Gateway Health donates to several local charities during holiday season

PITTSBURGH, Dec. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- As people's budgets are stretched to the brink this holiday season, Gateway Health is offering good will and cheer by collecting donations of food, clothing, diaper supplies, and monetary donations to charities around the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Below is a sampling of recent donations this past week:  

• Water Street Mission (Harrisburg): Gateway Health contributed $14,000 in baby supplies (diapers, wipes and formula) to the Water Street Mission in Harrisburg, a local shelter that aids the homeless and those just getting back on their feet. The Water Street Mission also offers those living in Lehigh Capital area with the following services: food and meals for the homeless, youth ministry, health services, shelter, educational opportunities and job training. Gateway also provided pediatric walkers and canes purchased through their vendor Tom & Jerry's Home Medical Service, located in Connellsville, Pa.

• Pediatria (North Versailles): Health Care for Kids: Gateway Health donated $15,000 in medical supplies (diapers, wipes, formula and pediatric thermometers and blood pressure cuffs) to Pediatria, an innovative provider of center based day healthcare services and private duty in-home nursing. The company is led by a team of pediatric healthcare professionals, focused on delivering clinical services that promote the ultimate level of wellness for medically fragile children, while educating and strengthening the entire family. Children with complex medical problems are cared for by highly skilled nursing professionals.

• Salvation Army Toys for Tots Angel Tree Program: Gateway Health recently donated $600 worth of toys through the Toys for Tots Program through the East Liberty Family Health Center. Members of the health plan's Community Engagement & Sales Team even dressed up as Santa and his elves to provide toys to the pediatric patients.

• Northside Salvation Army and Worship & Service Center: Gateway Health was honored to make a donation of food and clothing to the Northside Salvation Army Worship & Service Center that was the result of a month long food and clothing drive at its Downtown Pittsburgh headquarters. Collecting a nearly 2,000 helpful and necessary items, which included shoes, clothing, jackets, bedding, food and other basic items, Gateway staff delivered the contribution to the Northside site of the Salvation Army on December 12Gateway staff also collected over 2,000 items, which consisted of gloves, coats, hats and scarves that were donated among the practice's three offices. Food that was collected in offices was donated to the Community Food Pantry, allowing deserving families with a nutritious holiday meal.

• Diaper & Supplies Donation to Catholic Charitiesof Pittsburgh: In the spirit of the Christmas season, Gateway Health today delivered over 400 boxes of diapers to Catholic Charities, to be distributed to the parents of infants up to the age of two. The donation, which will supply wipes, formula, and over 35,000 diapers to low-income families in the six counties served by Catholic Charities, marks a new collaboration between the two organizations. Gateway Health is a longstanding supporter of Catholic Charities and an important community partner. Catholic Charities' Pregnancy and Parenting program (P&P) provides pregnancy testing, parenting education and guidance, and tangible items to expectant women and parents of children two and under. The program is partly funded through a grant administered by Real Alternatives, which provides support services as an alternative to abortion for women experiencing crisis pregnancies. Catholic Charities offers these services out of all of their six county outreaches offices, serving up to 1,000 parents each year.

"Food insecurity and homelessness is an issue in every community. As a non-profit health plan that offers coverage to Medicaid eligible individuals, Gateway Health has a responsibility as a corporate citizen to take care of others less fortunate, especially during the holiday season. We are thankful to both our business partners and staff for the generous support of programs and initiatives that help to provide nourishing food and supplies to children and families who may not know where to find help," says Patti Darnley, President and CEO, Gateway Health.

Visit our corporate Facebook page for photos of recent donations and holiday-themed community events, as well as health and money-saving tips. Special thanks to our vendor at Tom & Jerry's Home Medical Supply Company for their generous help in delivering these donations to their respective charities.

About Gateway Health 

Gateway Health is a nationally ranked managed care organization that focuses on providing the best possible healthcare to a growing number of Medicaid and Medicare Advantage consumers. A not-for-profit organization, Gateway Health serves the needs of at risk and vulnerable citizens with not only healthcare coverage, but services such as disease management, health and wellness programs and preventive care. The organization provides Medicaid services in Pennsylvania, Delaware and West Virginia and Medicare coverage in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Ohio and North Carolina. Our commitment to helping our members and their communities get and stay healthy is what keeps members, providers, communities and partners "Good with Gateway." To learn more about Gateway Health, visit us online at www.gatewayhealthplan.com.

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SOURCE Gateway Health