Meal kit delivery initiative brings Willow Grove families together around table

CARTHAGE, Ill. — Memorial Hospital’s Health and Wellness Center recently launched a meal kit delivery initiative for families at Willow Grove Childcare and Learning Center.

The initiative, made possible through a generous grant from the Tracy Family Foundation, provided families with the ingredients and inspiration to enjoy quality time around the dinner table while also offering resources from the Family Dinner Project to encourage meaningful conversations.

Each family with a student enrolled at Willow Grove received three meal kits. The first included everything needed for a taco dinner, a family-friendly book, and informational handouts to support positive family interactions at mealtime. The other kits featured “breakfast for dinner” ingredients, followed by a holiday-themed kit for making Christmas cookies together.

In a press release, Ashlyn Housewright, executive director Community Health and Wellness, said, “Shared meals are about so much more than food. They’re about creating a space for connection, communication and joy. This program provides families with tools and ideas to make those moments happen, even during busy seasons.”

“This is such an incredible offering for families, both financially and logistically, to be sent home with all needed ingredients for a nice dinner on a weeknight. We are so grateful, and these meals have been most definitely enjoyed by our entire family,” said Colleen Wildrick, a parent of children attending Willow Grove.

The meal kit program reinforces Willow Grove’s mission to foster both learning and family engagement.

Learn more about Willow Grove at HancockVillage.org. Memorial Hospital’s Health and Wellness Center is dedicated to empowering people and partnering with them to achieve a healthier and happier lifestyle. Learn more at MHTLC.ORG.