Mt. Carmel Provides Community Relief During COVID-19 Crisis
New Food Program Supports Residents with Food Insecurity
TRINIDAD, Colo., April 22, 2020 – Mt. Carmel Wellness and Community Center has created a new food program to support those in need during the coronavirus pandemic. Through grant funding and local business support, Mt. Carmel is providing boxes of food to Trinidad and Las Animas County residents struggling to feed their families as a result of job loss, or reduced hours.
Seeing the impact of COVID-19 on their clients and neighbors, the staff at Mt. Carmel applied for an emergency grant to help carry out its mission to keep community members healthy. Enabled by El Pomar Foundation’s generous grant of $7,500, Mt. Carmel began distributing 26 food boxes, on average, per week to residents on April 7, and distribution will continue through the beginning of May.
Noreen Perri of Mt. Carmel Wellness and Community Center delivering a food box to a local resident’s home.Each box includes enough food to prepare six meals for a family of four (24 individual meals per box). Several types of meat, an assortment of fruits and vegetables, and other miscellaneous meal components are provided in each box, as well as healthy recipes are included to utilize the ingredients. Over the course of five weeks, Mt. Carmel staff will deliver food to those who are not mobile and provide a convenient drive-up service to those who are able to pick-up at Mt. Carmel.
“We are so thankful for the support by El Pomar Foundation and our community partners,” said Ashley DiPaola, Mt. Carmel Wellness and Community Center manager. “This generous support will allow us to provide over 3,000 meals to families in need.”
Additional support for Mt. Carmel’s food program was provided by the Purple Toad Social Tap & Grill, who contributed essential perishables for the meals, and by San Isabel Electronic Association and Basin Electric Power Cooperative, who each donated $1,000 to increase the program’s capacity to aid those with food insecurity.
Mt. Carmel staff are already looking forward to the opportunity to distribute more boxes next week. They will reach out to recipients who been referred by local agencies.
Community members wanting to support Mt. Carmel’s efforts can donate at mtcarmelcenter.org or by calling 719.845.4877.
ABOUT MT. CARMEL WELLNESS AND COMMUNITY CENTER
Mt. Carmel Wellness and Community Center is a multifaceted campus that provides integrated healthcare, wellness and community spirit. We promote the rich heritage of Las Animas County. Through community partnerships, we attract business, cultural, and social opportunities.
By providing services to care for both physical and behavioral health issues, Mt. Carmel Wellness and Community Center is on the road to becoming a pioneer in the progressive model of integrated healthcare in Southern Colorado. A wide-variety of wellness programs are offered including the prevention and management of chronic disease, weight loss, tobacco cessation, exercise, substance abuse and much more. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mt. Carmel has transitioned many of its health and wellness programs to free, virtual classes.
In partnership with Mt. Carmel Wellness and Community Center, Salud Family Health Centers opened a medical clinic on Mt. Carmel’s campus in January, 2018, becoming the first federally qualified healthcare center (FQHC) in Trinidad, CO. In February, 2020, Salud opened a dental clinic on the campus, which is now temporarily closed in adherence to state and local public health orders. Mt. Carmel Wellness and Community Center is located at 911 Robinson Avenue, Trinidad CO 81082. For more information, visit Mt. Carmel Wellness and Community Center and like us on Facebook.
MEDIA CONTACT
Gina Sacripanti
gsacripanti@phillong.com
719.575.7016
