SSM Health Waupun
5/23/24
WAUPUN — SSM Health recently donated $500 to the Waupun Food Pantry thanks to a grassroots effort that raised more than $8,375 in total to help feed the hungry in Wisconsin. Together, employees created and designed a cookbook featuring family favorite, taste-tested recipes.
Titled Memorable Meals, the cookbook features more than 100 recipes, stories about the dishes and photographs of the many caregivers who submitted them. The collection of recipes, which celebrate the diversity of our teams, includes foods from around the world from countries such as Colombia, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, and Venezuela. Many of the recipes have been handed down through the generations.
The cookbook was Inspired by SSM Health’s ongoing commitment to improving access to healthy meals for those who are food insecure.
“The recipes are terrific and the touching stories our employees shared about their heritage just strengthened our appreciation for the value that diversity brings to our organization,” says Sue Anderson, SSM Health Wisconsin regional president. “We couldn’t be prouder of this grassroots effort that has connected so many people and raised awareness about food insecurity.”
All donations raised through the cookbook sales are benefiting seven food pantries across Dane, Fond du Lac, Green, Rock, and Sauk Counties.
“I shop for groceries a lot to keep the shelves full because we are busier,” according to Terri Respalje, Waupun Food Pantry manager. “At this time, we’re getting more families where for a while we were serving more senior citizens or single people. We can always buy diapers and wipes as that is always a need. We always need things like toilet paper and toothpaste and soap because that is so important to give out as it is almost an extra for some people. We want children to be able to go to school clean and fresh so they can advance. That’s so important. This kind donation will help supply the food pantry for about three weeks.”
