Because Hunger Doesn’t Take a Summer Vacation
Palmetto General Hospital is leading a community effort to provide area children and adults struggling with hunger with a healthy breakfast during the summer through its Healthy Over Hungry® Cereal Drive benefitting Feeding South Florida. The drive kicks off Friday, June 1 and runs through Friday, June 8.
“AtPalmetto General Hospital, we understand the health issues children face from hunger and poor nutrition,” said Ana Mederos, chief executive officer of Palmetto General Hospital. “We are committed to helping those in need.”
Almost 1 million children in Florida are at risk of hunger during the summer while school is not in session. In South Florida alone, there are more than 240,000 children who don’t know from where they will get their next meal. When school is not in session, access to these meals are diminished, leaving families having to find additional resources for food.
“We appreciate Palmetto General Hospital for hosting the Healthy Over Hungry® Cereal Drive and are grateful for its commitment to building a healthy community,” said Paco Vélez, President & CEO of Feeding South Florida. “Summer is a particularly difficult time for our food bank because many children in need can no longer rely on their school meals for a nutritious breakfast, so their families often turn to us for help. Thanks to Palmetto General Hospital and the Healthy Over Hungry Cereal Drive, many families will have a healthy, whole-grain cereal breakfast every summer morning.”
In South Florida more than 555,000 children rely on a nutritious breakfast and lunch through federal nutrition programs. Whole-grain cereal, when part of a healthy, balanced breakfast including dairy, fruit and lean protein, is a popular food item that experts say can easily address the hunger gap during the summer months when children are not in school. .
Donations of healthy cereal to the Healthy Over Hungry® Cereal Drive will be collected from June 1 through June 8 at Palmetto General Hospital to provide a financial donation for perishable breakfast items, please visit www.firstgiving.com/team/353671. All financial donations made during our campaign will be matched by Palmetto General Hospital’s parent company, Tenet Healthcare, up to $100,000.
