Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital- Milwaukee Campus, 2023 Community Benefits
Making Healthy Foods and Health Care More Accessible
The Ascension Ebenezer Health Resource Center and Food Pantry has been a fixture in the Milwaukee community for many years providing access to needed health care services, health education, health screenings and healthy food for vulnerable and at-risk individuals.
Through Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital - Milwaukee Campus, the Ascension Ebenezer Health Resource Center provides access to highly experienced registered nurses, nurse practitioners and community health workers dedicated to caring for high-risk senior citizens, moms-to-be and diabetic patients. Additional services include:
While many food pantries closed in the city during the pandemic, the Ascension Ebenezer Food Pantry expanded its hours of operation serving more than 6,000 individuals in 2020. Today, the pantry serves 500 individuals a month, 55% of whom have a family member with high blood pressure and 31% have a family member with diabetes.
Community members who visit the Ascension Ebenezer Health Resource Center and Food Pantry can expect care that treats the whole person—body, mind and spirit, with a focus on listening with compassion and offering hope along with prevention and wellness programs.
Through Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital - Milwaukee Campus, the Ascension Ebenezer Health Resource Center provides access to highly experienced registered nurses, nurse practitioners and community health workers dedicated to caring for high-risk senior citizens, moms-to-be and diabetic patients. Additional services include:
- Health screenings focused on diabetes prevention
- Management of high blood pressure and referral to primary care
- Cooking demonstrations and diet knowledge
- Alzheimer’s and cancer support groups
- Navigation to other community resources and Ascension wellness programs
While many food pantries closed in the city during the pandemic, the Ascension Ebenezer Food Pantry expanded its hours of operation serving more than 6,000 individuals in 2020. Today, the pantry serves 500 individuals a month, 55% of whom have a family member with high blood pressure and 31% have a family member with diabetes.
Community members who visit the Ascension Ebenezer Health Resource Center and Food Pantry can expect care that treats the whole person—body, mind and spirit, with a focus on listening with compassion and offering hope along with prevention and wellness programs.
Students get Hands-on Experience at Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital
Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital - Milwaukee Campus has worked with the Milwaukee Public Schools’ School to Work program for more than 30 years.
School to Work is a community assessment training program primarily focused on high school age students with disabilities. Having participants as old as 21, the goal of the program is to help develop the skills and experience necessary to achieve their highest level of independence by exposing them to different work environments. Some of these students are hired by Ascension Wisconsin, but many also receive job offers elsewhere.
Throughout last year at Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital, nine students were paired with mentors and learned skills in a variety of areas including in the volunteer office, environmental service, food service, linen, and materials management, among others. The weekly sessions provided an opportunity to practice and demonstrate these skills in a supportive work environment.
The program also helps these students throughout the hiring process, including how to apply for a job, polishing their interview skills, while providing additional instruction, support, feedback and positive reinforcement.
“One of my first students that I had still calls me to check in a few times a year, so they do really value the relationship we form,” said Kerry Burmeister, Director of Volunteer Services. “The students are so helpful to our departments. Our associates really miss them when they're on school breaks.”
The MPS student participants committed more than 2,300 hours of volunteer time, working alongside Ascension Wisconsin associates for at least 230 of those hours.
This MPS School to Work program also extends to Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital - St. Joseph Campus. Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s - Ozaukee Campus also offers a similar program for Homestead High School.
School to Work is a community assessment training program primarily focused on high school age students with disabilities. Having participants as old as 21, the goal of the program is to help develop the skills and experience necessary to achieve their highest level of independence by exposing them to different work environments. Some of these students are hired by Ascension Wisconsin, but many also receive job offers elsewhere.
Throughout last year at Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital, nine students were paired with mentors and learned skills in a variety of areas including in the volunteer office, environmental service, food service, linen, and materials management, among others. The weekly sessions provided an opportunity to practice and demonstrate these skills in a supportive work environment.
The program also helps these students throughout the hiring process, including how to apply for a job, polishing their interview skills, while providing additional instruction, support, feedback and positive reinforcement.
“One of my first students that I had still calls me to check in a few times a year, so they do really value the relationship we form,” said Kerry Burmeister, Director of Volunteer Services. “The students are so helpful to our departments. Our associates really miss them when they're on school breaks.”
The MPS student participants committed more than 2,300 hours of volunteer time, working alongside Ascension Wisconsin associates for at least 230 of those hours.
This MPS School to Work program also extends to Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital - St. Joseph Campus. Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s - Ozaukee Campus also offers a similar program for Homestead High School.
