Dignity Health Sequoia Hospital and Sequoia Healthcare District Fund $100,000 in Holiday Food Grants to Fill Critical Food Security Need

Redwood City, Calif. (November 15, 2023) – Dignity Health Sequoia Hospital and the Sequoia Healthcare District have announced $100,000 in funding for vulnerable populations on the Peninsula facing ongoing food insecurity. The Holiday Food Grant Program, a collaboration between the two Redwood City based organizations, supports the following five organizations in their efforts to provide food and meals to those most in need: 

• Ecumenical Hunger Program
  • During the holidays, in addition to EHP’s normal food programs, EHP provides low-income people with Holiday Food Boxes at Thanksgiving and Christmas. EHP will be offering food service 5 days a week plus select weekends during November and December. Local delivery service will be available for those who cannot pick up their food boxes.Between November 2022 and February 2023, EHP provided a total of 12,050 Holiday and Emergency food boxes to 9,905 unduplicated individuals. 
• Friends of the Veterans Memorial Senior Center
  • From November 2023 to February 2024, the Veterans Memorial Senior Center (VMSC) under the guidance of the Friends of the VMSC (FVMSC) and in cooperation with Redwood City, will provide nutritious meals to seniors in the community. Five days a week, the VMSC prepares lunches for seniors to dine in at the Center. 
• Karat School Project
  • The project’s Holiday Food and Winter Supplies program will provide families living in RVs and other transient situations with holiday meals for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year, plus additional food and household supplies to cover the winter months. To ensure that holiday meals are culturally appropriate and dignifying, the project provides families with gift cards from nearby stores that offer pre-made family meal options to be ordered and picked up. 
• LifeMoves
  • LifeMoves provides meals, or food used to prepare meals, at no cost to clients at all of the interim housing sites. The span between November and February at these sites encompasses some of the most meal-centric holidays of the year, but also a timeframe when we experience a significant drop in meal providers on site. These Art Faro Food Funds will provide a festive holiday meal to approximately 350 clients residing at interim housing sites in Redwood City and Menlo Park neighborhoods. The remainder of the funds will be devoted to purchasing fresh fruit and produce during these months to clients living at the Navigation Center. 
• Upward Scholars
  • Food insecurity is a huge issue throughout the Bay Area, and Upward Scholars’ students are among those affected. Upward Scholars distributes grocery gift cards in amounts ranging from $25 to $75 monthly based on student needs. Distribution occurs throughout the year. They also encourage students to make informed decisions about nutritious food options that can help fight health concerns in our community, such as Type II diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, stress, poor emotional health, certain cancers, and poor nutritional status. 

“Sequoia Healthcare District is thrilled that this food grant partnership with Dignity Health Sequoia Hospital has flourished and evolved over the past three years,” said Jenny Bratton Director of Partnerships and Development, Sequoia Healthcare District. “Thanks to this committed partnership, what began as a temporary solution to address food insecurity and isolation during the pandemic has now become a signature grant program-- the Art Faro Food Grants. We are proud of the past and future impact of the non-profit food programs they fund and anticipate that close to 10,000 of our Sequoia Healthcare residents will be the collective beneficiaries of nutritious food and meals this holiday season.” 

Nationwide, more than 44 million Americans are facing ongoing food insecurity—as well as a host of detrimental health consequences that accompany it—according to Feeding America. Collective, community-wide action, such as the Holiday Food Grant Program, helps drive measurable improvements to wellness and quality of life for underserved populations and builds awareness of the growing need for support to address this urgent public health crisis. 

“We are so grateful for our partnership with these organizations to propel the community's efforts to address food insecurity,” said Bill Graham, Sequoia Hospital President and CEO. “At Sequoia Hospital, we believe that addressing food insecurity is not just a social responsibility, it’s an investment in the vitality of our cities and by nourishing those in need, we can cultivate a healthier community for the neighbors and families facing food insecurity.” 

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About Sequoia Hospital

Dignity Health Sequoia Hospital is an accredited, not-for-profit community hospital providing innovative and exceptional health care for generations of Bay Area residents. Sequoia’s Heart and Vascular Institute is a nationally known pioneer in advanced cardiac care. Sequoia has received national recognition from Healthgrades for superior patient safety and was named as one of America’s top 100 hospitals for cardiac care. Our Total Joint Replacement program is a designated Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement. Our Birth Center is consistently ranked as a favorite among Peninsula families. We are also known for our comprehensive emergency care and leading-edge tomosynthesis 3-D mammogram technology. Our state-of-the-art inpatient pavilion combines the most advanced medical and surgical services with a unique healing environment, including private, spacious rooms and inviting garden areas. To support programs at Dignity Health Sequoia Hospital, visit the Sequoia Hospital Foundation. To learn more about Sequoia Hospital, please visit dignityhealth.org/sequoia.

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About Sequoia Health District

Sequoia Healthcare District (SHD) was formed in 1946 and was the first healthcare district in California. The District is committed to improving residents’ health by enhancing access to care and promoting wellness through responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. The District includes Atherton, Belmont, Menlo Park, Portola Valley, Redwood City, San Carlos, Woodside, and parts of Foster City.