The Atrium Health Essential Needs Fund was established in March 2020 to support the hospital system’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, hundreds of corporate and community supporters have generously come forward to support Atrium Health patients and teammates, funding vital medical and safety equipment, innovative telehealth technology, and temporary lodging for patient families and caregivers.

A portion of the funds have also been used to feed Atrium Health frontline teammates. Thanks to Charlotte AHEC, Atrium Health Real Estate Group, Atrium Health’s Strategic Services Group, Innovation Engine & Investment Fund, and Cushman Cares, Atrium Health’s Skilled Nursing Facility at Huntersville Oaks and Mobile Coronavirus Testing Units have received more than 13,000 meal donations.

“These meals have been greatly appreciated by teammates as they offer a great reprieve from the elements, in our case the summer heat right now. They also allow our teammates to be more productive in the field to address community needs. Teammates at our mobile roving testing units have tested more than 15,000 patients across 60 sites,” told Trent B. Legare, Assistant Vice President, Community Health and Wellness, Atrium Health.

Donations to the Essential Needs Fund have provided Atrium Health teammates with more than 300 restaurant gift cards, thousands of individual and family style meals to take home, and hundreds of lunches at work. Meal donations are set to end this month as funding is exhausted. Atrium Health Foundation encourages supporters to set up their own personal fundraising pages to continue providing meals to frontline healthcare workers. To learn more, visit this website.