FORT MORGAN, Colo. (June 12, 2025) - CommonSpirit St. Elizabeth Hospital is proud to announce a new partnership with Rising Up, a local Fort Morgan non-profit organization, to provide Food for Health boxes to community members struggling with food insecurity and chronic illnesses. This initiative aims to address the social determinants of health and improve the overall well-being of vulnerable populations in the Fort Morgan area.
The Food for Health boxes contain food tailored to the specific dietary requirements of the patients, as determined by a nutritionist from Food Bank of the Rockies but includes fresh produce and proteins. Patients receive these boxes through a referral program initiated by hospital staff and are delivered weekly.
"At CommonSpirit Health, we are called to care for those who are vulnerable," said John Swanhorst, President of St. Elizabeth Hospital. "This program allows us to identify our patients who are food insecure and also managing chronic illnesses. This partnership allows us to care for more than just the medical needs of our patients and allows us to ensure that weekly, our patients are receiving food for the week."
St. Elizabeth Hospital began screening all patients for Social Determinants of Health, and the clinical team noticed a significant number of patients screening positive for food insecurity. Recognizing the need for actionable interventions, the hospital sought a partnership to address this critical issue.
"Screening patients has no benefit unless you can provide actionable interventions for positive screens," Swanhorst explained. "This program is just another tool in our toolbelt that allows us to better serve our community."
Rising Up, an organization dedicated to serving the most vulnerable in the community, was a natural fit for this partnership.
"Rising Up is an incredible organization that serves our most vulnerable," Swanhorst added. "Pam Hernandez and her team at Rising Up continue to support this community in ways that not everyone is aware of, and I am so glad that we have the opportunity to partner with her and the Food Bank of the Rockies."
Pam Hernandez, Executive Director of Rising Up, emphasized the importance of this initiative for Fort Morgan residents.
"The initiative through the partnership with CommonSpirit, Food Bank of the Rockies and Rising Up Pantry to enhance food assistance for Fort Morgan residents is crucial due to several pressing factors. First, the demand for food assistance continues to rise as many families face escalating food prices, high housing costs and medical expenses. This ongoing economic strain means that many Morgan County households are increasingly reliant on services like those provided by partnership."
Hernandez also noted the increasing demand for food assistance and the challenges faced by Rising Up in meeting this need.
"As food prices rise and housing costs remain high, our clients continue to struggle," she said. "Morgan County households continue to be squeezed by rising costs and low wages and are most likely to access Rising Up’s services. Our food donations have remained flat; yet, our costs to stock the pantry have nearly doubled. Rising Up has shifted a considerable amount of its budget towards food purchases and has also prioritized a case management approach to ensure that through trusting, ongoing relationships we can support clients on their path to stability and self-sufficiency."
This partnership between St. Elizabeth Hospital and Rising Up exemplifies a commitment to addressing the holistic needs of the community and creating a healthier future for all.
Inspired by faith. Driven by innovation. Powered by humankindness. CommonSpirit Health is building a healthier future for all through its integrated health services. As one of the nation’s largest nonprofit Catholic healthcare organizations, CommonSpirit Health delivers more than 20 million patient encounters annually through more than 2,300 clinics, care sites and 137 hospital-based locations, in addition to its home-based services and virtual care offerings. CommonSpirit has more than 155,000 employees, 45,000 nurses and 25,000 physicians and advanced practice providers across 24 states and contributes more than $4 billion annually in charity care, community benefits and unreimbursed government programs. Together with our patients, physicians, partners, and communities, we are creating a more just, equitable, and innovative healthcare delivery system. Learn more at commonspirit.org.
