Arizona's medical and dental communities are joining forces with the state's food banks to sponsor a statewide food drive in June. Healthcare Fights Hunger 2007-a month-long project to combat hunger in Arizona-is sponsored by the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association (AzHHA), Arizona Medical Association, Arizona Academy of General Dentistry and the Association of Arizona Food Banks (AAFB).
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€ Educate the public about the link between good health and good nutrition; and
€ Help community food banks feed more than 800,000 Arizonans who do not get enough to eat.
"The food drive is a natural link with the healthcare community as nutrition is an important element of good health," said Adda Alexander, RN, MBA, AzHHA's executive vice president. "Last year, employees, volunteers and medical staff from Arizona's hospitals collected more than 20,000 lbs of food to feed the hungry of their respective communities, and we're hoping to collect more this year."
Participating hospitals, physician and dental offices will have food bank bins posted in their facilities for their staff as well as the public and visitors. Employees, physicians, dentists and volunteers are encouraged to fill the bins with stew, tuna, cereal, peanut butter and canned fruit and vegetables.
"Balanced nutrition is key to helping children grow and learn," said Pamela Murphy, MD, pediatrician at Mendy's Place a pediatric emergency center at John C. Lincoln Deer Valley Hospital. The public is invited to participate in Healthcare Fights Hunger by dropping off non-perishables-particularly canned fruit and vegetables, cereal, fruit juice, peanut butter or tuna-at the following locations:
Sierra Vista
Sierra Vista Regional Health Center
300 El Camino Real
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