Residents of New Beginnings, a Hutchinson organization that provides emergency shelter to the area homeless, is a daily recipient of perishable food items left over each day at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center.

Kevin Miller, F.A.C.H.E., President and CEO of Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System, said the program was initiated in 2011, to prevent waste and to assist an agency in Hutchinson that works with our homeless population.

“Needless to say, the hospital’s food and nutrition services department prepares a large quantity of food each day to accommodate our patients, residents of Ray E. Dillon Living Center and diners at the hospital cafeteria,” Miller said. “In the healthcare environment, it is difficult to determine the exact quantity of food required for each day’s operations and, consequently, there are leftovers that will otherwise go to waste unless we have an outlet in the area.”

“At times, there is a substantial quantity of perishable items such as sandwiches, baked goods, and other entrees that are not consumed at the end of the day,” Miller continued.

Under an arrangement established with New Beginnings, a representative of the organization picks up unused items from the previous day early in the morning for delivery to residents at one of their facilities in Hutchinson.

Shara Gonzales, President and CEO of New Beginnings, said the hospital’s donations have, to date, resulted in 1,300 well balanced meals to residents at New Beginnings.

“New Beginnings is very grateful for the generosity from Hutchinson Regional Medical Center, and for a number of hospital employees who donate their time to this organization,” Gonzales said.