Nursing Students who will earn while they learn, Father's Day 5K: Seacoast health news

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital awards $30K for Fresh Food Bus

DOVER – Wentworth-Douglass Hospital has awarded a $30,000 community benefit grant to support Gather’s Fresh Food Bus, which provides a mobile market of fresh foods for food insecure families.

Portsmouth-based Gather, a non-profit dedicated to food insecurity, introduced the bus last year to make fresh, nutritious food more accessible to underserved families who face transportation barriers. The bus makes about 14 stops per month, including biweekly at Wentworth-Douglass. It serves an average of 40 families per visit to the hospital, most of whom are either patients or part of a hospital-affiliated social service program.

“We are proud to support Gather and their Fresh Food Bus initiative, which exemplifies our commitment to holistic health care,” said Meaghan Heusler, community benefits manager at Wentworth-Douglass. “Gather is one of the oldest social service agencies in the country, but this is a great example of their continued commitment to innovation, and we are extremely grateful for the support they provide our patients and community.”

Food insecurity remains a significant issue for communities in the Greater Seacoast region. New Hampshire Hunger Solutions recently reported that 44% of adults and more than half (52%) of New Hampshire children live in households that reported having insufficient food.  Inflated food prices and the rollback of pandemic-area safety net programs are contributing to the crisis.

With the additional funding from Wentworth-Douglass, Gather intends to serve an additional 20 families per bus visit (increasing the total to 60) and provide a balanced selection of fresh produce, meats, dairy, bread, and other essential non-perishable items to program participants.

"We extend our gratitude to Wentworth-Douglass for their generous support of Gather's Fresh Food Bus initiative, which not only helps us address food insecurity, but also underscores their dedication to the health and wellness of the community,” said Gather executive director Anne Hayes. “We are proud that together we are making a tangible difference in the lives of underserved families across the Seacoast.”

Father's Day 5K supports community health

DOVER — Registration is now open for Greater Seacoast Community Health’s annual Father’s Day 5K. This event to be held on Sunday, June 16 at 9 a.m. in Dover. Runners and walkers of all ages and abilities are invited to participate in this family-friendly run/walk. Event proceeds help individuals and families gain access to health care and family support services through Greater Seacoast’s network of community health centers. These include Families First Health & Support Center in Portsmouth and Goodwin Community Health in Somersworth.

The Father’s Day 5K is a part of the Dover Race Series and is run on a USA Track and Field certified course. Anyone who registers before June 1 receives a free race tank or t-shirt.  In addition, families are invited to visit the Kids Fun Zone before, after, or during the race. The Kids Fun Zone has age-appropriate games and activities for younger participants.

Registration is open at tinyurl.com/fathers-day-5k . The cost is $25 for teens and adults, $5 for children under 12. Same-day registration is available beginning at 8:00 a.m. and the race will begin at 9 a.m. For more information visit getcommunityhealth.org .

Portsmouth Regional Hospital welcomes New England College Nursing Students who will earn while they learn

PORTSMOUTH Portsmouth Regional Hospital hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday, May 6, to welcome its first cohort of nursing students from New England College (NEC). The cohort of 20 students is enrolled in NEC’s three-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. This program uniquely allows students to earn while they learn by combining traditional classroom learning with paid immersive cooperative clinical experiences at partner hospitals throughout New Hampshire. The partnership between NEC and Portsmouth Regional Hospital, part of the HCA Healthcare family of healthcare services, was announced in January.

During three paid immersive clinical experiences, NEC nursing students work as licensed nursing assistants (LNAs) alongside experienced nurse preceptors and NEC faculty, gaining realworld experience that accelerates their training and enables them to graduate in three years instead of four.

NEC will be part of four additional cohort kickoff events this summer: Cheshire Medical Center in Keene on May 20, Elliot Hospital in Manchester on May 22, Parkland Medical Center in Derry on June 3, and Concord Hospital—Laconia on June 5. Learn more about NEC’s three-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing at www.nec.edu/nursing.

Annual Kites Against Cancer event planned for May 19

EXETER – The community is invited to come fly a kite at Exeter Hospital’s annual Kites Against Cancer event on Sunday, May 19 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hampton Beach, near the Oceanfront Pavilion. This uplifting family event invites community members to spend an afternoon at the beach surrounded by family, friends and neighbors in support and in memory of those affected by cancer.

The event is free and open to the public.  As in past years, kites will be available to decorate and personalize in memory or in honor of a loved one. Kites will be available to purchase at the event for $10 each, which will support Exeter Hospital’s Beyond the Rainbow Fund, providing financial assistance to cancer patients in need with expenses such as groceries, utilities, gas, and rent/mortgage payments, as well as any other practical needs that may become unmanageable during their treatment.

For additional information about Kites Against Cancer and opportunities to get involved, visit unitedinwellness.org.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Nursing Students who will earn while they learn, Father's Day 5K: Seacoast health news