Because Hunger Doesn’t Take a Summer Vacation
June 1, 2017 Nacogdoches – NMC Health Network is leading a community effort to provide area children and adults struggling with hunger a healthy breakfast this summer. The Healthy over Hungry Cereal Drive benefits The East Texas Food Bank, a member of the Feeding America network, and will be held June 2nd through June 9th.
“We recognize the impact hunger has on health and nutrition, and our staff is eager to make a difference,” said Jeff Patterson, chief executive officer, NMC Health Network. “Through this drive we hope to help the many in our community struggling with food insecurity by starting their day with a nutritious breakfast.”
Approximately 473,000 people in East Texas are at-risk of hunger today, according to the American Communities Survey, which roughly equates to 1 in 4 children and 1 in 5 adults who don’t know where their next meal is coming from. According to the Hunger in America 2014 study, the East Texas Food Bank currently serves 253,000 East Texans yearly and that number is expected to continue to rise.
More than 3 million children in Texas receive free or reduced-fee breakfasts and lunches during the school year. Wholegrain 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.
“We appreciate NMC hosting the Healthy Over Hungry Cereal Drive and are grateful for its commitment to building a healthy community,” said Dennis Cullinane, CEO of the East Texas Food Bank. “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 their efforts during the Healthy Over Hungry Cereal Drive, many families will have a healthy, whole-grain cereal breakfast every summer morning.”
Donations of healthy cereal to the Healthy Over Hungry Cereal Drive will be collected at Nacogdoches Medical Center or The Surgery Center of Nacogdoches. Financial donations can also be made online for perishable breakfast items, please visit http://easttexasfoodbank.org/HealthyOverHungry. All of the Healthy Over Hungry campaign’s earnings will be matched by NMC’s parent company, Tenet Healthcare, up to $100,000.
About Nacogdoches Medical Center
Nacogdoches Medical Center is a 161-bed medical center located at 4920 NE Stallings Drive in Nacogdoches, TX. The hospital has served the medical and health care needs of the East Texas area for over 40 years. Nacogdoches Medical Center specializes in emergency services, women’s health, cardiovascular medicine and surgery, open heart surgery, cancer, orthopedics, neurology and neurosurgery. Other affiliated facilities include the Imaging Center of Nacogdoches, the Breast Health Center, the Ambulatory Surgery Center of Nacogdoches, the Wound Care Center, the Loma Laird Cancer Center including a standalone infusion clinic, and the Center Emergency Room in Shelby County. Nacogdoches Medical Center is accredited by the Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the nation’s oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency. Please visit www.nacmedcenter.com.
About East Texas Food Bank
The East Texas Food Bank provided more than 18 million meals each year to 200 partner agencies in 26 East Texas counties. Our vision is for a hunger-free East Texas and our mission is to fight hunger and feed hope in East Texas. The East Texas Food Bank is a member of Feeding America and Feeding Texas. To learn more, please visit EastTexasFoodBank.org. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/etfoodbank or follow our news on Twitter at twitter.com/etfoodbank.
