NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan Advances Community Health Through Compassionate, Need-Driven Initiatives
Metropolitan Hospital hosted community thrift shop, coat and canned food drives, a baby shower for 60 high-risk expectant mothers, and collected over $20,000 for breast cancer awareness Community initiatives reflect the hospital’s commitment to understanding and addressing East Harlem’s most pressing health and social needs
Nov 24, 2025
NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan today announced initiatives designed to meet the most urgent health and social needs of the East Harlem community as part of the hospital’s ongoing commitment to ensure its neighbors’ wellbeing. In September, October, and November, Metropolitan Hospital hosted a community thrift shop, coat, and canned food drives, a baby shower for 60 high-risk, expectant mothers, and a fundraising campaign that collected more than $20,000 for breast cancer awareness. Collectively, these efforts reflect Metropolitan Hospital’s focus on advancing the health and everyday well-being of its patients and the East Harlem community.
“Each of these efforts speaks to who we are and why we serve,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan Chief Executive Officer, Julian S. John, MPA. “Our mission extends beyond treating illness. It is about uplifting lives, empowering our neighbors, and making sure that no one in our community is left behind. Each of these initiatives reflects our deep alignment with community need, ensuring that our patients and neighbors have the tools, education, and support they deserve.”
Located in East Harlem, where nearly 30 percent of residents live below the poverty line, Metropolitan Hospital recognizes that health cannot be separated from access to essential resources like clothing, nutrition, and social support. Each need-based initiative is designed to directly address those realities, reinforcing the hospital’s belief that quality care begins with compassion and is best executed through community.
The hospital’s thrift shop, launched in October, provided patients, families, and neighbors with access to affordable, high-quality clothing, shoes, jackets, and accessories. The event offered not only tangible support, but dignity and inclusion for community members navigating economic and other hardships. Building on this effort, Metropolitan Hospital launched a winter coat drive in November providing free warm coats to help ensure the comfort and safety of those without adequate protection against the cold. Complementing these initiatives, the hospital also coordinated a canned food drive in November to help address food insecurity, an issue that affects the health of many of its patients and their children.
As part of its ongoing maternal health initiatives, the hospital hosted a community baby shower in September for 60 expectant mothers, including patients with its High-Risk Clinic, Maternal Home Program, and Prenatal Clinic. The event — cosponsored by MetroPlusHealth and Ronald McDonald House New York — prioritized support of patients identified by social workers as facing socioeconomic challenges, housing insecurity, or high-risk pregnancies. Each mother, many joined by their families, received essential products including diapers, baby wipes, high chairs, and play pens, as well as educational materials to help ensure a safe and healthy start for their babies.
In a show of solidarity and purpose, throughout the month of October the hospital’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month campaign united staff to collect more than $20,000 in support of breast cancer education. In East Harlem — where cancer mortality rates are nearly double the Manhattan borough average — this awareness effort is especially critical. By expanding access to information and early detection resources, Metropolitan Hospital continues to address disparities in cancer outcomes and strengthen the health of its communities.
Together, these efforts reflect the hospital’s belief that advancing community health means listening to and responding to the full spectrum of patient needs — medical, emotional, and material alike.
“Metropolitan is a hospital deeply embedded into the fabric of East Harlem,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan Chief Operations Officer, Elsa Cosme, MBA. “Our staff’s dedication to community-focused initiatives demonstrates how committed we are to addressing challenges holistically with heart and purpose. By listening, responding, and taking action, we aim to create lasting impact for the individuals and families we serve.”
“On the frontlines of care, we see the direct impact of social needs every day: patients struggling with hunger, families facing cold winter months without proper clothing, and the health risks that come with these challenges,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan Chief Nursing Officer, Christopher G. Wilson, MSN, RN, CNML, CENP, NEA-BC, FACHE. “As a hospital, our role extends beyond the bedside. By addressing these basic needs, we help prevent illness and support the overall well-being of our community.”
“This baby shower was about meeting patients where they are,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan Associate Director of Nursing, Ambulatory Care Services, Jane T. Dela Cruz, BSN, RN, MSN, CGRN. “When we tailor our outreach to address specific needs, like those of high-risk mothers or young patients with limited resources, we strengthen the foundation for long-term health outcomes. These efforts remind us that personalized care begins with understanding the challenges our patients face in their day to day.”
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MEDIA CONTACT: Domonique Chaplin, NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan, (212) 423-7782.
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About NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan
NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan is a 338-bed facility serving East Harlem and surrounding communities. Known historically as the primary health care provider in El Barrio, Metropolitan delivers high-quality, compassionate care to over 400,000clinic patients and more than 60,000 emergency room visitors annually. The hospital is a designated Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (SAFE) Center of Excellence and a recognized “Leader in LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality” by the Human Rights Campaign. Since 2021, the hospital has been ranked #1 in New York State for health equity and inclusivity across all categories by the Lown Institute. Metropolitan has earned numerous honors, including the AORN, Beacon, Lantern, and Pathway to Excellence with Distinction awards, and national recognition in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals list. With a legacy spanning 150 years, Metropolitan maintains the nation’s oldest municipal hospital-medical school affiliation through its longstanding partnership with New York Medical College. https://www.nychealthandhospitals.org/locations/metropolitan
About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlusHealth plan—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 46,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.