Memorial Health System exceeded the fundraising goal for its annual Month of Giving, collecting $66,472.83 to support Hunger Solutions Mid-Ohio Valley.

“Every year, I am amazed at the outpouring of support from our MHS family to support Hunger

Solutions,” said DeeAnn Gehlauf, Memorial Health System’s vice president of business and

organization development and president of Hunger Solutions Mid-Ohio Valley. “But I shouldn’t be

surprised because that is the heart of community-based health care. We truly care about the

people we serve, and we understand the impact of food insecurity on our community, whichmakes it easy to support this cause.”

Memorial Health System is a founding member of Hunger Solutions Mid-Ohio Valley, a not-for-profit focused on raising awareness and helping eliminate hunger in the area. There are an estimated 7,960 food-insecure people living in Washington County, 1,900 of them children. During March, Memorial hosted a variety of internal and external fundraisers, with all

of the proceeds going toward Hunger Solutions and a goal of raising $65,000. Memorial Health team members donated 38 baskets valued at a total of $12,577 for a basket raffle, purchased 50/50 tickets, enjoyed cold treats from Whit’s Frozen Custard, snacked on baked goods from weekly bake sales, purchased Easter eggs and pies and even volunteered to donate paid time off.

Through Hunger Solutions, those donations will support local efforts to fight food insecurity such as food pantries, Southeast Ohio and Mountaineer Food Banks, Go Packs, Junior Farmers Market and Community Food Initiatives, among others.

The money raised could purchase 18,465 boxes of food to support local food pantries, equaling 664,728 meals for those in need, according to a release from the health system.