Because Hunger Doesn’t Take a Summer Vacation
June 17, 2022– The Palm Beach Children’s Hospital at St. Mary’s Medical Center collects 347 boxes of cereal, with 3,806 servings at its annual Healthy Over Hungry Cereal Drive. The goal is to provide a healthy breakfast to area children and adults struggling with hunger during the summer months. The donation is benefitting the WPB and Belle Glade Boys and Girls Clubs.
“At the Palm Beach Children’s Hospital, we understand the health issues children face from hunger and poor nutrition,” said Cynthia McCauley, chief executive officer. “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 the healthy meals they need to thrive. 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.”
More than 226,280 residents in Palm Beach County struggle with hunger, a 35% increase since 2018, according to Feeding America. 70,200 of these residents are children who do not have enough to eat on a daily basis.
At schools in The School District of Palm Beach County, 47.1% of students are eligible to participate in the federal free and reduced price meal program. 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.
About St. Mary’s Medical Center
St. Mary’s Medical Center is a 460-bed acute care hospital located at 901 45th Street in West Palm Beach. The hospital has been serving the medical and health care needs of the greater West Palm Beach area for more than 80 years.
St. Mary’s Medical Center offers a broad array of adult and pediatric services, including: a Level 1 Trauma Center, a state-designated Pediatric Trauma Referral Center, Comprehensive Stroke Center and a state-designated Brain and Spinal Cord Acute Injury Center. Additional services include the Neuroscience Center, High-Risk Obstetrical Unit with a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), the Institute for Advanced Orthopedics, the Rehabilitation Institute, the Memory Disorder Center, Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Medicine Center, Schwartz Dialysis Center and the Institute for Mental Health.
Pediatric services are provided at the Palm Beach Children’s Hospital at St. Mary’s Medical Center, which is the only dedicated children’s hospital between Ft. Lauderdale and Orlando. Along with 24/7 dedicated pediatric emergency and trauma care, Palm Beach Children’s Hospital’s medical staff consists of 196 pediatricians in 36 subspecialties. These include limb reconstruction and lengthening at the Paley Orthopedic and Spine Institute, pediatric oncology program, which includes membership in the Children’s Oncology Group – a clinical trials group supported by the National Cancer Institute, and pediatric orthopedics. In addition, in-house pediatric intensivists work with area pediatricians to care for children while staying at Palm Beach Children’s Hospital.
St. Mary’s Medical Center is fully accredited by the Joint Commission, the nation’s oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency, and is a member of the Children’s Hospital Association. The hospital has won many prestigious awards, including the Tenet Circle of Excellence award. To learn more about St. Mary’s Medical Center and Palm Beach Children’s Hospital, visit www.stmarysmc.com, www.palmbeachchildrens.com or call 561-844-6300.
