries of food and because of the recent storm, we had to cancel our delivery, so this donation was truly a blessing and ensures that we have ample food to give to the individuals and families who seek assistance at The Gray House," she added.

The Market at Gray House distributes groceries every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and on the second and fourth Fridays of the month from 4-6 p.m.

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