Baptist Makes Donation to Mid-South Food Bank on MLK Day

Memphis, Tenn., - Baptist Memorial Health Care donated canned goods and $9,550 to the Mid-South Food Bank at the National Civil Rights Museum on Monday, Jan. 16, during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day observance.

A portion of the donation includes employee contributions for the Mid-South Food Bank and the remaining funds support a Food Bank initiative aimed at improving the health of diabetics in the Mid-South.

“Today is a great day to make these donations,” said James Huffman, Mid-South Food Bank chair and administrator and CEO of Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto. “This holiday encourages community service and taking action to help others. Through this donation, Baptist will help provide immediate relief to those who suffer from hunger or food insecurity and long-term assistance to newly diagnosed and chronic diabetes patients.”

The diabetes rate in Memphis is more than 12 percent, which is higher than the national average of 8.3 percent. The Diabetes Care Rolling Cart program, compared to a backpack on wheels, is a pilot program designed to help those diagnosed with diabetes manage their disease, prevent hospital readmissions, delay complications and prevent a decline in health status through a three-day supply of diabetic-appropriate food items, shopping lists, menus and recipes.