Hackensack Meridian Health Day of Connection Donates $500,000 Worth of Warming Kits And Doordash Gift Cards To Shelters Across New Jersey This Holiday Season

Additional photos / videos available courtesy Hackensack Meridian Health

Photos and video available for use through the links above courtesy Hackensack Meridian Health

It’s the season of giving, and Hackensack Meridian Health is giving back by supporting the communities it serves. New Jersey’s largest health network, and home to the number one hospital in the NY/NJ metro area, and top 20 in the nation hospital, Hackensack University Medical Center, is donating nearly $500,000 dollars worth of winter items and food gift cards to more than 200 shelters across the state.

Hackensack Meridian Health harnessed the power of its 38,000 team members across its 18 hospitals in a Day of Connection to pack more than 10,000 warming bags complete with adult and child sized gloves, hats, neck gaiters and socks to be donated to shelters and warming centers throughout New Jersey. The warming bags will be given out to those in need with a $40 DoorDash gift card for use on food and other necessities including toiletries and diapers this holiday season.

“At Hackensack Meridian Health, our commitment extends far beyond the walls of our hospitals. The Day of Connection embodies our core mission to build healthier communities and provide compassionate support to those who need it most, particularly during the holiday season,” said Hackensack Meridian Health CEO, Robert C. Garrett, FACHE. “The stark reality is that homelessness deeply impacts a person's well-being. I am deeply honored to participate and am incredibly proud of our team members across the network who volunteered their time and energy to make this day a success, demonstrating profound empathy and professionalism. By mobilizing our people and providing essential resources to our most vulnerable neighbors across New Jersey, we are actively addressing the underlying factors that affect health. This initiative is a powerful reflection of our network's dedication to making a real, tangible difference and ensuring every individual is treated with the dignity and care they deserve.”

The donations totaling nearly $500,000 are made possible thanks to generous donations to the Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation, committed to addressing social impact including access to healthy food and housing.

“The holiday Day of Connection is a vital opportunity to address the critical link between social factors and community wellness. For individuals experiencing homelessness, basic needs like food security and shelter are immediate health crises,” said Nicole Harris-Hollingsworth, Ed.D., MCHES, Senior Vice President, Social Impact & Population Health at Hackensack Meridian Health. “Through this initiative, we are not just providing donations, we are purposefully tackling systemic barriers. We understand that stable access to nutritious food, warmth, and basic necessities is foundational to any successful health outcome. Our efforts are focused on integrating social impact into our health strategy, ensuring we meet our neighbors where they are and provide the holistic support needed to foster resilience and equitable health across New Jersey.”

Recipients will also receive information about Hackensack Meridian’s Healthy Connections program, which offers resources including Fresh Match, a nutritional incentive program whose goal is to increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables for those receiving SNAP benefits, a crucial lifeline of healthy options after a period where SNAP benefits were left in limbo earlier this year. Healthy Connections also offers medically tailored meals and connection to additional community resources.