Project Details
Creation of a Personal Hygiene & Cold-Weather Pantry for Patients in the South Wilkes-Barre Community
Geisinger Kistler Family Medicine Residency Clinic
Access to basic personal hygiene and cold-weather necessities is a critical yet often overlooked aspect of healthcare, particularly for economically disadvantaged populations. Many patients in our South Wilkes-Barre community struggle to afford essential items that contribute to their well-being and dignity. Recognizing this gap, our Residency Clinic implemented a sustainable pantry initiative to provide these essential products to those in need. By addressing this social determinant of health, the project seeks to enhance patient comfort and overall quality of life.
“This RIG project was a powerful reminder that health care goes beyond clinical care. It’s about meeting basic human needs with dignity and compassion. Creating hygiene and cold-weather pantry opened my eyes to the daily challenges many patients face and how deeply social determinants impact health. The experience also pushed me to grow as a leader and collaborator. Navigating logistics and project sustainability was challenging, but it taught me the value of teamwork and creative problem-solving. Most of all, it reaffirmed my commitment to community-focused, equitable care — something I’ll carry forward throughout my career.” — Dr. Ashley Thor Tanner, DO
Essential Items
These essential items contribute to overall health, hygiene, and comfort, yet financial barriers make access difficult. Patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings often struggle to afford basic personal hygiene and cold-weather prevention products, including:
- Socks, scarves, ponchos, hand warmers
- Shampoo, soap, deodorant, shaving razors, toothbrush, toothpaste.
- Feminine hygiene products
From slow start to a sustainable plan
The residency utilized grant support to purchase essential items to stock our pantry and our team planned methods of distribution to our identified patients and community members. Patients were identified as having social needs in both inpatient and outpatient settings at the South Wilkes-Barre Geisinger (GSWB) site, including homeless individuals utilizing the emergency department and hospital services.
Data was collected through tracking of pantry usage by recording the number and type of items distributed. Patient needs assessments were documented through Epic EMR and care manager referrals. Monitoring inventory levels to ensure consistent supply and availability.
Distribution was initially slow, as the team was focusing on appropriate patients presenting to the outpatient SWB clinic. However, through newer partnerships with the emergency room, as well as the residents rotating through the local Wilkes-Barre area soup kitchen, the distribution flow became much steadier.
The RIG support has allowed us to stockpile enough materials to continue our bag distribution at least for a few additional months. We are hoping the residents can continue to sustain this project long term through institutional and fundraising efforts. Future directions may include expanding the scope of available items based on patient feedback and assessing the long-term health benefits associated with improved access to hygiene and weather-appropriate resources.
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