ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind.-- Beacon Health System has announced a collaborative effort to address food insecurity in the region, allowing for families to access nutritious meals in the midst of recent federal changes. 

Through partnerships with Cultivate Food Rescue, the Food Bank of Northern Indiana, and Gordon Food Service, hundreds of premade or frozen meals will be distributed weekly at Community Hospital of Bremen, Elkhart General Hospital, and Memorial Hospital of South Bend.

Meals are distributed on a first come, first serve basis.

In addition, both Memorial Hospital South Bend and Elkhart General Hospital are launching their own on-site food pantries that will be stocked with non-perishable items.

"Our mission calls us to connect with heart, and that means showing up when people need us most." says Chief Executive Officer of Beacon Health System, Kreg Gruber. "Recent changes to food assistance programs are creating a hardship for many families in our community, some within our own Beacon family."

Beacon is also publishing a county-by-county directory of food assistance resources at Beaconhealthsystem.org which will serve as a centralized resource listing various food pantries, meal programs, and assistance options where Beacon operates across northern Indiana and southwest Michigan.

"Addressing food insecurity is central to improving the overall health and well-being of the people we serve." says Kimberly Green Reeves, Vice President, Community Impact & Partnerships of Beacon Health System. "Through this initiative, we are ensuring that our associates and neighbors have access to nutritious meals when they need them most."

More information and location details can be found on the Beacon Health System Food Relief Collaborative page.