As part of its 150th anniversary celebration, Saint Francis Healthcare System in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, rallied nearly 200 of its staff members to pack meals for poor and vulnerable people in Southeast Missouri. Through the service project, they packed 33,048 meals over the course of several days.
Saint Francis distributed the meals to community members through two local nonprofits, the Catholic Social Ministry Food Pantry and the Southeast Missouri Food Bank. The meals were dry goods — including fiesta rice, beans, soy and seasoning — that families could cook at home.
The volunteerism is part of a yearlong celebration of Saint Francis' founding that will culminate in September. Elements of the celebration include: a video series with former, long-term and new employees and leaders; an online history page; a Mass; and a large gathering.
Saint Francis traces its origins to 1875 when three Franciscan Sisters responded to the invitation of Fr. Joseph Schmidt, the pastor of St. Mary's Parish in Cape Girardeau, to establish a health care ministry in the community. What began as a 12-patient hospital has grown into the 306-bed tertiary care Saint Francis Medical Center. In addition to that medical center, the parent system Saint Francis Healthcare includes a network of outpatient facilities serving 29 counties in the region. The Saint Francis Healthcare system has nearly 3,000 employees and more than 300 clinical providers.