Sequoia Hospital and Sequoia Healthcare District Fund $100,000 in Holiday Food Grants

Most-vulnerable Peninsula populations to receive food, meals from six organizations

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (December 23, 2021) - 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 six organizations in their efforts to provide food and meals to those most in need:

• Latino Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services of San Mateo County
• LifeMoves
• One Life Counseling Center
• Peninsula Family Service 
• St. Francis Center of Redwood City
• St Vincent de Paul of San Mateo County

“In serving this community for the past 70 years, we know without a doubt that nutrition and health go hand in hand,” said Sequoia Hospital President Bill Graham. “These local organizations are focused on sourcing and delivering not just food, but nutritious food. This means more than just making sure these populations don’t go hungry. It also means they don’t find themselves with preventable conditions like heart disease, diabetes and unhealthy weight.”

Even before COVID-19, these and other organizations have been responding to a food insecurity crisis, providing food to record numbers of clients. With so many people in crisis all at once, it’s vital that nutritious food continues to flow into the community. The funds provided through the Holiday Food Grant Program will be used by the recipient organizations throughout December of 2021 and January of 2022.

“The pandemic crisis has led to a critical rise in food insecurity and the financial destabilization of vulnerable and low-income community members,” said Pamela Kurtzman, CEO of Sequoia Healthcare District. “Help at this time from local organizations that provide groceries and hot meals to vulnerable residents of our shared communities is much needed.”

Researchers have found that many individuals and families continue to have an extraordinary level of need, as many Redwood City and North Fair Oaks residents recover from the pandemic-induced economic crisis. The John W. Gardner Center for Youth and Their Communities–Stanford University Graduate School of Education has conducted pioneering research to identify the ways in which the pandemic is contributing to food insecurity. Their findings which were released in September of 2021 reveal that the percentage of Redwood City and North Fair Oaks residents with unmet housing, food, and employment needs has increased since the pandemic began. These findings have informed both immediate and long-term strategies for addressing this significant issue. 

Nationwide, more than 54 million Americans are facing ongoing food insecurity—as well as the host of detrimental health consequences that accompany it—according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. Collective, community-wide action, such as the Holiday Food Grant Program, helps drive measurable improvements to wellness and quality of life for underserved populations most impacted by the pandemic, and builds awareness of the growing need for support to address this urgent public health crisis.

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.