Teresa Shelton, Director of Case Management at VWCH, center, celebrates the results of the "Christmas in July" food drive with Veronica Anderson, Executive Director of the Wilson County Help Center, left, and Nicole Haslam, Food Pantry Coordinator at Wilson County Help Center. VWCH more than doubled the poundage of food donated compared to 2025.
Employees at Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital collected 3,150 pounds of food for the Wilson County Help Center during this year’s Christmas in July Food Drive, nearly doubling last year’s total of 1,780 pounds.
Hospital departments compete against each other in friendly rivalry to bring in the most food during the monthlong drive. Team 7 took top honors with 1,311 items collected, and included staff from Biomedical Services, Environmental Services, Education, Quality, Safety and Risk Management, Finance, Health Information Management, Pharmacy, Plant Operations, and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center Radiation Oncology.
In total, VWCH collected almost 2,900 individual food items.
“Thanks to the incredible efforts of our staff, we have made a significant difference in the lives of families facing food insecurity,” said Teresa Shelton, Director of Case Management at VWCH, who coordinated the drive. “Their generosity will help provide nourishment and hope to families across Wilson County.”
The Christmas in July Food Drive is held annually to support the Wilson County Help Center and address food insecurity in the local community.
“I am incredibly proud of the generosity and compassion demonstrated by our employees,” said Whitney Felbinger MBA, PMP, Associate Operating Officer at Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital. “The success of this year’s food drive reflects our commitment to serving not only our patients and residents, but also our neighbors throughout Wilson County. Donating 3,150 pounds of food is an outstanding accomplishment and will make a meaningful difference for families in need.”
