FROM STAFF REPORTS

ALABASTER – Brookwood Baptist Health System – including Brookwood, Citizens, Princeton, Shelby and Walker Baptist medical centers – are 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. The drive kicked off Friday, June 7, and runs through Friday, June 14.

Brookwood, Princeton, Shelby and Walker Baptist Medical Centers’ cereal drives will benefit Community Food Bank of Central Alabama.

Citizens Baptist Medical Center cereal drive will benefit A Remnant’s Place in Talladega.

“Our Brookwood Baptist Health System understands the health issues children face from hunger and poor nutrition, and we are proud to participate in this annual event as our hospitals from Jasper through the Greater Birmingham area to Talladega help fight food insecurity,” said Tim Puthoff, Group CEO of Brookwood Baptist Health. “We recognize the importance of beginning each day with a nutritious breakfast and, through this drive, we hope to help those struggling in our community. We invite you to join us and help kids be Healthy Over Hungry this summer.”

According to the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama, parents or guardians of nearly 73,000 children in Central Alabama say their children sometimes skip meals, do not eat for a whole day or go hungry because there is not enough money to buy food for the household. More than 232,000 children, seniors, veterans and neighbors are food insecure in Central Alabama.
“We appreciate Brookwood Baptist Health for hosting the Healthy Over Hungry Cereal Drive and are grateful for its commitment to building a healthy community,” said Kathryn Strickland, executive director, Community Food Bank of Central Alabama. “Summer is a particularly difficult time for our food bank because many children in need can no longer rely on school meals for a nutritious breakfast, so their families often turn to us for help. Thanks to Brookwood Baptist Health and the Healthy Over Hungry Cereal Drive, many families will have a healthy, whole-grain cereal breakfast this summer.”

In the 12-county area served by the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama, more than 108,000 children are enrolled to receive free or reduced-fee breakfasts and lunches during the school year.  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 7 through June 14 at all Brookwood Baptist Health hospitals. During this time, financial donations to purchase perishable breakfast items, such as milk, can be donated at the Brookwood Baptist Health hospital of your choice.