Nursing Community Outreach

At Henry Ford Hospital, our nurses believe that patient care extends beyond the walls of our facility. We are dedicated to serving our surrounding communities and have established partnerships with various community organizations to support vulnerable populations in the Detroit Metropolitan area.

Power Up Detroit With Protein food drive

For the past decade, Henry Ford Hospital has partnered with Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan to run a protein-specific food drive. We collect donations such as peanut butter, canned tuna, canned chicken and protein drinks – all essential items to help our neighbors overcome food insecurity. Throughout the week, the Henry Ford nursing team plans engaging events that make the donation process fun, and create friendly competitions to determine the yearly Protein Champions to further boost team member participation. Over the years, thousands of pounds of these protein-rich items have been donated by Henry Ford Hospital nurses to Gleaners.

Detroit’s Rockin’ Sock Drive

Henry Ford Hospital partners with Detroit Street Care (DSC) to collect new socks for those who need them in the Metro Detroit area. DSC, a Michigan State University medical school student-run clinic, provides medical care to the unhoused in Detroit. Each November, nursing team members are encouraged to donate as many pairs of new socks as possible. Friendly competition adds a fun incentive to this important cause. Since the sock drive’s inception, nearly 23,000 pairs of socks have been donated to DSC.

Fresh Kicks for Detroit

Patients often arrive at Henry Ford Hospital’s Emergency Department with inadequate footwear. To help ensure that all patients are discharged from our hospital with proper footwear, the Department of Nursing created the Fresh Kicks for Detroit shoe drive. Team members throughout the hospital are welcome and encouraged to donate new tennis shoes in various sizes which are then stored in the Emergency Department. In addition, a new pair of socks can also be donated and tucked into each pair of shoes. All team members can access the shoe closet to provide shoes for patients who are in need and qualify to receive them to ensure they leave the hospital with proper footwear.