Press releases

Yale-New Haven Hospital news release
Release date: May 13, 2005
Media contact: Mark D'Antonio, (203) 688-2493

Casa Otoņal has a full plate thanks to Yale-New Haven Hospital's Food Rescue Program

Yale-New Haven Hospital has launched a new program called Food Rescue that donates daily leftovers from the hospital's food services to Casa Otoņal, Inc. Casa Otoņal is a social service agency in New Haven's Hill neighborhood that provides support services to low-income minority elderly, children and families.

"I knew there were people in the city who are homeless or who simply do not have enough to eat," said Michael Bennick, MD, associate chief of medicine at Yale-New Haven Hospital, who began the program in February and hopes to see it serve as a model for other institutions in the area. "I also knew there is always food left over after meetings at Yale-New Haven Hospital, and I imagined that at the end of the day there was always food in the cafeteria and the kitchen. I thought wouldn't it be wonderful if we could match our excess with the community's needs?"

Dr. Bennick designed the program with the help of Linda Kantor, a longtime volunteer at Casa Otoņal; Elaine Ogle, registered dietitian, assistant director of food and nutritional services at Yale-New Haven Hospital; and Eneida Arroyo, residence manager for Casa Otoņal.

Now, early each morning, the hospital's food and nutrition staff repackages, labels and dates appropriate leftover food items from the day before. At about 11 a.m., a truck from Casa Otoņal pulls up outside the hospital's main cafeteria and loads up on soup, bagels, sandwiches, vegetables and other items. The menu varies depending on everything from the number of patients on a given day to nice weather that drives cafeteria customers outside for lunch. "We don't encourage overproduction, but since we make all of our packaged products fresh daily, we always have some leftovers," said Ogle.

While donating food was once a legal risk for institutions, the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act signed by President Bill Clinton in 1996 essentially frees of liability donors of food to a nonprofit organization. The act is named for the late Bill Emerson, a Republican congressman from Missouri who pushed for this legislation. At Yale-New Haven Hospital, the food and nutrition staff still makes sure all food items donated meet food safety guidelines.

"Our residents are very happy about the program," said Arroyo, whose staff distributes the food to 125 elderly residents every day. "Some are on Social Security, some are on other assistance and some don't receive any support, so this food helps a lot. They are very grateful when they get it, and it gives us a sense of security to know that they will have something on their tables."

Reporters: For more information on this release, contact Mark D'Antonio, (203) 688-2493.

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Last revised: June 23, 2005 (mv)

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