Cleveland Hospitals Help Feed Over 4,000 Families in Need Ahead of Thanksgiving

CLEVELAND -- While the holidays are a time for joy and celebration, they can also intensify the strain of food insecurity.

Ahead of Thanksgiving, Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals hosted community giveaways to ensure those in need could enjoy a nourishing holiday meal. More than 4,000 families received meals or grocery gift cards through events held at multiple sites.

On Nov. 22, Cleveland Clinic prepared and delivered turkey dinners to neighbors in Akron, Canton, Cleveland, East Cleveland and Lodi. Each meal included mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, a roll, pumpkin pie and bottled water.

Throughout the month, University Hospitals held six different events and employee volunteers distributed turkeys, fresh produce, non-perishable food items and grocery gift cards to families at the UH Community Wellness Center at Bedford, Glenville, and Richmond Heights, as well as at UH Rainbow Ahuja Center for Women & Children in the Hough neighborhood. Healthy food was also distributed to patients’ homes. More than 11,000 pounds of food were provided to families, and additional distributions are being planned for December.

The holiday distributions were made possible thanks to the dedication of numerous volunteers, many who are employees of the health systems, and the generous support of several local organizations and companies:

• Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority
• Coca-Cola
• Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority
• East Mount Zion Baptist Church
• Fairfax Renaissance Development Corporation
• Famicos Foundation
• Giant Eagle
• Meijer
• Morrison Healthcare
• Stark Metropolitan Housing Authority
• The City Mission
• YMCA of Greater Cleveland and Y-Haven
• Maple Heights Food Pantry and City of Maple Heights
• City of Bedford
• City of Richmond Heights

“This collaborative effort reflects our shared commitment to caring beyond the walls of our hospitals. By coming together and sharing our resources, we’re making sure families can focus on celebrating the holiday instead of wondering how they’ll put food on the table,” said Monica Yepes-Rios, M.D., medical director for Cleveland Clinic’s Community Health and Food as Medicine department at Cleveland Clinic. “This is what community looks like – neighbors, helping neighbors.”

The annual Thanksgiving giveaways are part of a broader strategy by both institutions to address social drivers of health. By leveraging their resources and community partnerships, Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals are working to close gaps in access to nutritious food across Northeast Ohio.

“University Hospitals is dedicated to bringing resources to the communities we serve, and our neighbors will have a Thanksgiving meal to eat together because of these outreach efforts,” said Celina Cunanan, MSN, APRN-CNM, Chief Health Impact Officer at UH. “Through a comprehensive approach to health and wellness, UH’s Community Wellness Centers offer support and education to areas that are adversely impacted by health disparities, diseases, and socioeconomic barriers to optimal health. We appreciate our surrounding cities of Bedford, Glenville, Maple Heights and Richmond Heights and organizational partners for helping us make these holiday events possible.”

Cleveland Clinic recently donated another $2 million to support regional food banks in the communities it serves throughout Ohio, Florida and Nevada. This is on top of $10.4 million it pledged in 2023 to fund initiatives, including a new teaching kitchen at Cleveland Clinic’s Langston Hughes Community Health and Education Center; a food voucher and grocery delivery service program for patients who have food insecurity and their families; Nourish Plus Food Pharmacies, to prescribe healthy food options for pediatric and pregnant patients as well as the public; and community food pantries now available at four locations throughout its health system.

UH works year-round to provide surrounding communities with various resources to help them live healthy lives. In 2024, more than 5,500 people received fruits, vegetables and other items via a UH Food for Life Market®; nearly 3,200 residents engaged in health education, fitness and nutrition classes through UH Community Wellness Centers; more than 5,400 meals were served to children through the Summer Lunch Program; more than 1,950 patients were screened for social needs at the UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Ahuja Center for Women & Children; and Rainbow Connects served more than 2,000 families via the walk-in resource center, providing diapers, emergency formula and food.

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