Augusta, Ga. (March 26, 2024) – Piedmont Augusta celebrated National Nutrition Month with a food drive and informational event addressing barriers across the community to accessing healthy food.

Piedmont Augusta Food and Nutrition Services staff reached “Beyond the Table” to bring awareness to food insecurity that our patients and other community members face.

Piedmont Augusta dietitians, in addition to representatives from Golden Harvest Food Bank, GAP Ministries, Salvation Army, CSRA Regional Commission and Augusta Locally Grown, shared local food insecurity data and resources available to help address this critical social determinant of health.

All food collected at the event was donated to GAP Ministries, a nonprofit organization founded in 1979 to assist people in need across the greater Augusta community with food, hygiene products and assistance with achieving independence.

Event coordinator, Registered Dietitian Angie Johnson, was pleased with the turnout and hopes to make this a recurring event, expanding resources and participation.

“So many of our patients are discharged from acute care and return to their lives incapable of optimal recovery because of limited access to nutritional food, the knowledge of the components of a nutritious diet and resources available to address both,” Johnson said. “We want to increase awareness of community resources that are available, and in doing so, we can improve the health of our patients and our community.”

Christine McDowell, Piedmont Augusta Community Relations Specialist, is hopeful this newly formed consortium will make a measurable impact on conditions exacerbated by poor nutrition.

“In response to the findings of our 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment, Piedmont Augusta and Piedmont McDuffie’s priorities are to reduce preventable instances and death from heart disease and cancer, and to promote healthy behaviors to reduce preventable conditions and diseases,” McDowell explained. “Forming partnerships to help our patients and community members access healthier food falls right in line with these priorities and Piedmont’s mission to make a positive difference in every life we touch.”