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Health System’s Day of Service spotlights food access and housing in LaGrange and other cities.

More than 450 Wellstar employees fanned out in LaGrange, metro Atlanta, and greater Augusta on Nov. 14, volunteering their time to improve access to healthy food and housing by supporting 20 local, community-based organizations.

They packed and distributed food, assisted in community gardens, and sorted food and clothing donations.

“It warms my heart to see so many team members participating in our annual Day of Service,” said Candice L. Saunders, president and CEO of Wellstar Health System. “As a nonprofit, community-based health system, our mission is to enhance the health and well-being of every person we serve, and it’s always exciting to expand that mission outside the walls of our facilities.”

Of the many service projects during Wellstar’s Day of Service, two were held in LaGrange:

• Feeding the Valley

Wellstar volunteers packed food boxes and buddy packs for Feeding the Valley’s 18 county service area mobile pantries. Feeding the Valley began serving the LaGrange area in 1983. Through its Buddy Pack program, mobile pantries, and partner agencies, it distributes enough food to provide about 1.4 million meals annually to people experiencing food insecurity.

• LaGrange Personal Aid

Volunteers assisted with sorting and packing food items for the Interfaith Food Closet. LaGrange Personal Aid provides temporary assistance to Troup County and West Georgia residents during times of distress, illness, and disability. The nonprofit organization helps with rent or mortgage payments, prescriptions, medical transportation, and more.

Background on Wellstar’s Annual Day of Service

Every three years, Wellstar Health System and the Georgia Health Policy Center conduct a Community Health Needs Assessment. Key findings from the 2022 assessment revealed high food insecurity and low access to grocery stores in many of the communities Wellstar serves. According to 2022 data from Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap study, more than 1.4 million Georgians struggle with hunger, including more than 460,000 children. As Georgia’s population grows, affordable housing also remains a pressing concern.

Wellstar held its first Day of Service in 2019. After a hiatus during the pandemic, the event returned in 2023. The impact of this event expands beyond a single Day of Service. Wellstar continues nurturing these community partnerships through ongoing volunteer opportunities and program collaboration.