Five Central Florida hospitals, which have officially united under the name HCA Florida Healthcare, gathered to donate and hand deliver more than 6,600 pounds of food to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.

Five cargo vans filled with food donations from each of the five HCA Florida Healthcare hospitals in the Orlando area arrived at Second Harvest Food Bank to deliver food that will help feed thousands of families experiencing hunger. Then, dozens of hospital colleagues unloaded the vans and spent the afternoon volunteering inside Second Harvest’s warehouse to assist with critical needs.

A mission-driven organization, HCA Florida Healthcare strives to address the critical needs of the community such as food insecurity. Feeding America estimates that in 2021, one in seven people and one in five children in Central Florida lived in households that may be food insecure.

HCA Florida Healthcare’s Orlando hospitals are continuing to fundraise for Second Harvest during National Nutrition Month in March. Community members are encouraged to find one of the branded hospital vans, snap a picture, post it on social media with #HCAFloridaFeedingFamilies in the caption and tag HCA Florida Healthcare. For each photo shared, HCA will donate $5 to Second Harvest, up to $10,000. For those who wish to participate in the virtual fundraising opportunity, donations can be made via the virtual food drive.

Participating hospitals included HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital, HCA Florida Osceola Hospital, HCA Florida Poinciana Hospital, UCF Lake Nona Hospital and Oviedo Medical Center.

HCA Healthcare’s mission is: “Above all else, we are dedicated to the care and improvement of human life.” As a mission-driven organization, HCA Florida Healthcare strives to address the critical needs of the community such as food insecurity. Feeding America estimates that in 2021, one in seven people and one in five children in Central Florida lived in households that may be food insecure. To help meet this need, the hospital will partner with Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida during National Nutrition Month in March to:

• Host food drives collecting donations from colleagues and community partners to help food-insecure families throughout Central Florida.

• Provide volunteers, including more than 40 colleagues from its affiliated hospitals, ERs and medical practices on HCA Florida Day at Second Harvest Food Bank on March 4.

• Launch a communitywide donation effort to raise money for the food bank. The HCA Florida family can be found at events throughout the community during the month of March. Community members are encouraged to find one of the branded hospital vans, snap a picture, post it on social media with #HCAFloridaFeedingFamilies in the caption and tag HCA Florida Healthcare. For each photo shared, HCA will donate $5 to Second Harvest, up to $10,000.

• Host a virtual fundraising opportunity benefitting the food bank. For those who wish to participate, donations can be made via the virtual food drive.

To learn more about HCA Florida Healthcare, visit HCAFloridaHealthcare.com.

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