Third-year medical students from the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine delivered the late-night meals. Submitted photo

Third-year medical students from the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine delivered the late-night meals.

Submitted photo

More than 300 meals go to third-shift staff

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<p>Medical students unload the meals, which were purchased from The Black Box Café, Fit AF and Mansour’s Market Café.</p> <p>Submitted photo</p>

Medical students unload the meals, which were purchased from The Black Box Café, Fit AF and Mansour’s Market Café.

Submitted photo
<p>Most restaurants are not open late at night, medical student Alyssa Muchinsky said, which adds to the challenges of getting a meal during the third shift. ‘They also have the responsibilities of taking care of their families and it’s easy for them to forget to take care of themselves and pack food for the late night,’ she added.</p> <p>Submitted photo</p>

Most restaurants are not open late at night, medical student Alyssa Muchinsky said, which adds to the challenges of getting a meal during the third shift. ‘They also have the responsibilities of taking care of their families and it’s easy for them to forget to take care of themselves and pack food for the late night,’ she added.

Submitted photo
<p>Workers at Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton hold posters thanking the students who brought the meals.</p> <p>Submitted photo</p>

Workers at Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton hold posters thanking the students who brought the meals.

Submitted photo

SCRANTON, PA — Third-year medical students from the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine spearheaded a program to deliver hot meals this week to third-shift caregivers at Geisinger Community Medical Center.

Partnering with Scranton Tomorrow, a non-profit economic development organization in downtown Scranton, the students helped to organize a Meals for Medics week, which saw the purchase and delivery of more than 300 individually wrapped hot meals from local restaurants for hospital staff Thursday evening.

“Most of the people who work third shift sleep during the day and their meal choices are often limited because many restaurants are not open late,” said medical student Alyssa Muchinsky, who has worked third shift in a hospital and has seen these challenges firsthand. “They also have the responsibilities of taking care of their families and it’s easy for them to forget to take care of themselves and pack food for the late night.”

Meals were purchased from The Black Box Café, Fit AF and Mansour’s Market Café and were individually wrapped. Communal or buffet-style meals, such as pizza, make it difficult to minimize contact and social distancing protocols. Meals were distributed to healthcare professionals who are caring for patients on all floors of the hospital. The program will continue as funds are available and the students hope to provide meals to additional hospitals in the future.

For more information on Meals for Medics, or to make a contribution, visit www.scrantontomorrow.org.

If you would like to make a donation to Geisinger, please visit Geisinger.org/fightcovid or call 800-739-6882.