When we think about the ever-growing variety of treatments that get patients on the road to health, we often envision prescription pills or immunotherapies and infusions. However, healthy food is also a vital form of medicine, especially for those dealing with serious illnesses. To promote the power of nutrition and give back to the community, Michelle Sohlich-Miller, BSN, RNC-NIC, a nurse in PAH’s Intensive Care Nursery, and 12 members of the Women’s Health Outreach Group joined MANNA on their 5th Annual Volunteer Day.
MANNA is a non-profit organization that provides medically tailored meals to individuals in Greater Philadelphia who are struggling with life-threatening illnesses like HIV/AIDS, cancer, or renal disease. In an effort to improve each client’s quality of life, MANNA delivers three meals per day, seven days a week, with a side of hope and support. The organization relies on volunteers to cook and deliver meals, and more than 6,500 volunteers donate 54,000 hours of their time annually. The PAH volunteers certainly made their time in the kitchen count: they made 1,000 servings of quiche, cut 300 pounds of potatoes, portioned nearly 400 servings of beef, and prepared fruit, string beans, and shrimp for the next day’s group to assemble and package.
“We did a lot of work that day!” Sohlich-Miller said triumphantly. She became connected to the organization after volunteering as an AIDS Buddy. Her buddy received daily meals when MANNA initially catered only to HIV/AIDS patients, and she was eager to get involved. The Women’s Health Outreach Group now strives to volunteer at the kitchen three or four times a year.
“We really enjoy our volunteer days because not only are we helping people, but it really is so much fun! It’s always wonderful to laugh with your colleagues and connect with the MANNA staff. In just a few hours, we can make a big impact, and it feels great to play a part in someone’s healing," she said.
The experience also hit close to home for two other members of the group who realized their parents might benefit from MANNA meals. After learning about the available meal plans and how each plan is tailored to support individuals’ specific dietary needs, they decided to apply on behalf of their parents. “By volunteering their time, they discovered a valuable resource for their families,” Sohlich-Miller said. “Next time we go, we might be making meals for our coworkers’ parents!”