Press Releases: Southern California
December 15, 2010
Kaiser Permanente Southern California Filling Healthy Food Baskets this Holiday Season
Nearly $500,000 in Grants to Ensure Healthy Eating in Hard Times
PASADENA Calif. — Kaiser Permanente recognizes that it is difficult to eat well during tough economic times. Many people are without jobs, household incomes have declined, and making healthy food choices is not at the top of the list. But through the Healthy Eating in Hard Times program, Kaiser Permanente is bringing nutritious food to the communities it serves.
Kaiser Permanente Southern California announced today it has approved 10 grants totaling $465,000 as part of Healthy Eating in Hard Times. Grant recipients include seven food banks, two Community Action Partnership organizations that operate food banks, and the statewide California Association of Food Banks.
“Demand for services at Southern California food banks is on the rise by as much as 50 percent with the economic downturn,” notes Angela Coron, managing director of community benefit for Kaiser Permanente Southern California. “The Healthy Eating in Hard Times program will not only help families in need to have a more joyful holiday season now, but the community benefit grants will support the very important role that food banks have in maintaining the health and well-being of families into 2011.”
“Over 400,000 children in Los Angeles County are receiving food assistance through the Foodbank’s network of agencies,” said Michael Flood, president and CEO of the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank. “Proper nutrition is so important for the healthy development of a child. The Foodbank is extremely grateful to Kaiser Permanente for their contribution and for their continued commitment to the health of children and families in our community.”
Kaiser Permanente Southern California seeks to expand access to healthy foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables by funding local programs to ease the struggle that many families face as they work to put food on the table.
Here are the 10 grant recipients:
- Los Angeles Regional Foodbank: Los Angeles, $80,000
- Westside Food Bank: Santa Monica, $30,000
- San Diego Food Bank: San Diego, $45,000
- Feeding America San Diego: San Diego, $45,000
- Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County: Irvine, $45,000
- Food in Need of Distribution Inc.: Indio, $30,000
- Food Share: Oxnard, $30,000
- California Association of Food Banks: Oakland, $100,000
- Community Action Partnership of Kern County: Bakersfield, $30,000
- Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County: San Bernardino, $30,000
On Dec. 17, from 12:30 to 3 p.m., a team of more than 50 people will arrive at the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank to roll up their sleeves and stuff baskets with healthy food for distribution. “Providing grants to regional food banks comes from Kaiser Permanente's Community Benefit funding and reflects our regional commitment to improving the health of the communities we serve,” said George Di Salvo, senior vice president and chief financial officer for Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals, Southern California region. “And volunteering at the food bank demonstrates our personal commitment and participation.”
The Healthy Eating in Hard Times program seeks to ensure that food-bank and pantry patrons are able to obtain healthy foods and that low-income families who are eligible are participating in federal nutrition programs. Kaiser Permanente recognizes the need to support proper nutrition given the growing obesity epidemic in the United States. Food banks across the nation are beginning to change the way they do business by increasing the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables they distribute, providing nutrition education, and encouraging participation in government-supported food programs, such as CalFresh and free school meals. All the Kaiser Permanente grant recipients are at various stages of making these types of changes.
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, our mission is to provide high quality, affordable health care services to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 3.3 million members in Southern California. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more information, go to: www.kp.org/newscenter.
