Tenet Healthcare hospitals in the Central Valley – Doctors Medical Center, Emanuel Medical Center and Doctors Hospital of Manteca – are leading a community effort to provide area children struggling with hunger with a healthy breakfast during the summer through their Healthy Over Hungry Cereal Drive benefitting Second Harvest of the Greater Valley. The drive kicked off Monday, June 6, and runs through Monday, June 13.
“We understand the health issues children face from hunger and poor nutrition,” said Warren Kirk, CEO of Doctors Medical Center and Tenet’s Northern California Group. “The past two years have been particularly devastating for families struggling with hunger, as the pandemic has increased food insecurity for many families. Many households have had to rely on food banks and other food programs to have access to healthy meals. We recognize the importance of beginning each day with a nutritious breakfast and, through this drive, hope to help many in our community struggling with food insecurity.”
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. Healthy cereal contains one serving of whole grain, no more than 200 calories per serving, six grams or less of sugar and at least three grams of fiber per serving. It should also be free of artificial colors and dyes.
Donations of healthy cereal can be dropped off June 6 through 13 at all three Central Valley Tenet hospitals – Doctors Medical Center in Modesto, Emanuel Medical Center in Turlock and Doctors Hospital of Manteca. All donations will stay local and go to Second Harvest of the Greater Valley, which serves Stanislaus, San Joaquin and Merced counties.
Monetary donations can also be made. Financial donations are crucial to creating a complete healthy breakfast. The money is used to buy perishable items such as milk, fruit/vegetables, and lean protein that can complement whole grains.
