The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated Philadelphia's already significant food insecurity problem. For individuals considered to be at high risk for experiencing severe COVID-19 symptoms, grocery shopping safely can be difficult or even impossible. Eden Engel-Rebitzer, CECPR Med Student Fellow, and a team of other medical students wanted to do something to address this issue. Together, they created a program called One Extra Bag where medical student volunteers purchase and deliver groceries to older adults and other homebound patients. They successfully paired each volunteer with one adult, raising funds and receiving the Penn Medicine CARES grant to support their efforts. Currently, MPH students at the Center for Public Health Initatives are working to secure long-term funding for the program.
The team behind One Extra Bag includes Rebecca Greenblatt (MD student), Lake Walsh (MD student), Erik Tan (MD student), Graham Lobel (MD/PhD student), Erin Hollander (MD/PhD student), and Jeremy Kallan (MSW student).
Watch this video to learn more.