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ChristianaCare Caregivers Help Our Neighbors on Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service

Caregivers and volunteers assemble 3,500 supply kits for neighbors transitioning to permanent housing and for those getting cancer treatment

Jan 23, 2025

2 min

Natalie Torres, BA, MS, DEI-HRBettina Tweardy Riveros, J.D.Jacqueline Ortiz, M.Phil

More than 200 ChristianaCare caregivers and their families came together for a systemwide service project on the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service on Jan. 20 to pack supply kits for neighbors in need.



Hosted by ChristianaCare’s Office of Inclusion & Diversity, caregivers united in service on our Cecil County, Newark and Wilmington campuses. 


These volunteers assembled 3,500 supply kits with essential items like washcloths, dish soap and detergent for individuals transitioning into permanent housing and toiletries, journals and puzzle books for patients in treatment for cancer at the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute.


The kits also carried inspiration. Caregivers handwrote encouraging messages that were tucked in alongside toiletries and other essentials: “You’ve got this!” “You are stronger than you know.” “This is tough. But so are you!”


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Other caregivers delivered the inspirations and the kits to the the Graham Cancer Center, the Union Hospital Emergency Department, New Castle County Hope Center, Inc., and other community partners.


Natalie Torres, director of Inclusion & Diversity, credited ChristianaCare’s Supply Chain and Transportation departments with making sure toiletries and other supplies were available at the three campus locations and also coordinating the pickup and delivery of donations.


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“This service project is such a powerful reminder of how our values of love and excellence shine through in everything that we do,” Torres said.


“Dr. King truly resonates with who we are as an organization. Serving our community, connecting with one another, making a difference — it’s what we do best — and we are so honored to carry on this tradition in Dr. King’s name.”

Connect with:
Natalie Torres, BA, MS, DEI-HR

Natalie Torres, BA, MS, DEI-HR

Director, Inclusion & Diversity

Natalie Torres is the director of Inclusion & Diversity at ChristianaCare.

Inclusion & DiversityInclusive LeadershipLeadership DevelopmentEmployee Resource Groups | GovernanceEquity Liberation
Bettina Tweardy Riveros, J.D.

Bettina Tweardy Riveros, J.D.

Chief Public Affairs Officer and Chief Health Equity Officer

Leads health equity and government affairs strategies to advance ChristianaCare's vision and mission to serve the community.

Community EngagementHealth PolicyStrategyVisionGovernment Affairs
Jacqueline Ortiz, M.Phil

Jacqueline Ortiz, M.Phil

Chief Community Health Impact Officer

Jacqueline Ortiz, M. Phil. is the vice president for Health Equity and Cultural Competence at ChristianaCare.

Health EquityCultural CompetenceLanguage Services
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