Casino night dinner to help fund Meals with a Mission

The community is invited to a dinner and bingo fundraiser on Thursday, April 25 to support Meals with a Mission through St. John’s Hospital Foundation. Meals with a Mission provides meals for local cancer patients and their families.

The event will be held at the Elks Lodge at 270 W. Broadway. Doors open at 5:30 pm and dinner will be served at 6:00 pm. The cost is $20 at the door. Children under 12 are free. All are welcome to attend. 100% of the proceeds supports Meals with a Mission.

Last year, Meals with a Mission provided approximately 500 complimentary, nourishing meals to St. John’s patients who are undergoing treatments for cancer. Meals are made using recipes from the American Cancer Institute and other cancer-specific resources and incorporate organic ingredients when possible. Patients and their families select three- to four-course meals from a menu of items.

"Meals with a Mission was such a help to our family,” said Alia Harland. “Juggling two young busy kids with working full time and receiving treatment for breast cancer was challenging. Having a healthy and delicious meal took one thing off of my plate during our difficult time. It truly helped me focus on my treatment, family, and recovery."

Joni Upsher, volunteer services coordinator at St. John’s Medical Center, founded Meals with a Mission in 2015. Joni is a former restaurant owner and high school culinary arts teacher. Her husband Albert died from cancer in 2013. Joni’s love of healthy cooking and her desire to help cancer patients inspired her to start Meals with a Mission. “This program provides comfort and good nutrition to patients and their families,” said Joni. “It’s a small gift, but one that makes a difference. I am grateful for the volunteers who make it all happen.”

Each week, a group of 10 regular volunteers prepare the meals in The Elks Lodge commercial kitchen and then deliver them. These volunteers logged over 600 hours last year.

Thanks to the dedicated volunteers, Meals with a Mission operates with an annual budget of $4,000 to cover the cost of healthy ingredients.

To inquire about Casino Night, or to make a gift to support Meals with a Mission, please contact Mary Katherine King at 307.739.7517 or mkking@tetonhospital.org.

Meals with a Mission is supported by the St. John’s Hospital Foundation and the St. John’s Medical Center oncology department.

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Media contact: Karen Connelly, 739 7380, kconnelly@tetonhospital.org

About St. John’s Medical Center

St. John's Health in Jackson, Wyoming, offers patient-centered clinical excellence and community wellness services through a full-service hospital, primary care and specialty physician practices, and a long-term care Living Center.

About St. John’s Hospital Foundation

The mission of the St. John’s Hospital Foundation is to secure philanthropic support to advance the mission and strategic objectives of St. John’s Medical Center, including patient-centered care, clinical excellence, and community wellness. For more information about the Foundation, please contact John Goettler at 307.739.7516 or jgoettler@tetonhospital.org.