For HMC, 2025 was another year of growth, teamwork, and progress! Working with more than 75 community organizations, we continued moving forward with the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) by using local data and community input to guide our work.
Last year, our initiatives helped improve the health and safety across Manitowoc County. We supported the launch of the first Public Health Vending Machine with free life-saving supplies and hosted family programs that support parents and children. The third annual Community Baby Shower, which provided education, resources, and supplies to help new and expecting families get a strong start, benefited 77 families and reached 240 individuals.
We also focused on community learning through our Breaking Barriers Systems Panel series, which brought together experts and people with lived experience to talk about challenges in local systems. Panels covered important topics such as substance use, mental health, and the housing system, helping build empathy, understand barriers, and encourage collaboration between service providers.
Looking ahead, HMC plans to continue creating positive change through supporting existing programs and bringing new initiatives, trainings, and outreach efforts to the community. From plans for a sports equipment drive to ensure everyone has the opportunity to play to celebrating local businesses/events offering non-alcoholic options, we look forward to working with partners and community members to achieve our vision of everyone living longer, better lives!