Hi-Desert Medical Center “Healthy Over Hungry” Cereal Drive

Joshua Tree, CA—Hi-Desert Medical Center is pleased to announce that through the collaboration of hospital employees, community businesses, and local physicians the Healthy Over Hungry Cereal Drive collected 11,440 servings of cereal and $1,363 to provide area children and adults struggling with hunger with a healthy breakfast during the summer through its “Healthy Over Hungry” Cereal Drive benefitting The Way Station food bank of Joshua Tree, CA and FIND food bank of Indio, CA. The grand total of servings collected through monetary and cereal donations amounts to 18,255 cereal servings. The drive ran June 3-10, 2016.

“I am so proud of all of our colleagues at Hi-Desert Medical Center and the local community businesses for tackling childhood hunger through our “Healthy Over Hungry” Cereal Drive,” said Karen Faulis, Chief Executive Officer of Hi-Desert Medical Center. “Helping others is at the heart of what we do every day at our hospital. Because good nutrition is essential to good health, we wanted to help lead the fight against hunger in the Morongo Basin and make a difference in our community.”

“We are so appreciative of Hi-Desert Medical Center and its parent company, Tenet Healthcare, for leading the community in its “Healthy Over Hungry” Cereal Drive,” said Pastor Steve Cook, Director of The Way Station food bank. “This generous donation of 11,440 servings of cereal will help provide a healthy breakfast for so many who are struggling with hunger this summer in the Morongo Basin.  We know that summer is a particularly tough time for many food-insecure families because children can no longer rely on the schools for nutritious meals putting an added burden on these families.  Thanks again to Hi-Desert Medical Center for leading the “Healthy Over Hungry” Cereal Drive and joining us in the fight against hunger.  We are thrilled that so many will now be helped because of the hospital’s leadership in addressing this community health issue.”

“FIND Food deeply appreciates the $1,363 raised by Hi-Desert Medical Center and Morongo Basin local businesses during the Tenet Cereal Drive June 3-10. Their contribution helps supports our mission feeding children and families throughout the summer,” said Lisa Houston, President and CEO of FIND Food Bank of Indio.

Hi-Desert Medical Center would like to thank the leading cereal drive sponsors KiX Hot Country 96.3FM, Hi-Desert Publishing Co., and Z107.7 Community Radio for their help to make this cereal drive possible. Hi-Desert Medical Center would also recognize and thank the following local businesses for their overwhelming support of this first year cereal drive initiative to support The Way Station food bank of Joshua Tree and FIND food bank of Indio.

• City of 29 Palms: Recreation Dept.
• 29 Palms Rotary Club
• 29 Palms Chamber of Commerce
• Bailey’s Auto Repair & Towing
• Prestige Properties
• Stan's Music
• Sky Harbor Care Center
• Big O Tires
• Hi-Desert Family Health Clinics
• Morongo Basin Healthcare District
• Gadi's Restaurant & Bar
• Kole Michael Salon
• Empire Wraps
• Desert Cove Assisted Living
• A Stylish Affair Salon

All participating local businesses were entered to win the 2016 Healthy Over Hungry Morongo Basin Cereal Drive trophy and free advertising packages donated by our leading sponsors with a combined value of over $1,500.  We are proud to announce that Stan’s Music of Yucca Valley raised the most donations of cereal per employee and have been asked to accept their trophy and free advertising packages on June 30, 2016. Hi-Desert Medical Center plans to lead this annual initiative each year to continue the fight against hunger in our community.

Hi‑Desert Medical Center is composed of 179 licensed beds: the 59‑bed primary care hospital and the Continuing Care Center, a 120‑bed skilled nursing facility on the medical center’s campus. Hi‑Desert Medical Center also provides a wide range of quality inpatient and outpatient diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitation services, and operates the Airway Outpatient Center – a full-service surgery and diagnostic center, behavioral health services, home health and hospice, outpatient rehabilitation, and a variety of community education and outreach services.