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Loma Linda University Health Supports Weekly Produce Distribution
very Friday morning, hundreds of people Belliard, PhD, MPH, director of LLUH’s Institute for converge at the SAC Norton parking lot in Community Partnerships. “It’s my end-of-the-week San Bernardino for a community produce opportunity—it’s almost a spiritual experience to see so distribution program, sponsored in part by many grateful people, and many folks are taking a lot of Loma Linda University Health. this food to their neighbors or people who need it.” Launched in January, the event is held from 8 Many families come to pick up food for their a.m. to 11 a.m. and serves some 400 families each household, while community partners pick up larger week. Additional food supports nearly 20 community amounts in vans or pickups for distribution to area partnership food suppliers. As much as 2.5 tons of food food banks. Some people distribute food to people are distributed each week. experiencing homelessness. The program has three key sponsors. Helping Approximately a dozen LLU students and staff Hand Pantry secures the equipment needed to move volunteer each week, and several LLUH departments the produce each week, Inland Empire Health Plan periodically send volunteers. provides staff and technical support through an online “I think it’s a great opportunity for departments to get registration portal and secures the delivery of more out of the office to feel our LLU mission and experience than 20 pallets of fresh produce and fruit, and Loma the community side of things,” Belliard said. Linda University provides student volunteers and staff The SAC Norton parking lot is located at 1455 East 3 to manage the program each week and promotes it Street in San Bernardino. For more information, contact among community partners. the ICP/CAPS office at 909-651-5011. To volunteer, visit Surplus produce comes from warehouses in Los llu.ivolunteer.com/produce. Angeles and is delivered by semi-truck to the Jardin de ____________________ la Salud (Spanish for “Garden of Health”), where it is By Ansel Oliver distributed to families and partner organizations. “In times like this, when fuel costs are See the latest news and Health & Wellness stories skyrocketing, when housing is so expensive, from Loma Linda University Health at news.llu.edu. even food is expensive, people are just so grateful for this resource,” said Juan Carlos
Loma Linda University Health
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