Rock Hill, SC – June 2, 2016 – Piedmont Medical Center is leading a community effort to provide area children and adults struggling with hunger with a healthy breakfast during the summer through its Healthy Over Hungry Cereal Drive benefitting Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, a member of the Feeding America network. The drive kicks off Friday, June 3 and runs through Friday, June 10.

“At Piedmont Medical Center, we recognize the impact hunger has on health and nutrition, and our staff is eager to make a difference,” said Christina Oh, chief operating officer of PMC. “We recognize the importance of beginning each day with a nutritious breakfast and, through this drive, we hope to help the many in our community struggling with food insecurity.”

Whole-grain cereal, when part of a healthy, balanced breakfast including dairy, fruit and lean protein, is a popular food item that experts say can easily address the hunger gap during the summer months when children are not in school.

We appreciate Piedmont Medical Center for hosting the Healthy Over Hungry Cereal Drive and are grateful for its commitment to building a healthy community,” said Kay Carter, CEO of Second Harvest. “Summer is a particularly difficult time for our food bank because many children in need can no longer rely on their school meals for a nutritious breakfast, so their families often turn to us for help. Thanks to Piedmont Medical Center and the Healthy Over Hungry Cereal Drive, many families will have a healthy, whole-grain cereal breakfast every summer morning.

Donations of healthy cereal to the Healthy Over Hungry Cereal Drive will be collected from June 3 through June 10 at every entrance of Piedmont Medical Center. To provide a financial donation for perishable breakfast items, please visit the Second Harvest website. All financial donations made during our campaign will be matched by Piedmont Medical Center’s parent company, Tenet Healthcare, up to $100,000.

How You Can Spread the Word!
You may remember last year when PMC hosted cereal bowling. This year, we challenge you to a cereal eating contest! We’ll come to your studio or newsroom with cereal, bowls, milk, and spoons to let you compete with your team to find out who can finish their cereal the quickest!  

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About Second Harvest Food Bank
As part of Feeding America, Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina – serves 19 counties in North and South Carolina. In FY2014-2015, Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina distributed 46 million pounds of food and essential household items to nearly 650 hunger feeding agencies. Agencies served include emergency pantries, soup kitchens, senior programs, shelters and low-income daycares. 

About Piedmont Medical Center
Piedmont Medical Center is a full service 288-bed hospital serving York, Lancaster and Chester counties. Piedmont has more than 350 physicians on staff, representing a broad range of over 40 medical specialties and subspecialties. The hospital’s main campus includes the Heart and Vascular Center which offers comprehensive diagnostic and treatment services, including an accredited Chest
Pain center with PCI designation. This designation means Piedmont can provide emergency coronary interventions such as balloon angioplasty and stent placement. Piedmont has offered a heart surgery program to the community since 1997. Piedmont is also an Advanced Primary Stroke Center honored with a Get with the Guidelines Gold Plus Honor Roll Elite Award. 

Piedmont provides emergency services in our newly expanded Emergency Department, an accredited cancer program, endoscopy, a bariatric medicine program, women’s services in The Women’s Center, orthopaedics, neurosurgery and psychiatric services. The medical center has several outpatient facilities, including diagnostic services, Sleep Center and Wound Care Center. Piedmont is affiliated with Piedmont Physician Network, a network of primary and sub-specialty physician practices (www.pmcphysiciannetwork.com).