Baptist Health System employees donate pounds of healthy cereal

Because Hunger Doesn’t Take a Summer Vacation

San Antonio – June 2, 2017 – Baptist Health System is leading a community effort to provide area children struggling with hunger a healthy breakfast during the summer. The Healthy Over Hungry® Cereal Drive benefiting the San Antonio Food Bank kicks off Friday, June 2 and runs through Friday, June 9.

“At Baptist Health System we understand the health issues children face as a result of hunger,” said Trip Pilgrim, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Baptist Health System. “Our employees care about the community they serve and want to help improve the lives of children who may otherwise not have access to breakfast during the summer months.”

In Bexar County, one in four children don’t know where their next meal will come from. 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 at all of the seven Baptist Health System hospitals, HealthLink Fitness and Rehabilitation Center and Baptist School of Health Professions. Baptist employees are also making monetary donations online that will benefit the S.A. Food Bank to purchase perishable items, such as milk and fruits to create complete and nutritious breakfasts for children.

“We appreciate Baptist Health System for holding the Healthy Over Hungry® Cereal Drive and are grateful for its commitment to building a healthy community,” said Eric Cooper, President and CEO of the San Antonio 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 Baptist Health System and the Healthy Over Hungry Cereal Drive, many families will have a healthy, whole-grain cereal breakfast every summer morning.”

The S.A. Food Bank has provided Baptist employees with an interactive online link for each hospital and participating facility so they can have fun competing with each other while donating online. First, 2nd and 3rd place trophies will be awarded to the Baptist facility with the most participation at the end of the drive. All financial donations made during the campaign will be matched by Baptist Health System’s parent company, Tenet Healthcare, up to $100,000.