Baptist hospitals helping San Antonio Food Bank to feed hungry this summer

Baptist Health System is holding a Heathy Over Hungry food drive through June 13, collecting boxes of healthy cereal at certain San Antonio-area BHS facilities to support the San Antonio Food Bank’s efforts to properly feed local children in need this summer.

According to BHS, 1 in 4 Bexar County children do not know where their next meal will come from. BHS also said the COVID-19 pandemic’s effects, inflation and supply chain issues have only compounded the problem of families accessing affordable, healthy food. The local food bank said 46% of their clients are employed and still cannot afford food or groceries.

BHS is doing its part to help the food bank by encouraging community members to drop donations of boxes of healthy cereal into marked red food collection bins at the following BHS locations:

• North Central Baptist Hospital, 520 Madison Oak Drive, San Antonio
• Northeast Baptist Hospital, 8811 Village Drive, San Antonio
• St. Luke’s Baptist Hospital, 7930 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio
• Baptist Medical Center, 111 Dallas St., San Antonio
• Mission Trail Baptist Hospital, 3333 Research Plaza, San Antonio

BHS began its Heathy Over Hungry food drive June 6. BHS officials said Texas ranks second in the nation for food insecurity with 1 of 6 residents living in food-insecure homes.

BHS and food bank representatives said thousands of children are negatively affected annually when they can no longer rely on their schools’ lunch programs because of the summer break.

Whole-grain cereal is among popular food items that experts say can address the hunger gap during the summer months when children are not in school, according to BHS.

“At Baptist Health System, we understand the health issues children face from hunger and poor nutrition. The past two years have been particularly devastating for families struggling with hunger. The pandemic and supply chain issues have increased food insecurity for many families,” BHS Chief Executive Officer Matt Stone said in a statement.

Stone said in a news release that many local households have had to rely on food banks and other food programs to have access to healthy meals.

“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. We invite you to help kids be Healthy Over Hungry this summer and thank you in advance for your compassion, generosity and support,” Stone said.