Salem Hospital Golf Classic Tees Up to Fight Food Insecurity

SALEM, Mass. – On Monday, Sept. 13, more than 100 golfers of all ability levels, representing many of the region’s prominent businesses, including the event’s presenting sponsor Commonwealth Radiology and hole-in-one sponsor Acura of Peabody, participated in Salem Hospital’s 2021 Golf Classic. The one-day event, which was held at the Salem Country Club, raised more than $100,000 to support a Community Farm Pilot Program in Lynn and address increasing food insecurity in the North Shore community.

Event co-chairs Dr. David J. Roberts, Salem Hospital President, and David W. Ives, Salem Hospital Chairman of the Board spoke about the increased need for healthy food during the pandemic and how the pilot program will help the Hospital to ensure that its patients and community have access to nutritious, affordable options.

“The Community Farm Pilot Program is an important way we can help patients and residents nourish themselves with sustainably grown produce while helping to rebuild a sense of community after the social isolation of the pandemic,” says Dr. Roberts. “Our work to help nourish neighbors in need is more important than ever right now and we’re so grateful for those that came out to support our mission and play golf today.”

Food insecurity rose significantly during the pandemic and has yet to decline to pre-pandemic levels. From 2019 to 2020, local food pantries in Lynn reported a 400 percent increase in demand, as many in our community lost jobs and income due to the COVID-19 health and economic crisis. A recent survey in the city, reported that one if five Lynn residents faced food insecurity at some time over the past year.

Now screening patients for social determinants of health, such as access to safe housing, food and other necessities, Salem Hospital has quantified food insecurity as a key issue in the community. To address this vital public health need, the hospital and its colleagues in North Shore Physicians Group (NSPG) are launching a new Community Farm Pilot Program on the former Union Hospital Campus in Lynn. One hundred percent of funds raised through the Salem Hospital 2021 Golf Classic will support the anti-hunger initiative.

“Nutrition directly affects health outcomes, including our ability to fight off disease, such as the COVID-19 virus,” says Dr. Christine Valdes, a family medicine specialist at North Shore Physicians Group (NSPG). “Increasing access to fresh fruits and vegetables is one way to keep our community healthy.” NSPG primary care physicians screen patients for food insecurity and other determinant of health and where indicated, connected them with community support resources.

For more information or to make a donation to help support the launch of the Community Farm Pilot Program, visit: https://nsmcgiving.partners.org/golfclassic/.

About Salem Hospital

Salem Hospital is a member of Mass General Brigham, an academic healthcare system founded by Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital that is uniting great minds to make life-changing impact for patients in local communities and around the world. Serving the North Shore community for more than 100 years, Salem Hospital provides innovative medical, surgical and psychiatric care through an array of inpatient, outpatient and virtual settings including Salem Hospital, the Epstein Center for Behavioral Health, North Shore Physicians Group and a medical staff of nearly 700 physicians practicing in a wide range of specialties. For more information, please visit nsmc.partners.org. For information about Mass General Brigham, visit massgeneralbrigham.org.

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