Munson Healthcare Donates to Weekend Meal Programs, Expands Support
On November 25 Munson Healthcare announced donations and volunteer support for Blessings in a Backpack programs that provide weekend meals to students. The effort included a donation to Benzie Area Christian Neighbors and plans to extend support to Manistee, and hospital teams packed meals before Thanksgiving as part of broader regional food access investments.
Munson Healthcare announced on November 25 that it has donated funds and provided volunteer support to local Blessings in a Backpack programs that deliver weekend meals to schoolchildren. The announcement named Benzie Area Christian Neighbors, known as BACN, as a current recipient and said Munson plans to extend similar support to the Blessings program in Manistee. Teams from Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital performed hands on meal packing in the days before Thanksgiving to help prepare bags for students.
The release positioned this work within Munson’s broader community health strategy, noting that the donations and volunteer hours are part of recent investments in regional food access initiatives. The statement also included program contacts and figures on local need, designed to help residents and community groups connect with the programs and better understand the scope of weekend food insecurity among children in the region.
For Grand Traverse County residents the announcement underscores partnerships between health systems and community nonprofits to address hunger that affects student health and learning. Blessings in a Backpack programs supply nonperishable meals for weekends when school meals are not available, and additional support from a regional health system can increase the number of children who receive consistent nutrition. Volunteer packing events also create opportunities for local employees and citizens to contribute directly.
Local schools and families may see practical benefits if neighboring programs scale up and if Munson’s investments in food access expand across its service area. The Novem ber 25 release suggests further collaboration may follow as the health system aligns community benefit activities with public health goals. Residents interested in volunteering, donating, or learning more about local need were directed to the program contacts provided in Munson’s announcement and to the health system’s news release for additional details.
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