SSM St Mary’s in Janesville is implementing a new food resource program for patients thanks to a collaboration with ECHO.

SSM Community Health Director Megan Timm says they wanted to build programming around food insecure patients, and they’re launching the program in the Family Birth Suites.

ECHO Executive Director Jessica Locher says new families who share a need for food will be sent home with a weeks worth of emergency groceries, as well as education about local resources that can help with food security options.

Timm says there are plans for the “Basket of Hope” program to be offered to other hospital patients in the future.