St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, Summer Meals Programs and CAP4Kids
Title: Summer Meals and CAP4Kids: Connecting Families with Community Resources
Student Interns:
Mohammad (Rafi) Chowdhury
Drexel University College of Medicine
Betty Jackson
Drexel University College of Medicine
Academic Preceptor:
Stacy Ellen, DO, FAAP
Drexel University College of Medicine, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
Community Preceptor:
Daniel R. Taylor, DO
Drexel University College of Medicine, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
Community Site:
Since its founding in 1875, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children has played a prominent role in pediatric healthcare. The hospital is known for its nationally acclaimed programs and skilled pediatric specialists, who deliver outstanding care to families across the Philadelphia region. Staying true to its mission of offering high-quality services in a compassionate and forward-thinking setting, St. Christopher’s collaborates with Nutritional Development Services (NDS), a program of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. For more than four decades, NDS has addressed food insecurity by partnering with both Catholic and non-Catholic organizations to distribute millions of meals annually throughout the community.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student interns focused on addressing food insecurity among children during the summer months, when school meal programs are unavailable. The meals were provided by Nutritional Development Services (NDS) and distributed at St. Christopher’s Hospital to pediatric patients, their families, and community members to ensure consistent access to nutritious meals. The work emphasized community outreach and the importance of meeting basic needs as part of holistic healthcare. In addition, the interns contributed to maintaining and updating the CAP4Kids Philadelphia website, an online resource that connects families with free and low-cost community services. The interns also helped families connect with available resources both within and outside of the hospital setting.
Reflections
“CAP4Kids and the summer lunch distribution are of critical importance to the Philadelphia community, providing much-needed resources for our most vulnerable populations. It has been an incredible experience working at St. Christopher’s, where all of the staff members have demonstrated a strong level of compassion and genuine concern for the community. Oftentimes, we would receive unprompted support from so many different departments, including signs and hospital-wide announcements publicizing the free lunches. Our interactions with the families receiving lunches truly filled our hearts with gratitude, seeing the joy of little ones and parents alike, especially when a child hears about chocolate milk. Though we are less likely to witness the impact of the CAP4Kids website, we know that this is an indispensable tool easing accessibility for any Philadelphia family in need. This is a valuable site that many rely on during these summer months, and we were so lucky to be a part of it.”
Mohammad (Rafi) Chowdhury & Betty Jackson