SMH on Monday opened its Southtown Creek Café cafeteria to provide free breakfast and lunch for SNAP card holders and government employees. Meals will be served Monday through Friday at the hospital, 7870W U.S. 2 in Manistique. Breakfast will be available from 7:30 to 9 a.m., while lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Families are invited to visit during posted hours and present their SNAP card to receive complimentary meals. Government workers can also attend and request the meals. Each participating household will also receive one dozen eggs, a gallon of milk and a loaf of bread per week to help supplement essential nutrition needs.

“Food insecurity has a direct impact on the health and well-being of families in our community,” said Jessica Baker, patient navigator at SMH. “Our goal is to make sure that no one goes hungry and that every family feels supported during this challenging time.”

In addition to the free meal program, SMH is making soup for the local soup kitchen to assist with rising food costs and further extend its mission beyond the hospital walls.

At Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital, Rachel Leckson and Jessica Baker stand at a table with food that will be given out to SNAP card holders and government workers. (Courtesy photo)

“Our staff truly embodies the SMH culture of caring for our community as if they were our own family,” said Robert Mach, CEO. “We are incredibly proud of our team for coming together to support local families during this time of need.”

Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital is a critical access hospital serving Schoolcraft County and the surrounding communities. SMH offers a wide range of services, including primary care, emergency medicine, surgery, rehabilitation, imaging and more.