Wilmington, Del. – New Castle County has awarded Saint Francis Healthcare, a part of Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic, a Health Equity Grant of $895,000. The grant enables Saint Francis to expand the services available to vulnerable populations by its St. Clare Medical Outreach Van, such as care for the home-bound elderly, food insecure families and the homeless. "In the recovery process from the pandemic, Trinity Health and St. Francis are pleased to assist families in a more integrated way through services on an updated mobile van addressing the needs of the whole person," said Lillian J. Schonewolf, Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic's Vice President of Community Health and Wellbeing in a statement. "Services will include backpack meals for children, produce and grocery gift cards, medical needs and supplies as well as access to care for social care resources through our Caregiver Model. This is a wonderful opportunity to take care of our community by going to them." The grant money will be used to design and build an entirely new mobile health van that will expand primary care services, as well as offer social care and behavioral health services, provided through a partnership with Catholic Charities. The grant will also enable the expansion of operations; provide for the hiring of a Health Equity Coordinator; and provide resources to ensure hungry families and children have access to healthy food. "Since day one, our mission has been to protect our County's most vulnerable,” said New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer in a statement to the press. “We are pleased to provide CARES Act funding to support the expansion of services provided by St. Francis and their St. Clare Medical Outreach Van to provide testing and other services throughout the pandemic." "We are proud to have been selected for this grant funding, which will enable us to serve more members of our community in need. We appreciate New Castle County's faith and confidence in Saint Francis and our programming, which this award reflects," said Saint Francis President Brandon Harvath in a statement. "The pandemic has exacerbated the struggles vulnerable populations face. This funding enables us to significantly increase the numbers of individuals and families served in the community."